I do not know if anybody is thinking of organizing a protest march or something similar about the results of a sort of “election” gone wrong in the US of A. At the very least, I am sure there are eyebrows raised. Mine are. Because I do not know how Ariana Grande won over Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Drake, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, twentyonepilots, Carrie Underwood and The Weeknd for Artist of the Year at the 2016 American Music Awards (AMAs).
Nothing against Ariana, really, but jumping over Adele, Beyoncé, Justin, Rihanna and Carrie or Selena who won as Favorite Female Artist is quite a stretch. Nor even over Drake who went home with four trophies. Also how on earth did Purple Rain by Prince won for Top Soundtrack? Of course, it is by the great much-lamented Prince but it is a classic from 1984. It even won the Academy Award the next year. How is it now the Top Soundtrack of the Year at the AMAs? Beats me.
Well, the American Music Awards held last Sunday evening, Nov. 20 and aired live here from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Monday morning, Nov. 21 over RTL-CBS is not like the Grammys where knowledgeable people from the recording industry vote for the winners. This one is more of a popularity contest where the public vote through the AMA website. Ariana must have a lot of fans. But still I think that Purple Rain should not have been even nominated.
Anyway, I may question some of the results at the AMAs but I will not deny that I really enjoyed the show. The guest list was very hip, very social media-oriented. A presenter was billed as the Social Media Superstar and mention was made of how it was the last day of the Transgender Week, those seven days during a year dedicated to transgenders and whatever it is they have accomplished outside of their body changes. The times are not only a-changing. They have indeed changed.
It was also very political with hosts Jay Pharaoh and Gigi Hadid doing a ho-hum Donald and Melania skit and Green Day soloist Billie Joe Armstrong, as punk as ever chanting No Trump. No KKK. No Fascist USA during the band’s Bang Bang number.
How I loved Lady Gaga’s Million Reasons song in its Country-Western setting. Who would have thought we would ever see Gaga like that. She looked gorgeous. Also excellent were the performances of Fifth Harmony’s That’s My Girl, The Weeknd, Starboy, John Legend with Love Me Now and Shawn Mendes, with a medley of Treat You Better and Mercy. These artists did not only come out in perfect vocals, true performers that they are, they also owned that huge stage.
Congratulations to Sting who was conferred the Award of Merit this year. Truly most deserving. I am sure those watching the show would have also noticed how distinctive were the melodies of Sting’s songs from the ’70s in his I Cannot Stop Thinking About You, Message In A Bottle and Every Step You Take medley. The songs of today tend to sound alike dependent as they are on the beat and not the melody.
Now I really want to say what a great idea it was to bring together Maroon 5 and Kendrick Lamar to close the show with Don’t Wanna Know. But it turned out that the AMAs gave us instead a lullaby for its closer. OK for L.A. which was getting ready for bed. Not for us who had to be at work or in school.
And now the American Music Awards 2016 Honor Roll.
Artist of the Year: Ariana Grande
New Artist of the Year: Zayn
Collaboration of the Year: Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Work From Home
Tour of the Year: Beyoncé
Video of the Year: Justin Bieber, Sorry
Favorite Pop/Rock: (Male) Justin Bieber; (Female) Selena Gomez; (Duo or Group) twentyonepilots; (Album) Justin Bieber, Purpose; (Song) Justin Bieber, Love Yourself.
Favorite Country: (Male) Blake Shelton; (Female) Carrie Underwood; (Duo or Group) Florida Georgia Line; (Album) Carrie Underwood, Storyteller; (Song) Tim McGraw, Humble And Kind.
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop: (Artist) Drake; (Album) Drake, Views; (Song) Drake, Hotline Bling.
Favorite Soul/ R&B: (Male) Chris Brown; (Female) Rihanna; (Album) Rihanna, ANTI; (Song) Rihanna feat. Drake, Work
Favorite Artist Alternative Rock: twentyonepilots
Favorite Artist Adult Contemporary: Adele
Favorite Artist Latin: Enrique Iglesias
Favorite Artist Contemporary Inspirational: Hillsong United
Favorite Artist Electronic Dance Music (EDM): The Chainsmokers.
Top Soundtrack: Purple Rain —AP photos—