American Music Awards predictable as ever with Usher on top
curlio
2004-11-15 05:06:50
The American Music Awards are usually pleasant and predictable. Tonight was no exception. Only two winners truly surprised me tonight, the rest I was able to predict. The performances were predictable. Even the "surprise guest" wasn't that surprising. But then again, we are in the "post-Super Bowl incident" age, and that does account for some of the predictability I suppose.
Gwen Stefani started out the evening with one of the few unpredictable events - she was lip-synching. I suppose one truly can't bounce around in a cute little outfit and sing at the same time. She's definitely better with No Doubt than without them.
Lenny Kravitz's performance was nice and laid back, singing his Gap commercial song. I missed Sarah Jessica Parker dancing around though, would have been a nice touch.
The cutest moment of the night came when host Jimmy Kimmel went to a backstage moment where Snoop Dogg was holding a bake sale, or as he called it a Bizzake sale. Snoop was offering muffins and cookies for around a dollar, and brownies for $100. Bobby Brown was waiting in line, wanting 4 of the brownies. Josh Groban was also in line and was just looking for the Bizzathroom, or some such nonsense.
Then began the first of 4 awards for Usher, yes that's right folks, he was nominated for 4 and won all of them. The only Soul / R&B category he didn't win was Best Female, and that went to "his boo" Alicia Keys. He also got Pop/Rock Male, which boggles my mind. They need to make up their minds at the AMAs, is he Soul, R&B, Pop or Rock?
Outkast won the first of three awards next, and Big Boi gave the only mention of O.D.B's death.
Jessica Simpson sang her hit "With You." It was definitely live, as it had that cutesy-wootsy, brainless, breathless, blonde bimbo quality to her voice that just makes me want to dye my hair any color but blonde.
Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker performed their hit "Sun Goes Down."
Brooks and Dunn won the Best Country Duo and Group for the fourth time.
Anna Nicole Smith provided the next bit of highly necessary comic relief. She came out either high or drunk, or possibly both, of course showing off her body. She actually introduced Kanye West's performance of "Work It Out." It was nice, but not my style.
The next, "not my style" performance was by John Mayer. It was B&W and his singing style is very hard to understand so I couldn't even begin to give you a title for that song.
Then a few more awards, followed by a performance by Rod Stewart. I've never liked his voice, but he wore lovely bright pants. This was followed by an Alicia Keys performance. Alicia looked lovely in her outfit tonight.
After another award, another performance followed by Gretchen Wilson. Having never seen her and only heard the song I actually expected her to look a bit like a "Redneck Woman," but pleasantly enough she's rather pretty.
Linkin Park gets the "best speech" award tonight, for thanking only the fans, saying that they are the only ones who matter. Which is true, considering that all the awards are voted on by fans.
Snoop Dogg and Pharrell performed "Drop It like it's Hot," which was definitely NOT HOT! For the record, that little tongue-clicky sound in the background is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I blacked out for most of the performance, so I can't tell you if it was good or not beyond that sound.
NBA basketball player and alleged rapist Kobe Bryant came out to a mixture of cheers and boos. Personally I thought the boos won out. He gave Usher his third win of the night.
Next up was my first miss of the night. I unwisely listened to Dusty and agreed that Tim McGraw would win Country Male, when my instinct said Toby Keith. Oh well, I only missed three tonight, not a bad record.
Bon Jovi performed and received the Award of Merit for their 20+ years in the business. Jon's speech was rather nice, except for the feedback that we figured came from Jon's earpiece.
Fantasia sang the title track off her debut album. As I've not really been a huge fan of hers, she also fell into the "nice but not my style" category. Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning" also was swallowed by that problem. I like their two previous songs, but this one just doesn't connect with me. Then again, the other two had to rub off on me, so maybe I need to give it more time.
Usher and Alicia Keys performed "My Boo" and received a standing ovation for it. Josh Groban performed "Remember When it Rained." I love his voice, but I still see the skinny geeky kid who appeared on Ally McBeal everytime I see him.
Kenny Chesney was one of my two surprise awards tonight. I really didn't expect a country artist to take home Artist of the Year. Never underestimate the power of rednecks with mobile phones.
Toby Keith performed "Stays in Mexico." Gretchen Wilson was my second surprise, winning Breakthrough Artist. Again, I underestimated country music. My sincerest apologies.
Sheryl Crow won her second award of the night, taking home both the Pop/Rock female and Adult Contemporary Artist. Next up was the "surprise guest", Jamie Foxx, doing a Ray Charles song. Gee, they're not pushing that movie much are they? Anyhow, it led to a performance by Twista and Kanye West. Again, it didn't thrill me.
Ringo Starr introduced the "lost Beatles tape" that everyone made such a big deal of. Honestly it looked like every other Beatles performance so I don't see why it was such a big deal.
Two more awards and my long night was over. All in all, those three hours seemed like at least six. At least I got some reading done.
Here's your list of winners announced during the show:
Soul/R&B Male - Usher
Pop/Rock Group - Outkast
Country Group - Brooks and Dunn
Rap/Hip Hop Album- Outkast
Soul/R&B female - Alicia Keys
Pop/Rock Album - Usher
Alternative Music Artist - Linkin Park
Soul/R&B Album - Usher
Country Male - Toby Keith
Award of Merit - Bon Jovi
Pop/Rock Female - Sheryl Crow
Rap/Hip Hop Group - Outkast
Country Album - Toby Keith
Artist of the Year - Kenny Chesney
Breakthrough Artist - Gretchen Wilson
Adult Contemporary Artist - Sheryl Crow
Country Female - Reba McEntire
Pop/Rock Male - Usher
i thought the award show was AWSOME!!!! i agree anna nicole did seem a little drunk, but who cares!!!??!!!
fantasia, being from my ALL TIME favorite show, was incredible!!!!
i disagree with you: it did not feel like 6 hours. it went by so fast!!!
i love john mayer and for your information, that song was called DAUGHTERS and is an amazing song if you owuld just listen to the lyrics. COOL HE DID BAD LAST NIGHT IDONT CARE! I LIKEH IM OK? WERE GOING OUT. BYE!
none of this matters. None of these 'artists' will even be remembered in
5 years. so pathetic.... Usher sucks so bad I will enjoy watching his inevitable downfall.
I think Usher was over rated. There should have been an award for people who can really sing a song or who can really play he instruments not just yell out profanity or loud words that gives you a headache when you listen to them.
Music should be pleasing to the ear not making your head bound with pain.
What ever happened to the real music of the world. The real voices of of the world and the real performers of the music. It seems all we hear is rap, hip hop and profanity and bad music.
well i don't know who did this article, but they in a way don't have any taste, but having an opinion gets you money. also, they could have done a better job with more detail. also, you may not have liked many things, but make it sound somewhat interesting to people who may not have seen it.
I am so glad you explained who the suprise guest was.. i was at a loss... guess when i saw jaimie fox i didnt realize that was so special. They were right that i would be talking about it tomorrow.. took me all day to figure out who was suposed to be so "special" . This had to be the worst awards "show" i have ever seen.. Did love watching my boy Lenny rock out
OMG USHER IS THE BOMBEST OF THE BOMBS!! I was talking to a person who has connections with his agent, and apparently hes dating THE BOMBEST OF BOMB GIRLS-ALICIA KEYS!! HIS BOOOO! thats why they kissed!! YA BOMBEST COUPLE!!
GUEST said: [..]
also, you may not have liked many things, but make it sound somewhat interesting to people who may not have seen it.
The name of the person who did it is next the title to the far right.
If this would have been a report in detail, it would have been as boring as the show itself. And personally I'd rather read an article that reflects the show than an article that makes a show sound interesting while in actuallity it was boring.
john mayer--more than likely the only person not lipsinking at the performance and your going to take a crack at him!!!!!
shame on you
hes one of the few real musicians that performed at the amas
I thought the Beatles footage would be the infamous lost "thrashing" video where I read they are supposed to be thrashing their moptops around 20 years before Metallica did. When are we gonna get to see that? The footage they showed looked like the regular Ed Sullivan show stuff... it was still exciting but only rare for TV
GUEST said: well i don't know who did this article, but they in a way don't have any taste, but having an opinion gets you money. also, they could have done a better job with more detail. also, you may not have liked many things, but make it sound somewhat interesting to people who may not have seen it.
As Dusty already pointed out, finding the name of the person who did the article is simple enough.
As for taste, what did I say wrong? I didn't really bash anyone. Overall, the AMAs were more pleasant than most of the recent VMAs that come to mind. The problem it was just that... pleasant and predictable. Nearly all of the performances were pleasant, but not moving and I think most people can agree with that.
As for making it sound more interesting to people who haven't seen it, I can't make the AMAs sound like something they weren't. To me, they were not very interesting. About an hour through, I started reading a novel. Even while taking notes on performances and speeches and award winners I still managed to clear a couple of chapters in the second two hours.
As to those who felt I bashed John Mayer, he WAS mumbling. I DO like some of his songs. I did NOT like this one yet. I may end up liking it. John, just like Maroon 5, has to rub off on me. I can't say that I would necessarily buy his CD, but I would listen to it were it given to me.
And lastly, if you disagree with me, post your own review. Opposing views are welcomed here (despite what certain people might think) as long as you can manage to disagree without insulting.
"Now you know why lions eat their young" Capt. Phil Harris
