The American Music Awards celebrated its 44th year on November 20th at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater. The AMA’s stand apart from other award ceremonies through the fact that the winners are decided entirely by fans voting for their favourites.
The evening was a neat mix of passionate live performances, heartfelt acceptance speeches and poor puns politely laughed at. There was also an underlying political flavour doing the rounds, with a generous spicing of Trump jokes, by hosts and presenters alike.
American Punk Rock band Green Day, known to be vocal with their political music, added a passionate verse of “No Trump! No KKK! No fascist U.S.A.!” during their on stage performance of “Bang Bang.”
Pop and R&B singer Ariana Grande turned the heat up with her performance of Side To Side with Nicki Minaj, and then walked away with the night’s biggest honor, the Artist of The Year award.
https://youtu.be/8m4UMm8a6ms
Drake broke a 32-year record for the most American Music Awards nominations with 13 nods, dethroning Michael Jackson’s previous record of 11 from 1984. Though he did not perform live, Drake did debuted a new Apple commercial during the show, which featured him working out and lip syncing to Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9RNGyZRs6c
Robert Downey, Jr., made a guest appearance to give Sting the honor of the American Music Award of Merit.
Emotions ran particularly high when Prince’s sister, Tyka Nelson, took the stage to accept the award for “Best Soundtrack” for “Purple Rain” on behalf of her brother.
Selena Gomez returned from her career hiatus to win favourite pop/rock female artist.
The evening closed with a power packed collaboration between Maroon 5 and Kendrick Lamar performing “Don’t Wanna Know.”
A list of the winners
American Music Award of Merit
Sting
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
Beyonce
Video of the Year
Justin Bieber “Sorry”
Favourite Male Artist – Pop/ Rock
Justin Bieber
Favourite Female Artist – Pop/ Rock
Selena Gomez
Favourite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
Twenty One Pilots
Favourite Album – Pop/Rock
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Favourite Pop/Rock Song:
Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself”
Favourite Artist Rap/Hip—Hop
Drake
Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Album:
Drake, Views
Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Song:
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Favourite Soul/R&B Male Artist:
Chris Brown
Favourite Soul/R&B Female Artist:
Rihanna
Soul/R&B Album:
Rihanna, Anti
Favourite Soul/R&B Song:
Rihanna ft. Drake, “Work”
Favourite Country Male Artist:
Blake Shelton
Favourite Country Duo/Group:
Florida Georgia Line
Favourite Country Album:
Carrie Underwood, Storyteller
Favourite Country Song:
Tim McGraw, “Humble and Kind”
Favourite Country Female Artist:
Carrie Underwood
Favourite Artist – Latin
Enrique Iglesias
Favourite Artist Alternative Rock
Twenty One Pilots
Favourite Artist Adult Contemporary Artist:
Adele
Favourite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Hillsong UNITED
Favourite Artist – EDM
The Chainsmokers
Top Soundtrack
Purple Rain