Canadians dominate the 2016 MTV EMAs
Held last Nov. 6 at the Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the MTV EMAs was aired live through MTV Pinoy at 4 a.m. last Nov. 7. It was later replayed at 9 p.m. for those who were not able to catch the live telecast.
Now about the winners and the show. Just as he led the nominations with five nods, Justin Bieber also came off leader of the 2016 MTV European Music Awards race by winning three trophies, Best Song for his No. 1 seller Sorry, for having the Biggest Fans and as the Best Canadian Act.
Fellow Canadian Drake also turned out a winner for Best Hip-Hop on his first turn at the MTV EMAs. And there were more victorious acts from the land above the U.S. of A. Hot pop idol Shawn Mendes who won for Best Male and The Weeknd who won for Best Video for his collaboration with Daft Punk, Starboy.
Now just as the Canadians emerged as big winners, there was another notable group that evening. And these were the absentees. For the life of me, I do not know how they all missed this event. Sad if you get to thinking that this was a big night with a global reach where the music people can show solidarity amidst the problems rocking the industry. Those who were not there were Justin Bieber; Drake; Lady Gaga, winner for Best Female and Best Look; and the Beyoncé who tied with Bieber at the nominations but failed to win any of them. Win or lose though, it would have been nice to have Beyoncé there.
Not that there was a shortage of star power or great performances at the MTV EMAs. The sights dazzled with laser shows, domes, pyramids, pyrotechnics, etc., why host Bebe Rexha literally crashed through the ceiling. Truth to tell it can be really said that no effort was spared to come up with fantastic visuals for every production number. And the music was mostly rousing and lot of fun. By the way, it was a purple-themed MTV EMAs this year in honor of the dear departed Prince.
Kings of the night were certainly this year’s winner for the prestigious Global Icon Award, Green Day that accepted the trophy from British actor Idris Elba. Billie Joe Armstrong led the band through a most energetic but also sentimental rendition of American Idiot, which closed the show. It was also very meaningful given the Green Day’s reference to the upcoming presidential elections.
Bruno Mars in an ’80s retro mood, made his first public appearance on stage singing and dancing to perfection to his new huge selling single 24K Magic. Don’t you just feel proud that this guy who is so talented and successful, is part-Pinoy. And then there was The Weeknd that emerged from a golf ball singing his big hit Star Boy with Daft Punk.
Host Bebe had so many costume changes, I lost count and she got to do this duet with Martin Garrix of In The Name Of Love with a full orchestra. Kings of Leon seemed either dazed or lost on stage performing Why Waste
A Moment. DNCE did better performing with doughnuts and cakes on a moving platform. Shawn Mendes sang Mercy with laser lights in a pyramid. And I am sure the producers learned a valuable lesson about using too much EDM in an awards show. Afrojack, who by the way is from Rotterdam, got to do three numbers. First a question. What on earth is he playing? Followed by “thanks MTV for the bathroom break.”
And now here is the honor roll for the 2016 MTV EMAs. •Best Song: Justin Bieber, Sorry •Best Video: The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, Starboy. •Best Female: Lady Gaga •Best Male: Shawn Mendes •Best Live: twenty one pilots •Best New: Zara Larsson •Best Pop: Fifth Harmony •Best Rock: Coldplay •Best Alternative: twenty one pilots •Best Hip-Hop: Drake •Best Electronic: Martin Garrix •Best Push: DNCE •Biggest Fans: Justin Bieber •Best Look sponsored by Listerine: Lady Gaga
•Best World Stage: Martin Garrix, Isle of MTV •Global Icon Award: Green Day •Best Canadian Act: Justin Bieber •Best Japan Act: ONE OK ROCK •Best Korea Act: B.A.P. •Best Mainland China & Hong Kong Act: G.E.M.
•Best Southeast Asia Act: Dong Nhi from Vietnam
•Worldwide Act winners chosen by MTV from around the world: Troye Sivan (Australia); Shawn Mendes (Canada); Maluma (Columbia); GOT7 (Korea); Wizkid (Nigeria); and Zara Larsson (Sweden).
The MTV VMAs celebrates the hottest artists from around the world and is one of the biggest global music events of the year. It brings music fans a unique multi-platform experience across MTV’s global network of more than 60 channels and over 300 digital media properties and platforms.