The Weeknd big winner with eight awards at Billboard
Madonna, Stevie Wonder pay homage to Prince Billboard Awards winners
LOS ANGELES, May 23, (Agencies): Madonna paid homage to Prince by wearing his signature color and bringing another icon — Stevie Wonder — onstage to sing the classic “Purple Rain” at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards.
Sitting atop a purple throne, Madonna kicked off the tribute with a version of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which Prince wrote and Sinead O’Connor recorded. She as teary-eyed as she sang the song, videos and photos of Prince projected behind her.
Wonder, in a purple scarf, later joined her for “Purple Rain” as the audience at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas sang along.
“Most of all, thank you Prince Rogers Nelson for all that you’ve given us,” Madonna said after the performance.
Prince died on April 21 at age 57. The icons collaborated on “Love Song” in 1989 and Madonna was met with criticism online when Billboard announced she would be the one to pay homage to The Purple One. Some felt she should not do the tribute alone, and others said a black artist should be involved.
“All of us live in the land of music and his departure was an earthquake,” Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson said before the performance. “I just want to take a moment to remember the great Prince Rogers Nelson.”
Inspiration
The Weeknd, the night’s big winner with eight, dedicated an award to Prince and told the audience, “I love him so much. I didn’t know him, but he was so close to me. He will always be an inspiration.” However, The Weeknd lost the night’s big award — top artist — to Adele, who didn’t attend the show because she’s on tour.
Celine Dion and Kesha, both in the midst of drama in their personal lives, gave emotional performances during the three-hour show.
Dion sang Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” in strong form, sporting a shiny dress and backed by a powerful orchestra. Dion lost her husband and brother in the same week in January, and her son presented her with the Billboard icon award after her performance.
“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for crying. I want to be so strong for my family and kids ... I don’t want to cry in front of you,” a teary Dion said to Rene-Charles Angelil.
Other performances were not as strong: Justin Bieber sang his hits “Company” and “Sorry” with the help of a backing track as bright laser lights beamed throughout the performance.
Demi Lovato’s performance of “Cool for the Summer” was among the night’s best. She made a statement by wearing a shirt featuring an inclusive bathroom symbol, taking a stance against North Carolina’s recent law addressing LGBT rights and bathroom use by transgender people. Lovato, who is on tour with Nick Jonas, recently canceled shows in North Carolina in protest of the state’s law.
Pink also impressed with her performance — featuring her signature high-flying moves — while she sang her new song, “Just Like Fire.” Ariana Grande and Rihanna — who won the fan-voted Billboard chart achievement award — were also highlights with strong vocals.
Bieber was a double winner, including a win for top male artist, beating The Weeknd, Drake, Ed Sheeran and Fetty Wap.
Adele’s best-seller “25” bested albums from Taylor Swift, Bieber, the Weeknd and Sheeran for top Billboard 200 album. At the show, she premiered her music video for the single, “Send My Love (To Your New Lover).”
Gospel artist Kirk Franklin, rapper Wiz Khalifa, pop singer Charlie Puth and the bands twenty one pilots, Walk the Moon and Hillsong UNITED also won multiple awards. In a surprise win, Meek Mill’s “Dreams Worth More Than Money” won top rap album, beating Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” Dr Dre’s “Compton,” Drake’s “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” and Drake and Future’s collaborative album, “What a Time to Be Alive.”
Ciara and Ludacris hosted the show. In the opening monologue, the rapper poked at this year’s Academy Awards, which featured all-white acting nominees.
“Unlike the Oscars, we actually have black nominees,” Ludacris said to laughs.
Madonna came under fire late Sunday for her tribute to Prince during the Billboard Music Awards ceremony, which critics saw as too distant from the late artist himself.
Wearing a shimmering lilac-colored suit, Madonna took to the Las Vegas stage at the end of the evening and sang “Nothing Compares 2 U” followed by “Purple Rain” as she held the hand of surprise guest Stevie Wonder.
Emotion
Despite the tangible emotion, critics said her performance was disappointing, panning it on social media.
Her interpretation was full of languor and devoid of any solo guitar — a key element of the late Minneapolis singer’s repertoire — and far removed from a typical Prince performance and its unique brand of danceable funk.
Wonder was spared the criticism, with most commentators saying he had saved the performance from even worse failure.
Writing on Twitter, British singer Dave Stewart of Eurythmics set the tone: “Please don’t have Madonna attempt a Prince song.” And shortly afterward: “Too late.” She was the last of a line of artists who paid tribute to the late singer, including Wiz Khalifa, Seal and Canadian singer The Weeknd, who dedicated his first prize to Prince.
“I don’t know him. But he was very close to me. And he will always be an inspiration. And of course, helped me push the envelope forever, and every artist I hope,” said the visibly-emotional singer, who took home eight trophies.
During his last televised appearance, Prince had given The Weeknd a prize at the American Music Awards in late November.
“That was the greatest experience of my entire life,” the Canadian singer said.
Another highlight was a performance by Dion, who was making her return to the stage since the death of her husband Rene Angelil in mid-January.
The Quebecer, who received the Billboard Icon Award honoring her illustrious career, sang Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” in tribute to her late husband.
Rene Angelil “will continue to watch over me from above,” she tearfully after receiving the prize from her firstborn son Rene-Charles.
With the awards based on commercial results and popularity, the evening was dominated by a string of dramatic performances rather than any suspense over the winners.
Billboard ranks album sales in the United States each week.
For the annual awards, it takes into account both digital and analog music sales, radio plays and online streaming, as well as concerts and social network activity.
Besides The Weeknd’s big wins, Adele won five trophies, among them the prestigious awards for top artist, top female artist and top-selling song. Her other wins were for top Billboard 200 artist and top Billboard 200 album.
Following much back-and-forth over the past week, Kesha performed Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me, Babe” at the Billboard Music Awards Sunday night.
Joined by Ben Folds on piano, the scene slowed down for Kesha’s performance as she crooned the Dylan hit. Clad in a white suit, adorned with rainbows and trees, the songstress gave a calm and controlled showing on stage at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
There was notably no mention of her legal struggles with Dr Luke, something that had been speculated ever since Kesha’s performance was first announced.
Following the performance, the crowd was on its feet, cheering on the star as she stood on stage.
The performance previously had been uncertain due to those legal struggles with Dr Luke and Sony. Earlier this week, Dick Clark Productions issued a statement saying that Kesha’s performance was a no-go because the Sony-owned Kemosabe Records rescinded permission allowing her to sing.
Plan
After Kesha wrote on her Instagram, however, that she did not plan to call out Dr Luke and their litigation during the performance, Kemosabe announced that it’s given Kesha the greenlight, saying in a statement, “Approval was only suspended when Kemosabe learned Kesha was to use the performance as a platform to discuss the litigation.”
Kesha has accused Dr Luke of physical, emotion and sexual abuse, and sought to be released from her Sony contract. A judge ruled against Kesha earlier this year, holding her to her contract with Sony.
Kesha has made a few public appearances since the ruling, including performing “True Colors” with Zedd at Coachella and Lady Gaga’s “Til It Happens to You” at the Humane Society Gala in Los Angeles.
Justin Bieber sang his hits “Company” and “Sorry” at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards with the help of a backing track as bright laser lights beamed throughout the performance. He walked from side to side, performing a few dance moves but didn’t match the energy of his backup dancers.
Bieber was named top male artist at the show airing live on ABC from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, beating Drake, the Weeknd, Ed Sheeran and Fetty Wap.
“I’m not really a talker, but I’ll say thank you to my family. I want to thank God. I want to thank everyone that believed in me and believes in me,” Bieber said.
Other performers include Rihanna, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Ariana Grande, the Go-Go’s and Troye Sivan.
Clara and Ludacris are hosting the show, and the rapper opened the show by poking fun at the recent Academy Awardy Awards, which featured all-white acting nominees.
The first award of the night — for top hot 100 artist — went to The Weeknd, the night’s top nominee.
“Whoa,” Khalifa exclaimed as his mother cheered him on from the audience. Thomas Rhett won top country song for “Die A Happy Man.” “This is incredible. I got to thank God. I got to thank my wife,” he said.
Britney Spears kicked off the 2016 Billboard Music Awards — clearly lip syncing — with a performance that featured several of her hits and some of her signature dance moves.
Spears performed songs like “I’m a Slave 4 U” and “Toxic” in a shimmery red number, removing her jacket to reveal her toned body. She walked from stage to stage, grinding on top of a large guitar during “I Love Rock N Roll” at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Though Spears’ performance was full of energy, the threehour show will feature emotional performances, too. (Agencies)