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“Last nights AMAs seems to have met all 3 award show requirements: a staged controversy, a gaffe and a triumph.” Couldn’t have said it any better myself, John Mayer’s Twitter. Let’s take a closer look at last night’s zany show, complete with performance videos:
UPDATE: Looks like Dick Clark Productions got around to pulling down most of the YouTube clips. We replaced what we could find, but in some cases, we apologize for the lack of video proof for some of the performances.
Staged Controversy
We’re not exactly sure how “staged” this must be, but the biggest controversy of the night seems to be Adam Lambert turning the AMA stage into his own personal sex club. He pulls a guy’s head into his crotch, has his lyrics censored, and then producers cut away to an aerial shot as soon as humanly possible. (Meanwhile, dragging a woman across the floor by her leg and leading two men by a leash? Totally fine!) Check out the split-second faux blowie at 1:14, and tell us if you think this is inappropriate for a prime-time awards show, or the best way for Lambert to announce to the world he’s here, he’s queer, and he enjoys miming sex acts in public:
Gaffe
Paula Abdul’s mic didn’t work, while Rascal Flatts’ presentation speech turned into a giant echo effect for laughs. But the biggest gaffe had to be Jennifer Lopez falling over during her performance of “Louboutins,” which must sting doubly for the diva, since a) this was supposed to be her triumphant return to performing, and b) she wasn’t even wearing heels, so there’s no excuse for falling over. Only people on the East Coast got to enjoy it, so here it is again for all you West Coasters (us included):
A Triumph
Is Mr. Mayer talking about Taylor Swift beating Michael Jackson (again: Michael Jackson!) for Artist of the Year? (Man, we’re glad Kanye West wasn’t at the awards, we can just imagine the hissy-fit he’d be throwing that the King of Pop got denied a trophy.) Perhaps, but we personally think the biggest triumphs of the night were these particular performances:
Janet Jackson – Medley Of Her Hits
Besides dressing like a Star Trek Brownie, Janet Jackson was incredible. Forgot how many amazing songs she’s responsible for, too.
Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance” and “Speechless”
We would have been more shocked if she came out wearing sweatpants than something terrifyingly kooky. And that choreography for “Bad Romance” is supposed to be cheesy on purpose… right? But not even the pyro-piano could distract from the fact that Ms. Germanotta can belt.
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
The epitome of class. Can Jay-Z and Alicia re-team for another song about Los Angeles? Damn if LA doesn’t need a personality makeover.
Kelly Clarkson – “Already Gone”
Looking fantastic, sounding amazing—nobody could pull this song off like Kelly. (Okay, maybe Beyoncé.)
Whitney Houston—“I Didn’t Know My Own Strength”
Whitney Houston is back, and as for her voice—we’ll take what we can get. Let’s hope this comeback isn’t just a one-off before she fades back into retirement.
Carrie Underwood – “Cowboy Casanova”
Men everywhere: don’t be misled by this burlesque-inspired performance. No actual exotic dancers look as good as Carrie Underwood.
Rihanna—”Wait Your Turn” and “Hard”
Sexiest mummy covered in laser pointers we’ve ever seen.
All in all, it was a pretty epic awards show, and if you were one of the 14.2 million people who watched, you were most likely entertained. Now we’ll just have to wait for Mayer’s live-tweeting of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
Big fucking deal. America got to see the entirety of Devin Hester’s ass in last night’s Philadelphia/Chicago football game.
Adam Lambert: pretender!
That Adam Lambert song is horrible. (And he didn’t even sing it very well.) The album has a few very good tracks – this is simply not one of them.
I actually think it’s one of the stronger songs on his album (even if it has the same distinct beat as Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl) Dr. Luke produced both of them.
Anyone who doesn’t report the Janet performance as “phoned in” really has no place in the world reporting on music or musical performances.
im gay and offended by the adam lambert performance – only because it was abismal; the song was hideous; he was off key and it looked like he was trying way too hard – that keyboardist looked semi cute though…
AMA had a lot of great performers.. Adam Lambert should be assamed of himself. Thank God he was the last performer so I could turn the TV OFF!!! I am all about expession oneself, but that was extremely tasteless and ugly. Good Job Adam. Glad you did not win American Idol because you are definately NOT any example, especially when we have Kerri and Kelly so classy>>>
I don’t really get all the uproar. Cause there was some guy on guy kissing on TV? A simulated blowie? All of this has been aired before on network television; except it usually has a female involved (Madonna/Christina/Britney kiss, anyone?).
That Adam Lambert he is disgusting! WoW! No way in heck thats art…he cleary has issues. It just gives music a bad name. That kind of stuff makes it harder for real artist people who really have a God given talent to make music, pursue their dreams and do what they love. If he would’ve been the American Idol winner it would’ve been a shame!
janet jackson was the best, she just gave me chills, all those hits and all that dance power
all that emotion
i loved it
love michael for winning 4!!! he deserved the other one too, but what can you do
@tori, please leave your bad grammar on myspace.
I left my bad grandma on facebook, has anyone seen her?
Now maybe, people will give our real American Idol winner a break and showcase his music instead. Adam Lambert is a sham . . . I’d go home with my KRIS ALLEN CD anytime. GO KRIS
Adam Lambert going for the Futuristic Rex Reed look I see.
To Those of You Upset By Adam’s Performance at the AMA’s:
Imagine Adam at the Zodiac Show or perhaps as a new singer for Queen. I’m sure you would expect the same “in your face” attitude which is befitting a rock star. We truly loyal fans witnessed it during the AI tours, so most of us were prepared for and eagerly awaiting the sexual energy that he exudes. I’m sure you’ve heard about the lingerie and assorted sex toys being thrown on the stage when he performed.
Adam has that “I want to do it my way” attitude, a sure sign of a great artist. Obviously many Americans weren’t quite ready for him to fly his freak flag quite so high. I think the shock was that he’s a gay man doing similar things that many female artists have done in the past, and in fact were doing at these very AMA’s. A change definitely needs to come.
I do think there could have been perhaps more warnings and ratings right before his performance at the AMA’s. But at that time of night, I guess it was assumed that children were in bed. I truly do not believe he was trying to be offensive. He cares about children, as evidenced by his contest among his fans with Donors.Choose.org in which over $220,000 was raised for schools. He’s a nice guy who was a little too rambunctious for his first show.
Please don’t let one performance persuade you to ignore listening to his music. He is an extraordinarily talented singer, and such a kind-hearted, intelligent, and articulate soul. If you are offended in any way by this performance, please open your heart, give him another chance and listen to the music. You won’t be sorry. There were so many talented songwriters who worked with him, and he’s worked so very hard to entertain us.
We love you, Adam!
EVEN WITH ZOMBIEBOT’S NEAR-UNLIMITED PROCESSING POWER, ZOMBIEBOT COULD NOT MUSTER THE STRENGTH TO SYNTHESIZE YOUR COMMENT. JABBERWOCKY MAKES THE UNABOMBER MANIFESTO SOUND CONCISE BY COMPARISON.
@ZOMBIEBOT-C37: or you could have just said tl;dr
I was a Adam Lambert fan when he was on Idol, but his performance Sunday night shocked me. And not in a good way.
I loved Kelly Clarkson’s performance. It was stunning. Second for me was the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys numbers. Whitney, Mary J, Carrie Underwood and Daughtry performed well too. Gaga and BEP were entertaining acts. Did not love all the people that lip synched or those who looked cheap and desperate. A music show should be about the music, one would think.
@Devo Wow,it doesn’t surprise me one bit that the Lambert song is related to the Katy Perry song. That was the exact impression I got listening.
In the WORST possible way.
That was all that was truly offensive about the performance. The titillation stuff was just over the top in a lazily brazen way. I think even our most beloved flamboyant performers of yore had a sense of restraint and nuance & how to incorporate it into a performance. Lambert will do better when he acquires a bit of that.
what’s with all the gushing over this abysmal roster of ‘talent’ ? when did idolator turn into a teeny-bopper fanzine ??
@ el polacko
Since Maura and that other stuck-up guy went away . . . good riddance, I daresay . . .
I saw Musical Award. I was watching it with my children. He is evil and should not be allow to do what he did again. Pornographic should be allow after midnight.
thats right, big fucking deal, agree
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