Sunday was home to this year’s American Music Awards, where voters had the power, artists lit their good girl personas aflame, and bottoms were on full display.
The annual event was hosted by Pitbull, who played double duty as a performer too. In his opening monologue, he made references to the power of the hispanic community, Obama’s new immigration policy, and his admiration of the Jennifer Lopez and Iggy Azalea “Booty” music video.
Taylor Swift opened the show with the debut performance of her new single “Blank Space,” which featured her recreating the music video and demonstrating to future boyfriends – and exes – that she isn’t afraid to play with fire.
Following Swift’s fiery performance was the first award of the night, for Pop/Rock band or duo, which ironically went to One Direction. The group was later presented the award for pop/rock album for “Midnight Memories” by former boy-bander and turned actor, Donnie Wahlberg.
The telecast featured throwbacks to the 80’s, with boy band 5 Seconds of Summer performing “What I Like About You” by the Romantics, complete with caution tape over their amplifiers and bright red dyed hair. Charli XCX joined in on the throwback with smashing performance of her new single “Break The Rules,” where she literally smashed a lollipop like a mini Peter Townsend.
This year has been a big year for Iggy Azalea: she became the first woman to have two singles in the top chart and she beat out Eminem and Drake for Favorite Hip Hop/Rap Album and Artist. Azalea was also featured in three performances that night, with her own “Fancy” and “Beg For It,” and later her power-of-booty anthem, similarly titled “Booty,” alongside Jennifer Lopez.
If the award show was boring at all to anyone, Lorde’s performance was a bucket of ice cold water. The singer performed her “Yellow Flicker Beat,” off the Hunger Games: Mockingjay soundtrack. During the performance, she zombie-danced her way around the stage, flipped her hair around, and ended it by wiping her dark lipstick across her face.
The biggest award of the night, the Dick Clark Award for Excellence, was given to its first ever recipient Taylor Swift by Diana Ross. During her speech, Swift made a point to remind the audience and viewers that it is important that they support artists by purchasing albums. Her own album, 1989, recently reached platinum status with 1.287 million copies sold its first week.
Other awards handed out that night were New Artist of the Year, which went to 5 Seconds of Summer, and Favorite Pop/Rock male and female going to Sam Smith and Katy Perry, respectively.
The biggest winners of the night were One Direction, who picked up awards for their album, group, and the title of Artist of the Year.
Other artists that provided the musical entertainment of the night, but were lost in the mix of a scorned Taylor, a convulsing Lorde, and a broken lollipop, Selena Gomez’s heartfelt “The Heart Wants What it Wants,” the lady marmalades of 2014 Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nick Minaj with “Bang Bang,” and the Sam Smith and Asap Rocky collaboration of “I’m Not the only One.”
This year’s American Music Awards proved the power of One Direction fans, the rising power of Iggy Azalea, and the everlasting domination of Taylor Swift.
