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Tag: Justin Timberlake

  • 2007 American Music Awards: The Cure For Your Insomnia!!

    When I was a kid, there was one night I knew I would be allowed to stay up past my bedtime for-the American Music Awards. While I didn’t appreciate the Grammys until much later (too serious, too much non-pop music), the AMAs were the fun award show. Over the past couple of years, though, it’s gotten a bit boring. Whether it’s because the marginally talented Jimmy Kimmel has hosted for the past four years or whether it’s because a sizable chunk of winners have stopped showing up (it’s become abundantly obvious lately that winners are now notified before the ceremony, guaranteeing their appearance), the show has lost some of it’s luster. Or maybe I’m just getting older.
    Unlike the MTV VMAs and the Soul Train Awards, both of which completely jumped the shark this year, the AMAs found themselves in a holding pattern. Here were this year’s Top 5 highlights and lowlights.
    Highlights:
    1) Alicia Keys turning in a spirited performance of the remix to her hit “No One”, featuring cute choreography and guest appearances from reggae legends Beenie Man, Junior Reid and Chaka Demus & Pliers. If you were from New York (or Jamaica), you probably stood up and cheered (because all of the songs they performed were HUGE hits in the NYC area). If you were anywhere else in the country, you probably scratched your head and wondered who those folks were.
    2) Beyonce’s performance of “Irreplaceable” with country duo Sugarland. When I first heard “Irreplaceable”, I thought it sounded a little bit country. Hell, the song’s writer, Ne-Yo, said in several interviews that he wanted to write country music. But who knew it would work so well with a twangy arrangement? Hell, she’s already made a Latin album. Could Beyonce’s next step be a two-step to Nashville?
    3) Mary J. Blige, who turned out a stellar performance of “Just Fine”. MJB has come a long way from dodgy notes, shakin’ her booty while singing the song perfectly. I had to chuckle when she soft-tossed her sunglasses to the side. They must have been too expensive to chuck into the audience. While “Just Fine” in no way shape or form sounds like a typical Mary J. song, it has grown on me a great deal. It wa also funny how ABC’s cameras tried their best to shoot from the chest up, considering she was wearing a fairly sheer top.
    4) The “Soulja Boy” skit, featuring Kelly Pickler and Jordin Sparks, along with host Jimmy Kimmel. Oh come on, you didn’t laugh at that?
    5) Rihanna and Ne-Yo’s classy duet of “Hate That I Love You”. Who knew she could sing live? Rihanna did a very nice job.
    Lowlights:
    1) Jimmy Kimmel. Despite the “Soulja Boy” skit, almost everything else he did fell flat (wow, guess he really does need writers). When your comic trick bag consists of yet more jokes about Snoop getting arrested and smoking pot and a punching match with Kid Rock, you’re in pretty bad shape. Kudos for not making any Britney jokes, though.
    2) The Soul/R&B category. While I don’t have a problem with Justin Timberlake winning Favorite Soul/R&B Album over R. Kelly and Beyonce (it was certainly the best album of the three), what’s up with Rihanna winning Favorite Soul/R&B Female? Last I checked, she wasn’t exactly an R&B singer. Even SHE expressed surprise at winning the category.
    3) The Jonas Brothers-one of only two acts that lip-synched (Chris Brown was the other, and considering the choreography, I’m willing to give him a pass there).
    4) Usher’s presentation to Beyonce of the International Artist Award, in which he stumbled over the TelePrompter and the award inscription at least five times. Yo, Ush…it’s called “rehearsal”.
    5) Duran Duran’s lame performance of “Hungry Like The Wolf”. While I admire the fact that bassist John Taylor seems to have not aged in the past twenty years, it seems like Simon LeBon was more hungry than the wolf was and probably ate it.
    If you must know, it was “American Idol” night at the AMAs. Chris Daughtry (oh, excuse me. The “band” Daughtry) and Carrie Underwood won three awards each. Kelly Pickler, Jordin Sparks and Ryan Seacrest also made appearances. They tried to bring Ruben out, but he wouldn’t leave the catering tray.
    Justin Timberlake won two awards via satellite and seemed completely unenthused.
    Here’s a full list of winners:
    Favorite Male Artist, Pop/Rock: Justin Timberlake
    Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock: Fergie
    Favorite Group, Pop/Rock: Nickelback
    Favorite Album, Pop/Rock: “Daughtry” Daughtry
    Favorite Male Artist, Country: Tim McGraw
    Favorite Female Artist, Country: Carrie Underwood
    Favorite Group, Country: Rascal Flatts
    Favorite Album, Country: “Some Hearts” Carrie Underwood
    Favorite Male Artist, R&B: Akon
    Favorite Female Artist, R&B: Rihanna
    Favorite Album, R&B: “Futuresex/Lovesounds” Justin Timberlake
    Favorite Rap Artist: T.I.
    Favorite Rap Group: Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony
    Favorite Rap Album: “T.I. vs. T.I.P” T.I.
    Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist: Daughtry
    Favorite Alternative Artist: Linkin Park
    Favorite Latin Artist: Jennifer Lopez
    Favorite Inspirational Artist: Casting Crowns
    Breakthrough Artist: Daughtry
    International Artist Award: Beyonce
    T-Mobile Text-In Award (for favorite artist of the year): Carrie Underwood

  • The M Now Stands For "Mess"…A Hot One…

    So, I’m an award show junkie. Well, specific to music awards shows, anyway. You won’t catch me watching the Oscars (at least not with both eyes open), but…the Grammys? American Music Awards? BET Awards? Soul Train Awards? I’m there! Which is why it hurts me to say that the majority of these ceremonies blow chunks now.

    I didn’t actually watch last night’s MTV Video Music Awards…I was actually at Farm Aid’s inagural trip to NYC (yeah! Mellencamp!!), but anyone who stops by www.mtv.com can pick and choose which parts of the show they’d like to see…pity that most of the show (at least the parts I decided to click on) weren’t worth seeing.

    The performances were cut into little chunks (very few of them were complete), and the amount of awards given out has shrunk to damn near zero. There were no nutty acceptance speeches (someone call Fiona Apple or Macy Gray stat), and even the presentation of an award by 50 Cent and Kanye West together didn’t generate any sparks.

    What we were left with was the last nail in the coffin of Britney Spears’ career (although, to be fair about it, her performance was no better or no worse than any previous VMA performance…say, has anyone EVER seen/heard Britney sing live on TV???), a performance of “Wake Up Call” that signaled that Adam Levine might be taking the jump soon from lead singer of Maroon 5 to former lead singer of Maroon 5, a WHOLE lot of Justin Timberlake, and Mary J. Blige making mincemeat of her teleprompter.

    Oh, and Beyonce’s boobs nearly fell out of her dress. Awesome!!

    Actually, the chopped up format by which you can view on MTV’s site is better than having to sit through it on TV because you can skip around to the good parts, which were few and far between: I’m not sure how I feel about Chris Brown, but damn it, the boy can dance. After Cee-Lo’s performance of “Darling Nikki” with the Foo Fighters, it’s my contention that he would do the best black rock album of all time. Ah, and have I mentioned Beyonce’s boobs?

    Oh, and Justin implored the powers that be at MTV to play more videos. Wise call, considering the network only airs actual music during the graveyard shift.

  • 2007 Video Music Awards (VMAs) Random Thoughts

    Right now, I have no cable until tomorrow. So what I’m actually doing is searching through YouTube to find the entire show. Just kidding. I taped it at the house and I’m watching it on delay. Except, I have to go on MTVs website to find Britney’s performance. But my sister already text messaged me to say how horrible it was. I don’t have high hopes.

    • Wait, she even had to lip sync her own laugh?
    • It kind of looks like she’s even lip synching the wrong lyrics.
    • Is Britney brave or dumb to come out in her underwear while in less than Britney in underwear shape?
    • Even 50 Cent looked appalled at her performance.
    • Rihanna was like, “Yesterday’s newspaper …”
    • They decided to hold the VMAs in the same Palms hotel that the horrendous “Real World Las Vegas” reunion show was held. This isn’t looking good.
    • When Sarah Silverman’s 15 minutes of fame is up sometime next year, who is going to make fun of her?
    • That’s what Mark Ronson looks like?
    • Hey Alicia Keys, there’s a piano over there. This hosting thing isn’t for everyone.
    • Rihanna just beat out about 20 nominees for the Monster Single of the Year. How about cutting it down to the top 5 next year?
    • Kanye can’t get much wronger rockin’ out in the Hef suite.
    • Justin Timberlake wins the Quadruple Threat Award, which is for people who do more than just make music. Wait, what else does Justin do again? Oh yah, Jessica made me watch Alpha Dogs.
    • Kanye and 50 Cent present Most Earth-Shattering Collaboration and simply give each other the stink eye. But Kanye gets the better of it because Beyonce (the winner with Shakira) gave him a kiss.
    • By the way, this just in. Beyonce is hot.
    • Adam Levine has a helluva voice. But dude should try something called eating. His arms are the size of pipe cleaners.
    • This just in. Chris Brown can dance.
    • Hmm, I wonder who he got his moves from?
    • He just showed us with his ode to Billy Jean.
    • Was that Kriss Kross rappin’ in Kanye’s suite? Oh, it was someone named Soulja Boy.
    • Shia Labeouf has a sweet porn stache.
    • Fergie wins Female Artist of the Year and Labeouf says Luda is going to accept the award for Fergie and Luda just laughs and leaves him hanging. Shia was sweatin’ a little.
    • Meagan looks like a Fox, but not better than Beyonce.
    • Alicia Keys just showed the rest of the singers how to leave it all on the stage.
    • Jamie Foxx outdoes LL Cool J’s 1993 awards show performance (14 Shots To The Dome) and drops the date of his new movie about 6 times (Sept. 28th if you missed it).
    • So that’s what Dr. Dre has been doing rather than working on Detox. The dude has been drinking his protein shakes. He looked like he had shoulder pads on underneath his sweater. Dre, you don’t need no more testosterone man.
    • With blond hair, Nelly Furtado looks like the spawn of Jessica Simpson and a young Madonna.
    • Ok, someone needs to give Timbo a piss test too. What’s up with these producers? Do you really need big arms and shoulders to play drum machines?
    • Britney might’ve received the most buzz, (well, Britney was probably the most buzzed) but Chris Brown and Alicia Keys stole the show.