Justin Bieber - Social Artsit
Katy Perry - Spotify
Wiz Khalifa - Best New Artist
Taylor Swift - Woman of the Year
LMFAO - Hot 100 Song of the Year
LMFAO - Top Duo or Group
Lil Wayne - Male Artist of the Year
Chris Brown - Top R&B Artist of the Year
WHITNEY HOUSTON - Millennium Award
STEVIEW WONDER - Billboard Icon Award
There were performances by Kelly Clarkson, The Wanted, Chris Brown, Usher Raymond, Justin Bieber, who ever the girl's name is who performed the song "Call Me Maybe," Carrie Underwood, Lincoln Park, Katy Perry, Jordin Sparks, John Legend, Cee-Lo Green and the Goodie Mob, Nelly Furtado, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder.
Brandy looked AMAZING! The Donna Summer tribute was a disappointment. Why they had to cut it off though and go to commercial? Chris Brown is a little too grunge for me. Usher's performance was a little bit boring. I much rathered him perform "Climax." Tameka Raymond tweeted "So how bout them Yankees" after Usher's performance. That was the highlight of the awards show for me at that point! lol... I loved Justin Bieber's performance! He delivered the swagg and the urban element that was missing in Chris Brown and Usher's performances. The kid has officially grown up! I can't believe LMFAO walked away with 2 BMA's. They beat out Cold Play, Black Eyed Peas, Lady Antebellum, etc. Really, WHO are these guys? The music is fun, for now, but I don't believe in microwave success. Now, where in the world could Lil Wayne have possibly been on this side of the hemisphere that he could not be in Las Vegas to accept his Billboard award?.. Really?... #fail
The WHITNEY TRIBUTE was performed by Jordin Sparks and John Legend! I still can't believe she's gone. I expected Whitney to join them in song. Jordin was beautiful and sounded amazing. I'm SURE she got extra vocal training to pull off that song, "I Will Always Love You." I really wished to see Brandy and Monica participate in the tribute. We all know how much they loved Whitney and the role she played in their lives.
The Beastie Boys Tribute by Cee Lo and the Goodie Mob was aight. Okay, that band who Tai Cruz "mentored" was saying something about dying on the dance floor and nobody's leaving alive.. Yea, I wasn't feeling that, at all. Nelly Furtado had a very confusing circus show performance. What she was doing with those Indian rain dancers with the hoola hoops and the women on stilts, I don't really know, and where did she get those hips from? Alicia Keys performed along side Stevie Wonder which was really nice. I finally felt the mature, sophisticated, R&B essence of the awards show that was missing through out. Stevie asked Alicia to sing "New York" for him as a birthday gift, but they were in Las Vegas. That was funny, lol. He also challenged us to "put our best love forward" to change the world.
Overall, I was a little concerned with this year's Billboard Awards, but they redeemed themselves towards the end with the Whitney Tribute and Stevie Wonder closing out the show. I'll give them a pass.
-J.Couture
