How much do you wanna bet that Kanye's going to try to take at least some credit for the streak of success country crossover star Taylor Swift has had since the two last met? I'm guessing it's likely, given that Swift outshined even Michael Jackson at Sunday's American Music Awards, taking home five trophies - including artist of the year.
Jackson was an odds-favorite to win the coveted artist of the year trophy, but ended up with four awards including favorite male artist in the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories, while his 2003 hits collection Number Ones was named favorite album in both those categories. The album is the No. 2 seller this year in the United States.
Other multiple winners included hip-hop acts Jay-Z and the Black Eyed Peas, with two each. The Peas were named favorite group in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. Jay-Z won favorite male artist and favorite album in the rap/hip-hop categories. His wife Beyonce, who was performing a show in Dublin, was named favorite female artist in the soul/R&B category.
Green Day won the favorite alternative artist, while Rascal Flatts won favorite country group for the fourth year in a row. Eminem, Lady GaGa and Kings of Leon, who each earned between three and four nominations, all went home empty-handed.
The show itself included its share of tabloid-fodder highlights. Openly gay "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert ground his crotch into another male dancer's face and kissed an androgynous male keyboardist.
Jennifer Lopez, meanwhile, assed out and hit the stage hard during her stupid-ass new song "Louboutins" after jumping off the arched back of one of her dancers.
While some of the performances were a little flat (Rihanna), the highlights were some of the best of recent award shows. Kelly Clarkson owned a stripped-down version of "Almost Gone," while The Black Eyed Peas earned a standing ovation for their renditions of "I Got A Feeling" and "Boom Boom Pow," which saw Will.i.am wearing a pompadour wig and Kanye West sunglasses. The medley ended with a few riffs of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Eminem made a rare awards-show appearance, hooding up to perform "Crack a Bottle" with 50 Cent and a live band.
Lady Gaga was the most dynamic performer of the night, however, playing the emotionally charged "Speechless" on a piano engulfed in flames in a glass case. That followed her live take on "Bad Romance," her current single.
Swift, 19, was also named favorite female artist in the pop/rock and country categories, and favorite adult-contemporary artist. Her 2008 album Fearless, was the best-selling release in the United States this year, and was named favorite country album. She accepted her awards via satellite from backstage at London's Wembley Arena, where she's set to play in just a few hours.
"Music has never been ultimately about competition," Swift said in her artist of the year acceptance speech, while thanking Jackson and the Jackson family. "To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson, who we will miss and love forever, is an unimaginable honor."
Nominees for the American Music Awards are determined by radio airplay and retail sales, while members of the public determine the winners through internet voting. That's why Jackson got so many nominations, even though he didn't release any new material. The sheeple make their own rules! Or so they think.
Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift
Pop/Rock--Favorite Male Artist
Michael Jackson
Pop/Rock--Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Pop/Rock--Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Pop/Rock--Favorite Album
"Number Ones," Michael Jackson
Country--Favorite Male Artist
Keith Urban
Country--Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Country--Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts
Country--Favorite Album
"Fearless," Taylor Swift
Rap/Hip-Hop--Favorite Male Artist
Jay-Z
Rap/Hip-Hop--Favorite Album
"Blueprint 3," Jay-Z
Soul/R&B--Favorite Male Artist
Michael Jackson
Soul/R&B--Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Soul/R&B--Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Soul/R&B--Favorite Album
"Number Ones," Michael Jackson
Soundtracks--Favorite Album
"Twilight" Soundtrack
Alternative Rock--Favorite Artist
Green Day
Adult Contemporary--Favorite Artist
Taylor Swift
Latin--Favorite Artist
Aventura
Contemporary Inspirational--Favorite Artist
Mary Mary
T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award
Gloriana
International Awards of Excellence
Whitney Houston
