Justin Bieber won three times last night at the 40th
American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, and warmed up along
the way from a peevish start to sounding genuinely moved by the end of
the show.
"I'm just so blown away right now. I want to thank you
for just always believing in me," he said, turning to his mother when
he took the stage for the last time. "I want to thank just everyone.
This is amazing . . . As long as you guys keep believing in me, I will
never – " Bieber trailed off, overcome for a moment, then resumed: "I
will always make you proud."
Photos: 2012 American Music Awards Red Carpet
Bieber also won Favorite Pop/Rock Album for Believe,
beating out Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj and One Direction; and Favorite
Pop/Rock Male Artist, besting mentor Usher, Flo Rida and Pitbull. The
Canadian teen phenom sounded defiant after his first win. "This is for
all the haters that thought that I was here for maybe one or two years,"
said Bieber, who was wearing red sequined slippers not unlike Dorothy's
from The Wizard of Oz. "I feel like I'm going to be here for a very long time."
Sure
enough, he wasn't offstage for long before returning to perform a
stripped-down version of "As Long As You Love Me" seated on a stool and
accompanied by a guitarist who strummed along beside him. Then he got up
and kicked into a full-on production of "Beauty and a Beat" that
featured a guest spot from Nicki Minaj.
Minaj got plenty of her own screen time: she won Favorite Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,
and she performed "Freedom" on a snowy set with frosted white trees.
"I've gotta thank everybody that had anything to do with my career
ever," she said after winning Favorite Hip-Hop Artist, singling out the
devoted fans she calls "Barbz."
In addition to commemorating 40
years of the AMAs, last night's show included a tribute to founder Dick
Clark, who died April 18th. In honor of Clark's contributions to music
and pop culture, Stevie Wonder performed a medley of "Master Blaster
(Jammin')," "My Cherie Amour" and "Sir Duke," and recalled meeting Clark
in Philadelphia when the singer was just 13. "I remember his
friendship, his kindness, and I remember his love for music, and his
love for people," Wonder said.
Wonder's was just one performance
on a show that was full of them, interspersed among the awards –
although the showstopper had nothing to do with the trophies. K-pop star
Psy closed the AMAs with his global smash "Gangnam Style," which came
with an added twist: halfway through, MC Hammer showed up, resulting in a
"Gangnam Style" mashup with Hammer's "2 Legit 2 Quit."
Usher
opened the telecast with a medley that included "Can't Stop Won't Stop,"
amid a small army of backup dancers and a barrage of flickering lights.
(He also won Favorite Soul/R&B Male Performer.) Later, Carly Rae
Jepsen began her performance with new single "This Kiss," but there was
no way she was getting out of there without also singing "Call Me
Maybe," which she did with great enthusiasm. Jepsen also won the Old
Navy New Artist of the Year award. "To the fans, I am floored! Thank
you," Jepsen said.
After Taylor Swift bested Miranda Lambert and
Carrie Underwood to win Favorite Country Female Artist, she performed
her song "I Knew You Were Trouble," vamping through costume changes on a
set with a grand staircase and a bunch of chandeliers hanging from the
ceiling.
Kelly Clarkson breezed through a medley of her biggest
hits, including "Miss Independent," "Since U Been Gone" and "Stronger,"
while Pink re-created the turbulent sensuality of the video for her song
"Try." When it was her turn, Christina Aguilera let her voice loose on
"Army of Me," which flowed into "Let There Be Love." She was back a few
minutes later to join Pitbull onstage after the Miami rapper performed a
medley of his songs.
Ke$ha sang her new single, "Die Young,"
flanked by male dancers whose faces were painted to resemble Day of the
Dead zombies. No Doubt blew through their latest single "Looking Hot,"
complete with jets of pyro to emphasize the hot part.
Linkin
Park won their fifth award for Favorite Alternative Rock Music Artist,
squeaking past the Black Keys and Gotye. The band later thundered
through the song "Burn It Down."
After a series of low-key,
almost disinterested acceptance speeches, Luke Bryan actually seemed
excited when he won Favorite Male Country Performer, beating Jason
Aldean and Eric Church. "I want to thank my wife for letting me be a big
kid out on the road every week, playing shows," he said.
David
Guetta was the first-ever winner award for Favorite Electronic Dance
Music Artist, topping Skrillex and Calvin Harris. Winning the award is a
sign of how big EDM has become in the United States, Guetta said by
video link from a tour stop in Brazil.
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