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To begin with, believe me when I say that I know my bit about the MTV Europe Music Awards, and that's beside the fact that I, myself, am an MTVer since 2007.
Since the 23rd of November 1995, the EMAs (in their second edition back then, from wonderful Paris and hosted by Jean Paul Gaultier) got me started in some sort of EMA ritual. The EMAs of the last 14 years have reflected incredibly clearly, year to year, the bad and good that was happening kind of following the overall direction of general culture. They've almost become a popular culture projection. Regardless of the credit crunch and the looming recession, no matter what mood seems to be in the air lately in the UK, Europe or all around the world, MTV got it all back on its track, making me incredibly proud of what I have seen tonight, with eyes nearly as starry as they were when I was 12 watching the EMAs for the very first time.
MTV has proven to be incredibly up to date, and regardless of the fact that the 15th EMAs from Liverpool were live on the 6th of November 2008, just 2 days after the US elections, and just one day after the world knew the President Elect to be Obama, both artist and authors were able to be ready and adapt their performances to help celebrate this fundamental moment in history.
Hosted by Katy Perry, the favourite American girl of the hour, who kisses girls and isn't the little bit ashamed of it (and why should she? she sparkled in a way I haven't seen since Jenny McCarthy in 1998), the EMAs 2008 left me astonished at how well they were able to summarize the unique moment in history we are currently living, and how they have also managed to become a moment that will be remembered in time itself, being probably, if not one of the top 3 EMAs shows in history.
The little award-stand was eventually back after being banished (unfairly, if you want my opinion) in 2003, and that alone brought back a lot of authority to the whole awards part of the show. The whole stage sets reminisced back to the old school 90s EMAs. One stage for performance, one for the awards presentations. Since evolution is not always bad, the MTV creatives have developed some new greatness in the last few years, such as the VIP area with alternative hosts (this year, another American favourite, 30 seconds to Mars) and unconventional performances spots, have been kept and transformed in their best incarnation thus far.
A private bar area, hosted by the bluer-than-sky-eyes of Jared Leto and his band mates, was where nearly all the stars hung out at one moment or another during the show, and it was all surrounded by an atmosphere that had a pleasant natural (sometimes even "improvised") aura to it. Mr Leto is a talented guy beside looks, and even if all the movies and albums he had done so far to date didn't quite convince me of this, when I saw him co-hosting tonight, I had to eventually give in and say: "he kicks ass". As did some of the stage sets. For example, As Duffy sang from some sort of fish tank, so The Killers delivered what is probably the best EMAs live performance ever.
Being an insider, I had had the chance to take a look at the script before the live show but believe me, when you read "slow reveal of wall", as much as the words give away the idea of how a feeling of anticipation might be delivered, there is no fantasy or imagination that could have successfully delivered an actual picture of the massive scenario The Killers were (in reality). The stage was setup with a massive 5-story wall made of screens, with just 5 empty boots filled by the 4 members of the band plus a symbolic "K!" in the lower right corner, with 3D graphics coordinated with the music throughout the song. There was so much in fact that the director must have felt guilty in taking away the attention from the band. The set is probably loathed a little bit by The Killers' fans, as the cameras were basically on long shots the whole time so that the whole massive "building-like-vertical-stage" was made the true subject of the performance.
It would've probably won as the most astonishing moment of the night if, the last award to be confirmed hadn't been presented by Bono. When Bono is presenting an award you know that the receiver is going to be a legend. So who on Earth could be so worthy and important that MTV went to bother Bono just to present an award? After some 3/4 minutes speech (totally self-written) the "Ultimate Legend" award was introduced, and I seriously started to feel my eyes tearing up. Set on the Echo Arena in Liverpool, UK, 2008, on the stage that in the last few years has lost so much credibility and dignity. Until tonight I had forgotten the time I had last heard someone (from inside or outside of MTV) saying positive things about MTV and its relation with art and music.
On that very stage a true music legend walked on. When I heard Bono talking about Sir Paul McCartney there was no way I could actually believe he would've then walked on that stage himself. But he did. He received the award with a great acceptance speech. It was a legendary moment and it's Sir ("Lord Saint" as Bono called him) Paul McCartney who created (or was at least a big part of) the whole popular music industry as we know it today. This was the moment I truly considered that MTV sincerely wanted to redeem itself. It chose Liverpool in the UK for this 15th edition, and in Liverpool, MTV sort of "kneeled" in front of the history of music itself represented by Paul McCartney. It was a great gesture to look openly at Sir Paul McCartney and thank him for his input into music and reward him for all his hard work over the years.
To true music, MTV had sadly become the enemy. After tonight? I seriously think MTV significantly and willingly tried to redeem itself. But whether all these good hopes and wills will stay true after tonight remains to be seen but hopefully it won't just be lost in another Kerry Katona/Calum Best 0-dignity show. What MTV made happen tonight, is something every music lover can honestly and shamelessly be grateful for.
It looks like in a way this 15th edition tried, and thankfully succeeded, to gather together all the successful details of the old school MTV EMAs and adapt them to 2008. Just enough without overdoing it. Some moments of tonight's show reminded me of what it felt like to be profoundly in love with something. Just as I felt when I was 12, watching my first EMAs and then starting -aware or not- to build my life around music. I wouldn't be all that surprised, if the 15th MTV Europe Music Awards show of tonight has had the same impact on some boy or girl who, after what they've seen tonight, will grow in the future to want to be the one backstage, when the lights go down, and the voices come aloud.
Jared Leto is fittt. I saw 30 seconds to mars play couple of years ago and they were pretty good. But yeh, he is gorgeous. And when he played Jordan Catalano in MSCL, ahhhhh. My ideal man.
I think you just summed up the reason for 30 Seconds to Mars' success, because their music is goddam awful. Truly hideous nonsense from a band that take themselves way too seriously. It's a shame that the guy's fame and looks have brought his band fame, because they really don't deserve it.
There is also something a bit creepy about a 37 year old aiming his music at 16 year old kids.
Agreed about him being a bit too old to be playing to that kind of crowd, but not all their music is shit. The Kill is really good. And there's a couple of others I like on the album, but admittedly I only went to have a good look at Leto. I don't like him as much these days with his emo hair and he's a bit fat now as well.
But that's the reason I went, as a 27 year old. I'm not sure 16 year olds feel the same way about him? I think they do actually like the music. He's a bit of a cock on stage as well, really angry and starts fights with the crowd and stuff.
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Re: The MTV EMAs - Liverpool 6th November 2008
I saw them in Cardiff Solus and although musically they were good it did not feel like a real band. It was an actor acting out a fantasy of his. Imagine great musicianship with no feeling or soul and you have 30 seconds to Mars.
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Admittedly I do find it quite hard to take emo Jared seriously, there is something about him in that band that doesn't feel very sincere, (possibly because it felt like he just reinvented himself). But I did enjoy the gig though, and he can sing live really well. However I far prefer him as an actor!
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The MTV EMAs - Liverpool 6th November 2008
Re: The MTV EMAs - Liverpool 6th November 2008
