Swift, Bieber win three a piece at MTV Europe Music Awards

Both singers feel proud to win even outside of United States.

FRANKFURT:

Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber shared the spoils in Frankfurt on Sunday at the MTV Europe Music Awards, each scooping three prizes at one of the biggest nights in the pop calendar outside the United States.

American country singer Swift, who left the Country Music Association awards empty-handed less than two weeks earlier, picked up honours for Best Female, Best Live and Best Look. “Drei? Drei? I can’t believe you gave me three awards,” Swift, who was nominated in five categories, told the boisterous crowd of 7,000, trying out her best German.

One of the night’s most popular performers was dance sensation PSY with his record-breaking hit “Gangnam Style,” which won Best Video. “This is beautiful. This is my very first time to participate, perform, be nominated, as an Asian artist, as a Korean artist, so I don’t know what to say,” he told journalists backstage.

Rihanna, who led the nominations with six, failed to pick up a single award. Canadian teen heartthrob Bieber matched Swift’s tally, claiming Best Male for the second year in a row as well as Best Pop and Best World Stage. Compatriot Carly Rae Jepsen went home with two awards for Best Song “Call Me Maybe” and Best Push recognising up-and-coming talent.

MTV chose a circus theme for this year’s awards at the 100-year-old Festhalle venue, and Rita Ora opened the show by belting out her No. 1 British hit “R.I.P.” from a giant bird cage. Swift embraced the concept for the show’s finale, popping out of a magician’s box and passing her top hat to a clown riding a miniature bicycle.

Despite being billed as the Europe Music Awards, the majority of nominees are traditionally North American, and 2012 is no exception. Alongside Psy, acts who took the stage at the show included Swift, 14-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys, the Killers, newly reformed No Doubt and Jepsen.

MTV honoured the late Whitney Houston with a Global Icon award. Houston was the third artist to be given this award, following Bon Jovi and Queen in 2010 and 2011.

“We will always love you Whitney. Forever!” Keys said, presenting the prize. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2012.

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