Beyonce dazzles at the MTV Europe music awards
The versatile singer, writer and producer took home a total of three EMA trophies - Best Female, Best Song and Best Video - from the glittering music celebration, held at the O2 World in Berlin.
Eminem won the coveted Best Male category at the Awards, which honours and celebrates Europes contemporary music stars, while Jay-Z triumphed in the Best Urban category. U2 clinched a well-deserved Best Live Act scoring their third EMA award win since the MTV Europe Music Awards debuted in 1994.
Creative powerhouse Lady Gaga was honoured in the Best New Act category while Green Day scored a victory over the Best Rock contenders. Best Group went to German rockers Tokio Hotel, who also wowed the 9,000-strong crowd with a stunning rendition of their hit The World Behind My Wall, culminating in an explosive pyrotechnical display and the bands instruments consumed by flames. Placebo captured the Best Alternative prize while Turkeys maNga carried off the crown for Best European Act. Best World Stage Performance was won by Linkin Park while Pixie Lott was pronounced the first ever MTV Push Artist both categories were added to this years EMAs for the first time in recognition of the artists who have been championed by MTV on their global music franchises.
Held in Berlin to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the 2009 EMAs featured electrifying live performances from Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Green Day, Leona Lewis, Tokio Hotel, Foo Fighters, Shakira and U2 broadcasting to more than 500 million households around the world.
The EMAs burst into thrilling life with an electrifying opening number by Green Day, followed by Katy Perrys irreverent mash-up of the five Best Song contenders that included Beyoncés monster hit Halo and Kings of Leons Use Somebody.
Effervescent host Katy Perry brought her trademark energy and quirky humour to the awards, appearing in a dazzling array of costumes and looks inspired by burlesque and Liza Minnellis Oscar-winning appearance in Cabaret, the novel which lifted the lid on decadent 1930s Berlin. The stunning hostess fulfilled her role with signature relish and flair, equally at home in a stylish bowler hat covered in thousands of crystals, or reclining in a giant cocktail glass, or soaring high above the audience on a glittering half-moon shaped swing.
Rock icons U2 brought Berlin to a standstill with an awe-inspiring performance beamed into the show from the citys historic Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of peace and reconciliation to people around the world and site of the first ever MTV Europe Music Awards. In front of 10,000 music fans, the music legends performed a short set comprising some of their best loved songs including a powerful rendition of Sunday, Bloody Sunday and an uplifting medley of Magnificent and One the haunting anthem inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Among the many show highlights was a strikingly sexy performance of Happy by Leona Lewis, an upbeat version of Sweet Dreams by Beyoncé and a high octane rock medley of Wheels and All My Life by the Foo Fighters. Colombian siren Shakira sent temperatures rising with a steamy performance of Did It Again, performed with dancers dressed only in skimpy towels.
Guest presenters at the EMAs included actor, musician and international celebrity David 'The Hoff' Hasselhoff, hip hop star Lil Kim, World heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, actor Jesse Metcalfe, pop/rock phenomena Jonas Brothers, Backstreet Boys, Juliette Lewis, Jean Reno, Miranda Cosgrove, Asia Argento, Bar Refaeli, Brody Jenner, David Guetta and Batista. Soul singer Joss Stone hosted digital show 2009 EMA: Red Carpet Show while Fall Out Boys Pete Wentz hosted digital show 2009 EMA: All Access. Guests at the show included David Guetta, Pixie Lott, Tara Reid and Daniel Merriweather.
Results:
The winners of the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards are:
Best Male: Eminem
Best Female: Beyoncé
Best Urban: Jay-Z
Best Group: Tokio Hotel
Best Video: Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Best Song: Beyoncé Halo
Best Rock: Green Day
Best New Act: Lady Gaga
Best Live Act: U2
Best Alternative: Placebo
MTV Push Artist: Pixie Lott
Best World Stage Performer: Linkin Park
Best European Act: maNga
