Article written by Lauren Johnston.
So unless you have been living under a rock for the past week, you may have seen or heard about the 2018 Billboard Music Awards. I personally believe that the music awards are kind of neglected in a way, you have all these Red Carpet awards and the Logies and so on, so many times a year, but the music industry gets one, one lousy award ceremony.
This year’s ceremony was hosted by the one and only Kelly Clarkson, she started the ceremony off by taking a moment to talk about the Santafe school shooting that had recently happened, she broke down on stage talking about how the producers wanted her to pray and what not and do a moment of silence, she talked about the fact the we don’t need a moment of silence but instead a moment of action, a moment of change because a moment of silence isn’t doing anything, it’s not helping, it’s not changing the world in the way we want.
After talking about the shooting for a few minutes, if watching this at home it cut straight to the opening scenes followed by a performance by Ariana Grande of her song ‘No Tears Left To Cry’ and weeeellllllllll I personally did not like it, yes she sang most of the song but you could also tell that she was using the backup track because she was too out of breath or simply was too busy looking at the camera, but to me it was not her best performance. It sounded a bit like the original song she recorded but there were parts that just really grinded my gears, half the time it seemed like she was to focused on using the props and only once danced with the backup dancers, otherwise she was continuously moving from spot to spot. There was even a part in the song where she went into this tunnel, I guess and from where she was you wouldn’t have been able to see her unless you were looking at the screens, she then followed that by putting a black umbrella over her face. Personally I think if you are going to perform at a ceremony like the Billboard Music Awards at least perform to the goddam audience and not like you are making a music video on stage! Otherwise apart from those few things it was alright to watch, but thankfully they brought Kelly back to the stage to do a proper introduction.
Kelly Clarkson has always had a joking side to her, doesn’t really like to take things seriously, unless it’s a serious topic. This year she showed both those sides with talking about Avicii’s passing and the shooting. As she came out to the stage, this is what she said “Welcome y’all to the 2018 Music Billboard Awards, live in MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, what am I doing here you all ask? Well me too, someone’s getting fired and it aint me because I’m under contract”, which I thought was pretty funny, as she went on to explain that she is just going to do her and be her because usually hosts are comedians and they are hilarious and she is just a singer.
Kelly introduced some of the artists that are performing and have been nominated for awards. Kelly then did her own performance which was a mashup of a bunch of different songs, it started with her and someone playing an acoustic guitar and then led up to the end having the stage filled with performers and back up dancers and even had 2 military personnel holding a beam while a gymnast was jumping and flipping on it, I can safely say this was my favorite performance of the night. Followed by one of my favourite people giving the first award.
Rebel freaking Wilson, was the host to present the first award and she killed it! Absolutely smashed it, she was funny as, amazing and kept everyone entertained. The award was for Top New Artists, the nominees where 21 Savage, Camila Cabello, Cardi B and Khalid, Kodak Black. Khalid won the award, which I wasn’t too mad about as I’m not a fan of the others apart from Camila, but to be fair she isn’t as new as the others, buuuuuuut he let me down majorly with his performance of ‘Love Lies”. Which he performed with Normani. She definitely stole the show from him with her incredible dancing and live singing performance, whereas Khalid on the other hand who was pretty freaking basic, he barely danced, it was more like baggy walking and he sounded like he would rather just ‘nope not today’. At one stage I caught myself thinking, “S**t whose song is it? Khalids or Normani’s?” which made me think anyone else could be thinking this, like if this is your song wouldn’t you want to be the main focal point? His light show and the setup he had was better than his performance. Normani as I said killed it! Her outfit was hot, her makeup was flawless, her vocals and dance moves where outstanding. The next performance was presented by French Montana and Hailey Baldwin, who introduced Dua Lipa to the stage to perform ‘New Rules’
Dua Lipa did well, it wasn’t everything I thought it was going to be, I thought it would have been more fun and sassy but it was rather simple and repetitive. The setup she had was a gigantic pink flamingo in the center with white curvy staircases around it, to create a horse shoe affect and that was it, plus she literally had 20 back up dancers, who needs 20 dancers? Like honestly with the setup she had, it looked over crowded as all hell. Her performance though was quiet good, she sang all of her song and the only part she didn’t sing was the backup vocals where they repeat “I got new rules, I count ‘em” her outfit was cute as heck, rocking a little purple silk one piece PJ set. Her dancing was basically just walking up and down the stairs and around them, I will give her credit as when she was walking up and down the stairs every step she took she was looking back at the audience and you could tell she was performing to the audience and not to the camera. In all her performance was good but pretty boring to watch.
The Chainsmokers and Halsey acknowledged Avicii’s passing and said a few kind words before presenting the award for Top Hot 100 song, which all three of them were awarded last year. The nominees for this year were Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, Humble by Kendrick Lamar, That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars, Rockstar by Post Malone featuring 21 Savage and Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran. During the pause, I was holding my breath, I was hoping Ed Sheeran or Post Malone would take the award, the other songs are good but way to over played and have just been ruined for me personally, I sat there for maybe all of 30seconds watching them reveal that little card from the envelope, I was hyped, I heard the words “and the winner iiiiiiisss DESPACITO”, I nearly cried, this pissed me off something fierce, okay for a start you can’t understand half the song meaning you don’t actually know what they are singing about, it also makes it hard to sing too as well! I don’t get why so many people voted for this song and why?!?! Plus, the singer, yes, maybe from Latino descent and it’s his origin, that’s cool, but he can talk fluent freaking English! Why not sing in English! But that’s cool, you do you boo.
Juilia Michaels and Grace Vanderwaal introduced Shawn Menedez to perform ‘In My Blood’ which was spectacular, it’s such a beautiful song in general and he performed it just as well, he had turned the stage into a bed of flowers which lit up and he had his band to play and he sang 100% of the song and it was just like the studio recording but a million times better! I couldn’t take my eyes away from him! He is an incredible singer and performer and musician and he is also really nice to look at.
Chole Kim and Desiree Linden had the honour of presenting the award for Top Female Artist, which this year they had 4 fist timers and a two-time winner. Cardi B, Halsey, Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, and guess who won, for the third time, yep that’s right, TayTay, I don’t have anything against her or hate her, I very much like her and I’m going to her concert this year, the reason I’m so mad about this, is the fact she has already won twice. Personally the others have done more this year and released more meaningful songs then Taylor but you know that’s just my opinion. Yes, she is a great artist but what is something new she has done this year? Dropped an album that wasn’t really meaningful and just about her doing her own thing and her reputation? Yeah sick, but look at the others and all their songs and things they have done this year, I just don’t see why Taylor got the award.
The next award was for Top Dance/Electronic Artists. Nick Jonas and Mustard presented this award to the nominees which were the Chainsmokers, Calvin Harris, Kygo, Marshmellow, and Odesza. I was super stoked to find out that the Chainsmokers won the award as I genuinely like them and the songs that they put out.
Top Social Artist was awarded to BTS, who took out the award against Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendez. Chrissy Mets and Justin Harley presented the award to BTS who gave an acceptance speech in both languages. BTS have won two years in a row and I don’t think I need to tell you how I feel about this considering I didn’t even know who they are until watching the Billboard Music Awards, they didn’t perform in English and from what I could understand of the song it may have been half and half of the two languages but each to their own.
Thankfully, they redeemed me by having a performance by my man Ed Sheeran who performed Galway Girl. Ed Sheeran was on tour during the awards and still did a video performance live from Dublin where he is currently touring. Watching him perform made me incredibly jealous of everyone in Dublin who got to attend. Ed Sheeran is a beautiful man and sings some gorgeous songs about love and happiness and can play the hell out of a guitar.
Top rap song nominees consisted of Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) by Cardi B, I’m the One by DJ Khalid featuring Justin Bieber, Unforgettable, Humble by Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone Rockstar Featuring 21 Savage. My boy Post Malone won! He won y’all! I was so happy because he deserves it so hard, it seems like he constantly is dropping new fresh hits and I have not once heard a song that I haven’t loved from him.
In all the Billboard Music Awards weren’t that bad, I just feel like with all the money they would have put into, that maybe just maybe they could have done better. There were highlights and then there were the bad parts, but that happens to everything in life. There were many more performances from people such as J Lo, BTS, Christina and Demi Lovato, Janet Jackson, and many more but there is too much to write about in a limited space. I personally think that in the end it comes down to the artists you like and love to determine whether or not you enjoyed this year’s music award.
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