I watched the American Music Awards a few hours too late to participate in our live blog of the event on EW.com’s Music Mix. Without being fully aware of my actions (I was on my laptop too, of course), I ended up rewinding Alicia Keys’ and Jay-Z’s excellent performance of “Empire State of Mind” like seven times and am now a little obsessed with both of them. The only moments that break up the viewing experience are the constant cuts to celebs in the audience, half of whom didn’t notice the camera and were just rocking out (Sofia Vergara, Leona Lewis, um…Perez Hilton), and half of whom self-consciously attempted to tone down their exuberance (Colbie Caillat, Mary J. Blige) — but didn’t really, because everyone was having a blast! Well, except for a chilled-out Billie Joe Armstrong and a motionless Lady Gaga, but who’s to say she wasn’t having a blast inside her head? Big lights do inspire her.
I’m also way more into Kelly Clarkson than I was a day ago. This happens every time I see her perform live. Is anyone else suddenly obsessed with an artist or song after watching the AMAs, or am I just way too easily thrilled? Which was your favorite performance?
More AMAs: We grade all the live acts in today’s Best/Worst AMA Performances photo gallery
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My Kelly fanhood was also rekindled! I wondered if you’d make mention of her stellar performance of “Already Gone.” She’s amazing.
Kelly is on rewind here, for sure. Really loved that performance; it was so great.
Amen. Annie, who’s the maroon at EW who graded Kelly a B-??!! Please walk over to their cubicle and give ‘em a good smack upside the head on behalf of all people with ears.
seriously!! that was an A++ in my book.
I loved it too – I thought she looked and sang beautifully.
Kelly was awesome and I think Jay-Z and Alicia were the performance of the night.
I agree!!!
kelly sang brilliantly til the end and then hit that last bit which forgives the one misstep, but come onnn people!!!! lady gaga gave one of thye GREAT performance in awards show history!!!!!!!! and shocked ussss alllllllllll!!!!!!!
From what I have seen in the other posts here and throughout the net, the majority of people are obsessed with Adam Lambert.
As they should be – because he is awesome! Him and the Gaga for me. I was disappointed in the Timaba performance just because I love that song.
Lady Gaga was okay but her VMA performance was much more shock-worthy. LOVE HER!!! Adam was AMAZING and makes me want to buy his CD
Not really obsessed with anyone. I’ve always loved Kelly and thought she was fantastic. I did download alicia keys solo song, so i guess she did her job. Ummm…yea no one else. I’m over GaGa. Rihanna’s cool but she needs to lip synch (sue me, some people should just use a track). The performances were all ok, the awards were a joke though…
you are lying to yourself gaga was exceptional and im not a fan!!!
I agree, Riri’s performence made me appreciate lypsynching.
always loved kelly clarkson, really love alicia keys and jay-z. but totally into lady gaga now she’s crazy
ditto!
Totally Kelly Clarkson. She stole the show.
Adam Lambert stole the show, he was FANTASTIC!!
GAGGG!!
It’s impossible for me to be more obsessed with Adam Lambert, but, yes, he ROCKED it! Tumble roll, anyone?
Also, I’m now obsessed with WHY Taylor Swift won all those awards and Lady Gaga won zero! Gaga is a pop genius and Swift is a teenybopper.
because taylor sold more albums and has more success then gaga
No because Kayne made Taylor into a house hold name. Before the VMAs no one over the age of 20 knew the difference between Taylor Swift and Mylie Cyrus. Now everyone, and I mean everyone knows who she is. Kanye’s stunt only helped her become bigger, and even hip-hop listeners, old folks, and international people know who she is. She should be thanking Kanye for putting her on the map in a big way. Cause when someone is talked about everywhere their album sales skyrocket. And thats why she won so much yesterday.
riri!
Her new album is a must have!!
I totally loved Kelly and always have. Although, should it really be refreshing at an award show for SINGERS to have someone actually sing live and sound amazing?
Adam and Gaga, truly the future (if we are lucky) of music!
If that is the future of music….kill me now!
Amen, brother.
Amen from me too, although Gaga has a good voice (if you didn’t have to watch her). Adam was AWFUL!! Kelly ia always awesome! What a voice!! Truly pure!!
Amen!!
Adam wasn’t shocking…it was just tired and the song is a crapfest…as was the singing. After 20 years of no talent hacks like Madonna trying to shock us, ’shocking’ is just boring and naive.
If you have good music you don’t need all that. It’s a diversion tactic to compensate for how weak the material is.
Word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Actually, I am growing weary of Jay-Z & Alicia Keyes…VMAs, World Series, AMAs….will they perform this at the Rockefeller Center tree-lighting as well?
That might liven things up a bit.
Hmm, who am I obsessed with after the AMAs, uh, that would be Adam Lambert! Love it or hate it, I can’t even remember what anyone else did last night!
Seriously, you didn’t remember what Lady Gaga did. How can you forget something like that. It was the only original performance of the night. Adam was not original at all. He was Madonna in the early 90s, he was simulating sex, he was yelling a lot, that is not original. Slamming bottles while playing the piano, doing a claw dance dressed like a white deer, that is original. Lady Gaga was by far the best performance of the night, the best singing was Kelly, and the best of both was Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. I like Adam but is performance was weak at best.
Totally agree with you about JayZ and Kelly. Despite the hype, Adam was pure camp and Lady GaGa failed to inspire.
I’m obsessed with not watching award shows anymore. The performances seem to be (mostly)over the top, pompous, love-notes to the artists themselves rather than actually performing and singing. I doubt highly that this is going to help anyone’s sales. If anything, they will remain the same and Rhianna and Adam will have mediocre songs. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood were two of the only enjoyable performances of the evening and that’s because those girls can actually sing.
hmm .. not really obsessed with any of them after the VMA’S. OH WELL …