Liveblogging the European MTV Video Music Awards
November 03, 2005
Tune in to Arjan Writes today to get a real-time report from the European MTV Video Music Awards in Lisbon, Portugal. I will also be shooting photos with my mobile camera that I will moblog to my Flickr page (tag: emtv). Look out for performances by Madonna, Robbie Williams, Green Day, B.E.P, Pussycat Dolls, Shakira, Gorillaz and others. Coldplay is tipped as the big winner.
The show will kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET (9:00 p.m. local time) Presenter is Ali G.
8:35pm: John Legend performs "Ordinary People" at the Red Carpet pre-show.
9:06pm: There appear to be technical problems with the main show. The pre-show continues with another John Legend performance and an interview with Anastacia.
9:19pm: Madonna just opened the show with "Hung Up." This is the first ever live performance of her song. A giant glitter ball rises up from the stage and opens up to reveal Madonna and her dancers. She is wearing a hot, hot, hot purple wonder woman-type outfit (minus the cape). Vocally a bit weak, Madonna dances her ass off in a routine that appears similar to the dance moves during Live8. Her Farah flip stays intact despite all the stage action (secret: lots of hairspray). Cute is the dance off between Madonna and Daniel "Cloud" Campos. Light work is purple, blue and green as in the Attitude photo session.
9:23pm: Ali G. appears on stage as Borat introducing the show as the Eurovision Songcontest (how funny) and calling Madonna the world's best transvestite.
9:27pm: Anastacia presents award for "Best Album of 2005" to Greenday.
9:31pm: Brit pop trio Sugababes are presenting the award for "Best Pop." Nominees are Shakira, Robbie Williams, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani and Gorillaz. The winner are Black Eyes Peas.
9:32pm: The BEP's are happy, happy...
9:37pm: Coldplay performs their new single "Talk." Chris Martin is making love to the mic
9:41pm: Commercial break....
9:49pm: Sean Paul presents the award for "Best Hip Hop." Nominated are Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Missy Elliott and Akon.
9:50pm: Snoog Dogg wins and is not around. He is accepting the award from his studio live via sattelite (sure!)
9:51pm: Ali G introduces the "singing prostitutes" aka The Pussy Cat Dolls, but first we get to see some Eastern European dancing.... It is part of his Ali G sketch... In his role of Borat he is a presenter from Kazakstan. Little weird.
9:56pm: Pussy Cat Dolls appear on stage after being dropped off backstage in some military truck. Hot performance. Great live vocals.
10:01pm: Two soccer players present the award for "Best Rock Group." Nominees: Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Green Day and U2. The winners are Greenday (again!)
10:05pm: The Gorillaz are now performing. It is supposed to be amazing. Will they show their faces?
10:06pm: The Gorillaz performance includes giant blow up dolls that are actually performing the song. They look like characters from the music videos. De La Soul are making a rap cameo.
10:10pm: Commercial break...
10:17pm: Time for some rap. Akon is a superstar in Europe. He is performing.
10:20pm: Jared Leto presents the award for "Best Alternative" and makes an anti-Bush remark: "There is an alternative." The crowd loves it. I hope Goldfrapp takes this award.
10:24pm: No. System of a Down wins. The singer thanks the MTV crowd and says "society is a fucking failure. Let's have more love." So rock and roll.
10:26pm: British singer Craig David presents the award for "Best R&B." Nominees: John Legend, Omario, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey. The winner is Alicia Keys. Not in the audience. Thanks from a distance.
10:29pm: Greenday performs "Holiday." Great set. Best performance so far.
10:43pm: Shaggy and Nelly Furtado present the award for "Best Video." I'd think this would be the award to conclude the night with, but anyways. Nominees are: Beck, Gorrilaz, Gwen Stefani, Rammstein and the Chemical Brothers. Winners are Chemical Brothers. Hot!
10:47pm: John Legend presents the award for "Best Female Artist." Nominees are Mariah, Missy, Alicia, Shakira and Gwen... And the winner is Shakira.
10:53pm: Robbie Williams gives a tame performance of "Tripping" (except from the stage dive).
10:58pm: Madonna come out on stage to hand out a humanitarian award to a "hero" of hers... She presents the "MTV Free Your Mind Award" to Bob Geldof. "You did it again, you fucker!," she adds, refering to Live8.
11:14pm: Verrrrry long commercial break. The show returns with Black Eyes Peas performing "My Hump."
11:20pm: Russian sex kittens TATU present the award for "Best Male." Nominees are: Snoop Dogg, Robbie Williams, Moby and Eminem. The winner is Robbie Williams!
11:23pm: Robbie is humble in his acceptance speech. He thanks Madonna for making the entire show.
11:25pm: Actors Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal present the award for "Best New Artist." Nominees are Akon, Daniel Powter, James Blunt, Kaiser Chiefs, Rihanna. Blunt grabs the prize.
11:27pm: Foo Fighters perform. They're huge in Europe.
11:39pm: After another commecial break, Alison Goldfrapp is presenting the award for "Best Song." Coldplay wins for "Speed of Sound" and is excited to get an award for their songwriting. This night couldn't get any better... Madonna AND Alison Goldfrapp in one program!
11:44pm: Shakira performs. Sexy.
11:48pm: Yawn. Another commercial break.
11:56pm: Actress Brittany Murphy presents the award for "Best Group." Nominees are Coldplay, U2, Green Day, Black Eyed Peas and Gorillaz. Gorillaz win! Oddly, De La Soul is accepting the award.
12:02am: System Of A Down performs. Blah.
12:06pm: That's the end of it. Ali G. appears on stage with a rocket on his back and flies off the stage. Credits roll. Great show. Goodnight. Arjan is out.