Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Awards Reviews: Much Music Video Awards 2015


Well, guys...the biggest free concert in the world...is back!!
The Much Music Video Awards has returned for another year of fantastic performances, crazy moments, and the most awesome used-once-and-only-once performance sets you'll ever see on television (or online for everyone who lives anywhere on Earth that isn't Canada). The MMVAs has them all and then some.

This years' show is hosted by one of the hottest and talented (and most adorable) Pop/Folk stars on Earth, Ed Sheeran. And how funny, too.
Sheeran has had quite an ascension of sorts at the MMVAs for the past 4 years.
After his first performance in the Much studios in 2012, he later crooned the crowd on the Queen Street stage in 2013, and finally built his way (a joke to his song "Lego House") up to the Main Parking Lot stage and got us to "Sing" along with him to his massive hit in droves.
So it was clear that Much had him in mind for these past few years.

Hell, they sort of had that mindset literally during the start of last year's show!
They even mentioned again after the announcement of his hosting!


To say they love this guy and want him at the event more than once is an understatement, but I kinda find it a match made in awards ceremony heaven.

Also, I will mention that Lauren Toyota and Scott Willats are not hosting this year. After two years as co-hosts, they have left for other opportunities. I really enjoyed their style and to hosting. Lauren was calm and cool, while Scotty was ecstatic and suave, with both keeping it 100 during the whole show. I'll miss them; they were great hosts and kept the MMVAs exciting and enjoyable.

In their place are Liz Trinnear and Tyrone Edwards. They're previously known, of course, as the co-hosts of the Pre-Show Red Carpet Special, which they've done for the past few years (from as far as I can remember, it's been during my 6 years [and counting] of watching the MMVAs). So I felt excited for them to get the promotion. And they deserved it: Both of them have the charisma, talent, and gusto to carry anything, so it was a done deal for Much to give the jobs to them. And I don't have to tell you they did just great.

Like last year, there will be a bombdiggity mix of very-well-known, very-well-talented (mostly American) performers
like
Nick Jonas! Jason Derulo!

Carly Rae Jepson! Fall Out Boy!

Shawn Mendes! and The Weeknd!
)
Scott Helman. Mia Martina.

and Tori Kelly (because her song "Nobody Love" is a hit in America. And me--I couldn't stop thinking about it.)
I was ecstatic to see this list, as I found them all (and not just some, or even a few) worth watching (even for the MMVAs), and I found this the strongest line-up in years (again, even for the MMVAs!).

Before I get to the performers and other thoughts in the tank, let's discuss the stage.
Every year, the MMVA takes place on a very unique set-up, a set on a Parking Lot. And it manages to be better than the stages of most awards on American television.
So here's this years' floor plan:
It's times like this that makes the MMVAs TV to look forward to. The stages make me drool, jump for joy and feel happy to be alive. But as we go along, it's not the only reason why I love this edition.

I also want to point out that there was no stage on Queen Street this year. That's usually the smallest set-up of the show and is where lower-key performers (usually ones playing a guitar and maybe some drums) play on the other side of Much HQ.
It was very telling to me, and showed the show was changing a bit.
It seemed like less and less performers were playing on it as years went by, and producers found it hard to book this many acts on three stages (plus giving away awards on it more wasn't working). So they decided that downsizing is a much better option.
But I didn't mind it one bit, as I still enjoyed the amazing moments on the Lot, and that the most moments happen there anyway. Good choice producers! It was meant to be that way.

If that's not the only reason to get excited...
This years' show was some sort of high school reunion. featured some performers making their first appearance in a while. Some of them, like Joe Jonas, Fall Out Boy and Carly Rae Jepson have made their returns to the Parking Lot after a few years, while one, Ed Sheeran, has pretty much just held back as the school jokester.

I knew just from watching last year's show and waiting the entire year since, that this year would be just as exciting, fun and memorable. I don't even have to tell you I was right.

We start off with a performance during the Red-Carpet Pre-Show, as another newcomer Omi performed his debut "Cheerleader". And it was awesome. First off, let me be clear; OMI is not the big-head yellow-skinned character from Xiaolin Showdown (I wish, though; that's cool) The school band sounds fit with the concept and his vocals are really good here. I've enjoyed this North American premiere performance and I want to see more from OMI.


Kicking off this year's show,
Fall Out Boy performed my favorite song of their's, "Uma Thurman". And man oh man, did they not disappoint! Patrick Stump's vocals were great live and the band just did their thing like they started out.
A great start to the MMVAs! But it didn't end (?) there.

In her first performance since 2012, Carly Rae Jepsen continued the screams of joy with her second-coming hit "I Really Like You". I can't say much, but I really...loved this one. Her vocals were perfect, her outfit was perfect and the outfit she wore too. Carly Rae has grown as an artist, and her new record E-mo-tion is going to be something to look forward to.

Co-host Ed Sheeran swooned the crowd in the way he did: singing with his sweet, bubbly, quirky and awesome style, sound and self. He performed "Photograph", and everything was focused on him, the co-host.
Did he do well?

Duh-Of course he did! And he shined greatly. The song itself is a lovely ditty about keeping a relationship alive in a picture, even if the relationship is a terrible one, but the image can keep the good memories fresh forever. Seems like a beautiful concept in songs, and in Sheeran's case, it is. As for the performance, what can I say? It's Ed Sheeran! The dude can do no wrong.



Tori Kelly gave us one of the best performances (and considering that everyone else put out great efforts too, this was saying a lot) with her Canadian television debut staging of another of my favorites "Nobody Love". Her voice is a raw and raspy as seen in the recorded version, which sounded beautiful. I also loved the change from acoustic to recorded as it reaches the second verse. This was just a great performance.


Another newcomer to the MMVA, Scott Helman performed "Bungalow". I know him as much as any other American who watched the show (nothing), so I'll just talk about the song and performance.
The song is a fun hit perfect for the Summer, and he was amazing on stage...but I couldn't enjoy his vocals in the chorus. Oh God, that sound from his mouth when he said his S's made me cringe every time. It's like listening to a screeching cat or Cindy Brady. But that didn't take away from a great debut for Helman. Good job getting the ladies to easily like you, young man.


The Weeknd, Canada's Pied Piper of Modern-day R&B, performed TWO of his hits "The Hills" and "Earned it" from 50 Shades of Grey. And oh boy, if I weren't a guy, I'd be throwing my panties at my computer screen. He was fire and ice on that stage. Got me turned up, and I sang along like it was nobody's business.

His first song "The Hills" is something new for me. I don't know about the song that much, but I do know this: The beat is sick as hell, and the chorus has catchy factor.

With "Earned It", it's clear that he's got the nation in the palm of his hand, and he's in no need to stop, with it in no need to worry. It's a sexy, sultry song about loving someone in the name of sex. I love the beat (like 40s Pop or Big Band) and it's catchy as hell. And putting the "Duh-duh-duh" part at the end of the chorus at the middle of the first verse was an awesome performance choice that made it much better; I just loved that. Plus, he got my family singing along when it played. That's how talented and popular he is. And this is one of the best performances of the night (and that's saying so much).


Walk Off The Earth (you know the band with the video of all the members playing one guitar to that Gotye song? Yep, them) performed "Rule The World".

I loved the energetic and colorful vibe of the staging. All of the members clearly were having fun doing it, the song screams "catchy, dance-y and fun" and the colorful gases streamers were a nice touch.
Sarah Blackwood held it down and rocked that baby bump! And did I mention that she's pregnant?? For all the pluses that it can give, having a great voice is one of them. And nice boobs, too!

The band did a fantastic job, and it had me even more pumped for the rest of the show, even if the next two acts are some I really don't know.

Shawn Mendes is pretty much Justin Bieber with the higher singing voice or the dyke face or haircut.
He performed "Stitches" and proves to be yet another good heartthrob the US won't see for a long time. It's a catchy love song, and I think he'll go far after the show.


Mia Martina took the second stage next to sing "Beast". It's a pretty good song, but not a song I would want to listen to not even once on a whim. Especially because Waka Flocka Flame is the featured artist. But the performance was great. Seemed to be some dark, modern-day staging of Little Red Riding Hood, with Mia as a hot strapping Lil Red cornered by furry animals in cages. It's real good.
I really didn't care for Waka; I don't think of him as anything worth noticing to me.


Nick Jonas had us locked in "Chains" with this performance of his hit single. I loved the setting here: Jonas in a closed box-like thing; it then opens wide and later spaces in half, revealing hot ladies dancing with him and it then becomes a TV screen of emotion. I loved this concept for how limited yet quick and easy it is, and how entertaining the outcome is.

I don't think the higher pitch in tone during the end of the chorus was necessary; the long note at the end was kinda annoying at first. And he has the talent to not do that. Really, screw that. The rest of the staging was great;
the dance he did with his female dancers was cool and refreshing.
While looking at some comments of the embedded YouTube video contained above, it's revealed that Jonas was down with the flu at the time the show went on air. Shocked, I honestly didn't know about it, so I commend him for fighting through his illness and still having enough strength to make a great performance.
I like him for that, and I really liked that one.

If Ed Sheeran performing once was the plan this year, than you don't know the MMVAs, his popularity or their (and Canada's) love for him.
Ed returned on stage (literally this time) to perform his monster smash (which has been on the Top 40 charts for an ENTIRE YEAR [damn, that's amazing]), "Thinking Out Loud". You know it's great.

Just hearing it live is just lovely, and hearing his voice singing live as it is in a recorded version is just one reason why he is one of the best recording artists of this decade (and possibly the past decade, too).

And the night couldn't be raised any higher, until Jason Derulo stepped in. He sang (and danced to) "Want to Want Me" aka "the I'm Putting You in a Relationship Against Your Will Because the Sex is Great song". This song is fine (in places), but the performance was great. I enjoyed Derulo's dancing and the cooperation of the dancers becide him. It wasn't a great song in my book, but it was a great performance to end what I think was the best and strongest MMVA I've seen in the years I watched it.


As with the past few years, the winners will walk away with this:

The Piece of Metal!...also known as the MMVA.
So let's see who will take the gold (or black) and put it on their trophy cases (or papers as a weight) this year!
WINNERS (in order shown during the broadcast):
Post-Production Video: Zeds Dead f. Twin Shadow & D'Angelo Lacy - "Lost You"
EDM/Dance Video: Grandtheft & Keys N Krates - "Keep It 100"
Best Director: Sam Pilling for The Weeknd - "Often"
Rock/Alternative Video: Arcade Fire - "We Exist"
Pop Video: The Weeknd - "Earned It"
Hip Hop Video: P Reign f. Drake & Future - "DnF"
International VotY - Artist AND Most Buzzworthy International Artist or Group: Ed Sheeran - "Thinking Out Loud"
Most Buzzworthy Canadian: The Weeknd - "Earned It"
Fan Fave Video: Shawn Mendes - "Something Big"
Fan Fave Artist or Group: Justin Bieber
Fan Fave International Artist or Group: One Direction
Video of the Year: The Weeknd - "Often"

Thoughts on Sheeran hosting:

Without a doubt, he was fantastic as host.
He knew what he was doing, he kept the crowd pumped, he cracked hilarious jokes
("This is my fourth time. They couldn't afford the Jenners, so they asked me to host for free."),
and being himself was the perfect reason for him to host. He was just off-the-wall stupendous. I think he may come back next year; if he does, GOOD. He's always perfect for the MMVAs, and the MMVAs are perfect for him.
And he performed twice, so this was a great night for him and us.

Random Thoughts:
--The show's graphics are supposed to resemble aquatic life. And I would've thought so, too...had I not thought it looked more like what goes on inside a man's penis and scrotum first. Dumb, creepy silly me. :P
--I honestly thought the producers gave the awards Sheeran and Weeknd won to them, because they'll give them out to anyone who came to the ceremony. But hey, at least they won anyway!
--Honestly one of the best moments of the show, was when P-Reign won the MMVA for Hip-Hop Video. The award was not presented when he came out on stage. But Drizzy did. Yep, Drake made another surprise appearance on the Parking Lot to formally present his lil bro with the award. That was a huge surprise and a great payout.
And I did say another because the former Jimmy Brooks also made an unscheduled appearance at the MMVA two years ago when he himself won the award. That time, Reign was in on the act. Dude knows how to enter.
--The many shots in the crowd during some of the performances gave some really nice reactions:
During The Weeknd's singing "Earned It", two female attendees sing along and pointed to each other when "Nobody but You" came.
--And another thing, the catwalk on the smaller left stage looks either like a dick or a tampon. And the right bigger one resembles a nutsack. Do the stage designers playing a prank on us? Do they know something we don't?

I enjoyed all the performances, the hosts were fantastic, the set is spectacular (understatement), and everything else that makes the MMVAs so great, and is appointment television for me every year. And the more I show my love for it, the less I'll talk about it in a review. One day, there won't be a review; just a series of tweets that'll make up my review. Oh well.
Well, thank you for joining me for this review of the 2015 Much Music Video Awards. And I'll see you next you next year for the review of the 2016 Much Music Video Awards. It just might be a series of tweets. Who knows?
Good night!
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