Woman power at the Billboard Music Awards

Canadian rapper Drake was the star of the night at the Billboard Music Awards 2017 held last May 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He won 13 trophies in a single evening, one more than what Adele got last year. He also did his hit One Dance on the famous Fountains of Bellagio, with exploding fireworks yet.

However, the moments by which the BBMAs will be remembered came from the girls. I do not mean just by the sight of them looking all sexy and pretty. I mean by the iconic, emotional, show-stopping, etc. etc. instances they created by being so good at what they do. Like Vanessa Hudgens hosting the event with rapper Ludacris. She was articulate, funny and beautiful in all her costume changes. I counted eight.

 Nicki Minaj led Jason Derulo, David Guetta and Lil Wayne thru No Frauds, Light My Body Up, Swalia and her own Regret In Your Tears in a stunning opening number. Camila Cabello, formerly of Fifth Harmony, acquitted herself well with her first solo hit, Crying In The Club. I do not know what Halsey was thinking wearing a bra, I mean bra as in underwear, but she sounded great.

Truth to tell, it was the girls like Camila, Halsey and Nicki who showed the audience that music was what the awards were about. The guys were blah like Sam Hunt, required spectacular sets like Drake or were in between like John Legend. But Miley, dear Miley Cyrus, sounded so heartfelt singing her new single Malibu. I can also say the same of Lorde and Julia Michaels. All they needed to do was sing to make the magic.

It was magical watching the proudly 71-year-old Cher who was Billboard’s Icon awardee this year. Calling Halsey, this is the way to strip down for an awards show. Cher came in a body stocking adorned with heart-shaped pasties and miles of rhinestones and she looked sensational. She did Believe and If I Could Turn Back Time and she sounded great.

So did Celine Dion in an ethereal white gown. She was on hand to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the motion picture Titanic. Directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslett, Titanic was the first box-office hit to make a billion dollars. It also spawned big selling soundtrack albums and a theme song for the ages. Composed by the late James Horner and performed by Celine, My Heart Will Go On remains one of the most affecting songs ever written.

It certainly affected the whole arena last Sunday. The audience listened in goosey silence while Celine sang and then erupted in a roar that ended in an extended standing ovation. Vanessa was in tears and Ludacris called it a moment. It was indeed a moment. It was a grand reminder that although they are selling big nowadays, all those beats and indulgent musings can never compare to or have the same power over people as a beautiful song.

Billboard gave out 52 awards that covered all pop music genres and all aspects related to each. This means album and digital songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement for a one year period. The BBMA 2017 covered March 2016 to March 2017. This is truly the most accurate barometer of an artist’s popularity.

And the winners are Top Artist, Drake; New Artist, Zayn; Billboard Chart Achievement Award presented by Xfinity, Twenty One Pilots; Male Artist, Drake; Female Artist, Beyoncé; Duo/Group, Twenty One Pilots; Billboard 200 Artist, Drake; Hot 100 Artist, Drake; Song Sales Artist, Drake; Radio Songs Artist, Twenty One Pilots.

Streaming Songs Artists, Drake; Social Artist, BTS; Touring Artist, Beyoncé; R&B Artist, Beyoncé; R&B Tour, Beyoncé; Rap Artist, Drake; Rap Tour, Drake; Country Artist, Blake Shelton; Country Tour, Kenny Chesney; Rock Artist, Twenty One Pilots; Rock Tour, Coldplay; Latin Artist, Juan Gabriel; Dance/Electronic Artist, The Chainsmokers.

Christian Artist, Lauren Daigle; Gospel Artist, Kirk Franklin; Billboard 200 Album; Views by Drake; Soundtrack/ Cast Album, Hamilton: An American Musical; R&B Album, Lemonade by Beyoncé; Rap Album, Views by Drake; Country Album, Traveller by Chris Stapleton; Rock Album, Hardwired….To Self Destruct by Metallica.

Latin Album, Los Duo 2 by Juan Gabriel; Dance/ Electronic Album, Brave Enough by Lindsey Stirling; Christian Album, How Can It Be by Lauren Daigle; Gospel Album, One Way by Tamela Mann; Hot 100 Song, Closer by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey; Selling Song, Can’t Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake; Radio Song, also Can’t Stop The Feeling.

Streaming Song Audio, One Dance by Drake; Streaming Song Video, Panda by Desiigner; Collaboration, also Closer; R&B Song, One Dance by Drake; R&B Collaboration, One Dance; Rap Song, Panda by Desiigner; Rap Collaboration, Black Beatles by Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane.

Country Song, H.O.L.Y. by the Florida Georgia Line; Country Collaboration, Setting The World On Fire by Kenny Chesney feat. Pink; Rock Song, Heathens by Twenty One Pilots; Latin Song, Hasta El Amanecer by Nicky Jam; Dance/Electronic Song, Closer by The Chainsmokers; Christian Song, Thy Will by Hillary Scott and The Family; Gospel Song, Made A Way by Travis Greene.