Entertainment

Taylor breaks AMA record

SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Baby A. Gil - The Philippine Star

November 29, 2019 | 12:00am

Taylor Swift: Woman of the hour at the recent American Music Awards

Taylor Swift was certainly the woman of the hour, or maybe I should say, the Woman of the Year or the Decade even at the recent American Music Awards (AMAs). Introduced by no less than the legendary singer and songwriter Carole King, the global music star set a few records of her own. She first passed country music icon Alabama’s 23 wins at the AMAs. Next, she broke Michael Jackson’s 24 trophies and then she ended the evening with a record-breaking score of 29 wins.

Fans love Swiftie and they came out in full force for her at the AMAs, which is the largest fan-voted awards today. Aside from the honorary Artist of the Decade award from the AMAs, Taylor bested Ariana Grande, Drake, Halsey and Post Malone for Artist of the Year. Then she won Favorite Music Video for her You Need to Calm Down, Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Album for Lover in the Pop Rock category and Favorite Artist for Adult Contemporary.

Prior to receiving her Artist of the Decade honor, Taylor sent the audience into a frenzy as she dished out a medley of her hits from the past 10 years. Clad in a fierce green leotard, she did Love Story, Blank Space, The Man, Shake It Off with Halsey and Camila Cabello and then ended with Lover that she played on a lacy pink piano while ballet stars Misty Copeland and Craig Hall danced.

Taylor effortlessly proved how deserving she is of being called Artist of the Decade with that number. But it was the presence of the new artists last Nov. 24, Sunday evening at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, that made the AMAs, young and hip, hot and exciting, and definitely lots of fun.

Lovebirds Shawn Mendes and Camila were steaming hot throughout. They literally could not keep their hands off each other and their duet of Señorita almost set the stage on fire. Which the 17-year-old, fantastically original Billie Eilish did for her first appearance at the AMAs with her rendition of her new hit All The Good Girls Go to Hell.

All eyes and ears, too, were on the gorgeously rounded first-time nominee Lizzo. It was not only for her soulful performance of Jerome, but also on her all-orange-ruffled mini-dress matched with a mini-mini-mini, almost postage-sized bag created by Valentino.

The AMAs also had a great line-up of guests, performing or not, which would be difficult for other award shows to top. Aside from those already mentioned, there were also Green Day, the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Post Malone, Shania Twain, Paula Abdul, Travis Scott, Kesha, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Braxton, Dua Lipa, WATT, Thomas Rhett, Ozzy Osbourne, Christina Aguilera and others with Ciara as host.

Still missed a lot though was Lil Nas X on the AMA stage. The other major discovery of the year was there, all trim and dapper in a show-stopping green outfit and he did get his very first American Music Award. Sadly though, he did not perform.

And now here is the list of the winners of the 2019 American Music Awards:

Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift

New Artist of the Year: Billie Eilish

Collaboration of the Year: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello

Tour of the Year: BTS

Favorite Music Video: Taylor Swift, You Need To Calm Down

Favorite Social Artist: BTS

Favorite Pop/Rock

Male Artist: Khalid

Female Artist: Taylor Swift

Duo or Group: BTS

Album: Taylor Swift, Lover