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Story: Jack Foley
THE Americans dominated the prize-giving at the MTV Europe Music
Awards in Rome on Thursday (November 18, 2004), winning in most
of the main categories.
Hip-hop duo, OutKast, emerged the biggest winners (and deservedly
so), taking three prizes for best group, best video and best song
(for Hey Ya), to cap a memorable year for the outfit.
Their double CD, Speakerboxxx/The
Love Below, emerged as one of the best albums of 2003, and
turned Andre 3000 and Big Boi into the latest hip-hop sensations.
Speaking in Rome, Andre 3000 thanked fans their continues support
over the years, adding: "We really appreciate it. I hope
you don't get tired of us, but we only do what we do."
R&B singer, Usher, who dominated at the recent American MTV
Music Awards, won best male artist and best album, for Confessions,
while Eminem's group, D12, surprised
many by triumphing in the best hip-hop category, beating the latest
album from the Beastie Boys, as well as Jay-Z, Kanye West and
Nelly.
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In what proved to be a really disappointing
night for British acts, only Muse picked up awards, being named
best alternative act and best British artists, despite faring
well in the nominations field.
Franz Ferdinand, for instance,
were nominated in three categories, but failed to pick up an award
in any.
The glittering event featured an array of live performances,
including sequences from Eminem, who performed with children,
Usher, who performed a duet with Alicia Keys, and The Beastie
Boys, who entered the stage on bicycles and skateboards.
Other winners included The Black Eyed Peas, wh won best pop act,
following the global success of their hit single, Where is
the Love? They beat the likes of Avril Lavigne, Robbie Williams
and Britney Spears, who was named best female.
Linkin Park were named best rock band and lead singer, Chester
Bennington, described the prize as 'quite an honour'. The band
are set to release a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration
album with rapper, Jay-Z.
To round off the ceremony, MTV also arranged a huge open-air
concert outside the ancient Colosseum, featuring The Cure and
Anastacia. It is estimated that some 200,000 people attended.
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