Last night the European Music Awards were held in Manchester, iconic city of music in the United Kingdom, and hosted by Rita Ora. With performances from the likes of RAYE, Shawn Mendes and Pet Shop Boys, the EMAs gave out seventeen awards and entertained the crowd with a night of fun and engaging performances, crowning artists from Liam Gallagher to Eminem with the famous MTV globe-shaped award.
Of course, it being MTV and Europe, host Rita Ora took a moment to remember former One Direction’s star Liam Payne whom she described as “one of the kindest people she knew”.
.@RitaOra remembers her friend, Liam Payne #MTVEMAs pic.twitter.com/pmHv9dct9B
— MTV EMA (@mtvema) November 10, 2024
The Manchester Co-op stage saw exhibitions from artists from all around the planet: starting off with England’s very own RAYE, who sung a mashup of “Escapism”, “Oscar Winning Tears” and “Body Dysmorphia”. Pet Shop Boys then took the stage singing “All The Young Dudes” and “West End Girls”, followed by Busta Rhymes and Tyla. Peso Pluma then graced the stage with the song “Hollywood”, Le Sserafim sung a mashup of “Chasing Lighting” and “Crazy”, Shawn Mendes and his guitar played an acoustic version of “Heart of Gold” and Teddy Swims painted the stage shades of orange with “The Door” and “Lose Control”. Finally, Warning performed “Automatic Sun” and best new artist winner Benson Boone performed a mashup “Slow it Down” and “Beautiful Things” from his critically acclaimed album”Fireworks and Rollerblades” released earlier this year.
Taylor Swift dominated both with nomination and wins: she was in fact nominated seven times and won three awards including Best Artist; it’s the third time she wins the title which had previously been awarded to her in 2022 and 2023. Swift didn’t, however, attend the celebration of music held in Manchester last night but instead chose to stay in the United States where the last stops of her tour will occur in the upcoming weeks. So, the title of “Best Artist” as well as “Best Video” and “Best Live” went to Taylor Swift for respectively her single “Fortnight (ft. Post Malone)” and her “Eras Tour”.
But Swift wasn’t the only winner in Manchester’s EMAs night: remarkably, Sabrina Carpenter took home the “Best Song” title with her hit single “Espresso” which has graced radios all over the world for the whole summer and has perhaps the catchiest chorus of the year. “Best Collaboration” went to Lisa and Rosalìa with their song “New Woman”, and the former was also crowned “Biggest Fans”. Tyla won the “Best Afrobeats” and “Best R&B” categories with her album “TYLA +” released earlier this year.
The “Best New Artist” category was won by Benson Boom, “Best Pop” went to Ariana Grande who was busy promoting her new, much awaited and acclaimed film “Wicked”. “Best Rock” went to Manchester-born Liam Gallagher, “Best Latin” went to Peso Pluma, “Best Kpop” to Jimin, “Best Alternative” to Imagine Dragons, “Best Electronic” to Calvin Harris and “Best Hip-Hop” to Eminem. “Best Global Icon” was won by American Rapper Busta Rhymes.
Many winners were missing from the audience: in absence of any Oasis member, Rita Ora led the public to a sing-along of Wonderwall. Sabrina Carpenter, busy with her “Short n’ Sweet Tour”, thanked the fans from the screen after winning “Best Song”.
