Eight bits of gossip from MTV Europe awards

The MTV Awards got here to Manchester for the primary time of their 30-year historical past on Sunday night time, however in some way did not really feel very Mancunian.

There was no signal of Take That or Aitch, or Liam Gallagher – despite the fact that he gained finest rock star.

Organisers made just a few refined nods to the town: The stage was framed within the black and yellow stripes of Manufacturing facility Data, and New Order’s Blue Monday pumped via the audio system each time nominees have been introduced.

However the present took a extra international perspective, highlighting acts from Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and America – together with a predictable victory for Taylor Swift within the night time’s two greatest classes, finest artist and video of the 12 months.

She solely appeared by video, selecting as a substitute to spend the night time watching her boyfriend, American Soccer participant Travis Kelce, lead the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to victory in opposition to the Denver Broncos.

However there have been loads of different stars on the present and on the purple carpet. This is a few of the gossip we picked up alongside the best way.

Two weeks in the past, Raye informed followers her second album had been delayed by thieves who stole her automotive and, with it, a number of notebooks stuffed with lyrics and tune concepts.

On the purple carpet, she confirmed the police hadn’t been capable of monitor them down, saying: “I’ve simply needed to let it go.”

The singer stated she could not recreate a variety of the concepts, as a result of the act of writing them down freed her thoughts to work on different issues.

“You let it go, since you assume you’ll be able to come again to it – and now there are such a lot of concepts which might be simply gone. It is so unhappy.”

However the singer, who gained finest UK artist, maintained a constructive outlook.

“Every part occurs for a motive. I am going to have to start out once more and possibly it is a blessing in disguise.”

The choice to carry rap legend Busta Rhymes to Manchester to obtain a worldwide icon award wasn’t as random because it sounded.

Earlier than he developed his rapid-fire rap supply, an 11-year-old Rhymes spent two summers residing along with his Aunt Velma in Morecambe.

“I went to karate college, and we illegally went into nightclubs, to make a little bit cash break-dancing,” he informed us.

“I keep in mind Boy George was cool, Wham was cool,” he continued.

“However our favorite was Benny Hill. Benny Hill remains to be our favorite to today. I do not assume anyone has as ever been as humorous or as charismatic as Benny Hill.”

So, throughout these halcyon days of watching smutty comedy in Morecambe, did he ever assume he’d be again, successful a lifetime achievement prize?

“You possibly can by no means foresee one thing like that,” he stated. “After we first received concerned with hip-hop, we did not do it for not one of the accolades. We simply did it as a result of we liked it.

“However with that being stated, tonight is a dream come true.”

To honour that second, he gave a nine-minute acceptance speech thanking everybody from his mom to an artwork trainer he’d met backstage.

“I’ve by no means received an award from MTV earlier than. Thirty 4 years of professionally recording [and] that is the primary time I’m getting an award from MTV. It feels unbelievable.”

Olly Alexander performed a pre-show occasion on Saturday night time, and could not fairly consider the reception for Dizzy – the tune which earned him 18th place at this 12 months’s Eurovision Tune Contest.

“That went down rather a lot higher than it did in Eurovision,” he laughed, shortly earlier than Jedward invaded the stage and prompted utter chaos.

On the principal ceremony, Alexander was there to award tune of the 12 months to Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso. However he additionally had just a few phrases for anybody contemplating representing the UK at subsequent 12 months’s contest.

“I’d say to them, whoever it’s, ‘Name me, and we could have a critical dialog about it’,” he stated with the haunted look of a person who has seen some issues.

Along with successful finest new artist, US singer Benson Boone opened the ceremony with a spectacular efficiency that noticed him suspended mid-air on a grand piano, earlier than pulling off a spectacular entrance flip from a platform in conjunction with the stage.

“The insurance coverage is at all times loopy,” he laughed, “however I like to carry out.”

One one that could not consider his eyes was Completely happy Mondays star Bez, who accosted Boone throughout an interview with Rita Ora.

“I used to be so blown away by that efficiency, mate,” he informed the singer.

“While you got here down on that shiny piano, I assumed, ‘Elton John goes to be so gutted.'”

Manchester is house to the UK’s greatest Ok-Pop store and, on Sunday morning, the workers could not fairly consider one of many style’s greatest woman bands had landed of their metropolis.

“Le Sserafim have been posting footage from the Christmas market,” one in all them informed me. “That is solely 5 minutes from right here!”

The five-piece, who’ve been setting chart information over within the US, jetted in for his or her first-ever UK efficiency, a mash-up of Chasing Lightning and the 90s home banger Loopy.

However they have been extra excited to be out in town with out being mobbed.

“It was so good, we had baklava!” enthused singer Huh Yun-Jin; whereas her bandmate Sakura tucked right into a portion of fish and chips.

“It was my first time,” she stated. “I liked it.”

On stage on the EMAs, the band received one of many greatest screams of the night time, regardless of being comparatively unknown within the UK… for now.

“Coming to Europe is one thing that we have at all times dreamt of, so that is completely surreal,” stated Yun-Jin. “We simply wish to make a very good impression.”

Mission achieved.

For completely no motive in any respect, Jedward went on an enormous allure offensive for the worldwide press.

“Oasis are again and Jedward are again!” they declared, earlier than racing over to baffled German and French journalists, whereas singing Cease Crying Your Coronary heart Out.

This went on for 2 deliriously good hours, because the twins, who discovered fame on The X Issue 15 years in the past, insisted that “a variety of artists have been impressed by Jedward”.

And, to be honest, they’ve proof. Mercury Prize nominee CMAT just lately stated the brothers had inspired her to complete her second album, with a motivational voice message.

“You must give it some thought, in life,” defined John.

“Do not at all times assume you are the primary character. Attain out to different folks. Serve that tennis ball and see what they do.”

“It is at all times about holding that spark alive,” added Edward. “We’re like a help animal for all of the artists.”

They have been, to be sincere, an absolute blast.

Liam Payne gained 12 MTV EMAs throughout his time in One Path, and later used the ceremony to launch his solo profession, performing his international smash hit Strip That Down on the 2017 ceremony.

It was solely becoming that the occasion marked his demise – however hanging the correct tone in the course of an enormous showbiz occasion isn’t straightforward.

In the long run, his buddy and collaborator Rita Ora simply spoke from the guts.

“There have been so many ways in which we have been speaking about honouring him,” she stated. “However typically merely talking is sufficient.”

Addressing the digital camera immediately, she shared her recollections of the 31-year-old, as her voice cracked.

“Liam Payne was one of many kindest those who I knew,” she stated. “He introduced a lot pleasure to each room he walked into. And he left such a mark on this world.”

It was sombre and restrained, but powerfully emotional. Ora wasn’t the one one crying.

South African star Tyla, finest recognized for her viral hit Water, clinched each the very best R&B and finest Afrobeats awards.

The awards marked her continued ascent, after being named one of many BBC’s Sounds of 2024 – however she made positive to honour her inspirations.

On the purple carpet, she rocked a classic Roberto Cavalli gown with a turquoise blue zebra print.

The very same gown had beforehand been worn by US rapper Eve on the 2000 Soul Prepare Awards.

And R&B legend Aaliyah wore a canary yellow model on the 2000 MTV Awards, the place she gained finest feminine video for Attempt Once more.

The ceremony befell in September 2000, lower than a 12 months earlier than Aaliyah’s tragic demise in an airplane accident.

The singer was simply 22 on the time – the identical age that Tyla is now.