November 07, 2006

Justin Timberlake And Gnarls Barkley Triumph At The 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards

By News Desk

Copenhagen, 2 November 2006: Global superstar Justin Timberlake and Atlanta mavericks Gnarls Barkley were the biggest winners at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), both taking home two awards from the explosive, star-studded spectacle in Copenhagen, Denmark on 2 November 2006. Broadcast around the world to an potential 1.4 billion viewers, the EMAs also boasted a groundbreaking live mobile TV simulcast event accessible to more than 20 million European 3G users, and a parallel live triple stream online viewing experience including a web chat show hosted by Juliette Lewis and her band The Licks, a second stream featuring full-length sets from the Rådhuspladsen event in Copenhagen's main square, and the main show.

'SexyBack' star Justin Timberlake, who also took the role of host and performer at the glittering bash, won the best Male and best Pop awards, receiving his best Male trophy from pop honeys the Sugababes. Gnarls Barkley, a.k.a producer Danger Mouse and singer Cee-Lo Green, also took home two gongs for best Song with download sensation "Crazy" and the Future Sounds award -- a surprise new Award category which turns EMA tradition on its head by inviting the artist community to vote for the hottest new band of the year. Other winners included quintessential electro-pop veterans Depeche Mode, who were a hugely popular choice for best Group, while Caribbean R&B siren Rihanna took home the laurels for best R&B. Christine Aguilera accepted her gong for best Female by satellite link, with the award announced by Casino Royale stars Daniel Craig and Mads Mikkelson. Four-time nominees the Red Hot Chili Peppers took home one award, the prestigious best Album award for double-album triumph Stadium Arcadium. Danish hip-hop crew Outlandish won the honours for the home city as best Danish act.

In another parting from EMA tradition, MTV's pro-social award, Free Your Mind, designed to highlight individuals or organisations striving to free the world of intolerance or prejudice, was re-invented as an on-air campaign highlighting the issue of climate change with messages from Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Tenacious D and Foo Fighter Dave Grohl.

The EMAs kicked off with a sensational opening number from Justin Timberlake who performed an electrifying medley of hits including massive singles "SexyBack" and "My Love," making a spectacular entry through an exploding giant speaker while dozens of huge glitter balls lit up the auditorium. He was followed by spellbinding production numbers from Rihanna, Nelly Furtado and P Diddy featuring Cassie, while Snoop Dogg performed a storming outdoor set in Copenhagen's Rådshuspladsen, against a backdrop of giant ice sculptures. Synth rock band The Killers performed a rousing live set including single hit "When You Were Young," while Brit rockers Keane wowed the Rådhuspladsen crowd with "Is It Any Wonder." Muse's performance of "Starlight" featured a world first with the biggest and brightest laser show ever seen on TV, while Nelly Furtado belted out her massive Timbaland-produced hit "Maneater" accompanied by graffiti-covered dancers. The show climaxed with a typically over-the-top theatrical spectacular from Finland's goth rockers Lordi whose explosive set was punctuated by massive pyrotechnics and Lordi's trademark theatrical mayhem.

Other highlights of the show included an outrageous live satellite link up between Justin Timberlake and 2005 EMA host Borat, alter ego of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, in which Borat dispensed some typically 'helpful' advice on how best to present a global TV show while MTV producers hovered anxiously over the 'bleep' button. Topical satire came from Avid Merrion as he spoofed Madonna's 2005 EMA performance of "Hung Up" with a live version of "Bunged Up" -- accompanied by a troupe of four little people gyrating in outsized babygrows. The network also aired a series of laugh-out-loud clips featuring Snoop Dogg and Justin with X-rated conversation rapped entirely in swear words. Further presenters on the show included Hollywoodland star Adrien Brody, Danish Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Jackass Number Two star Johnny Knoxville and director Jeff Tremaine, Italian pop superstar Tiziano Ferro, R&B smoothie Pharrell Williams and electronic pioneer Moby.

Staging effects for the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards were spectacular, with a heavy use of neon, projections, laser lighting effects and blazing pyrotechnics. Performed on two stages, the fast-paced show swung between an intimate, grunge-meets-glamour 'club' set laid out 'in the round' at the Bella Center and the massive, open-air location at Copenhagen's main Square Rådhuspladsen. The stage was hosted by Kelis, where 7,500 music fans braved the cold to cheer on live 30-minute performances from The Killers, Keane, Snoop Dogg, Jet and Outlandish.

MTV Europe Music Awards 2006 winners' list in full:

Best Video: Justice vs. Simian, "We Are Your Friends"
Best Song: Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"
Best Album: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium
Best Female: Christina Aguilera
Best Male: Justin Timberlake
Best Group: Depeche Mode
Best Pop: Justin Timberlake
Best Hip-Hop: Kanye West
Best Rock: The Killers
Best R&B: Rihanna
Best Alternative: Muse
Futuresounds Award: Gnarls Barkley
Adriatic Act: Alexandra Kovaè
African Act: Freshlyground
Baltic Act: BrainStorm
Danish Act: Outlandish
Dutch & Belgian Act: Anouk
Finnish Act: Poets of the fall
French Act: Diam's
German Act: Bushido
Italian Act: Finley
Norwegian Act: Marit Larsen
Polish Act: Blog 27
Portuguese Act: Moonspell
Romanian Act: DJ Project
Russian Act: Dima Bilan
Spanish Act: La Excepción
Swedish Act: Snook
UK & Ireland Act: The Kooks