YouTube Music Awards Highlights: MC Hammer, Lady Gaga and Eminem (See Videos)
YouTube's first ever Music Awards kicked off last Sunday, November 3 and it was streamed live from Pier 36 in New York City at 6PM EST.
A first of its kind, YouTube Music Awards celebration started its celebration in Seoul and Moscow, all way to Rio and London, as it celebrates global music and artistry.
Hosted by actor and musician Jason Schwartzman and comedian and musician Reggie Watts, the YTMA performance features Lady Gaga, Eminem, MC Hammer, Arcade Fire and more. Now that the fans have the power to choose, YouTube sensation Eminem took home the award as YTMA Artist of the Year followed by Girl's Generation's "I Got A Boy" as Video of the Year.
Marklemore asking if he could keep a stranger's baby to an award winner's name hidden in a cake, the show is full of laughter and surprises complete with "live" music videos and comedic banter courtesy of the show's hosts. Like an art installation, the show's location is like organized chaos where music biggest names serves as sculptures willing to be molded.
It was a night where "anything could happen" and the show delivered one of the night's surprise performance by MC Hammer. Another unforgettable performance was by Avicci, set against a crack romance tale penned by Lena Dunham, the show was paused in the middle so fans have the time to vote for its conclusion.
YTMA director Spike Jonze has warned viewers to expect a lot of surprises when he was interviewed in Mashable. "The whole night is supposed to feel like a YouTube video - the raw messiness of making stuff," Jonze said. "My disclaimer is that none of us have ever done this before.
Lady Gaga also rendered an emotional "Dope" performance, her first ever live performance for the song. She looks nothing like her usual self, minus the flashy outfit and a lot of skin; she was in her laid back attire with a cap as she plays the piano and singing her heart out.
Lady Gaga's intimate performance takes back its audience back in the time in the mid-2000 when YouTube musicians used to upload music videos from their bedroom. "Those intimate moments were one of the first things YouTube was able to show that was nowhere else online," Jonze said.
Here are the 2013 YouTube Music Award winners:
Artist Of The Year: Eminem
Video Of The Year: Girls' Generation, "I Got A Boy"
YouTube Phenomenon: "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Innovation of the Year: DeStorm, "See Me Standing"
Response Of The Year: Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix, "Radioactive"
Breakthrough Of The Year: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis