Sir Paul McCartney performing live in Prague
In an event dominated by praise of the new president-elect Barack Obama, Sir Paul McCartney picked up the Ultimate Legend Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards on Thursday night. The MTV Europe Music Awards is a typically glitzy night where the stars of the world pop scene come out of the woodwork (even further out, that is) to flirt with controversy and pick up a variety of awards.
This was the event that attracted Madonna and Britney Spears’ famous kiss – but this year any controversy, apart from the selection of Katy Perry (also the Best New Act) as the sexual-innuendo spouting host, was mainly overshadowed by the stars gushing their approval of Obama.
Britney Spears surprised by marking down her comeback with two awards, one for the Best Act of 2008, and another for the best album. Kanye West picked up a gong for Ultimate Urban (possibly the most vague award ever invented) and those Turkish ‘superstars’ Emre Aydin took home Europe’s Favourite Act.
The night’s big story, though, was definitely Sir Paul McCartney’s big win. Surely the most deserved winner, though he has no doubt won too many Lifetime Achievement awards to really care, McCartney made a very down-to-earth acceptance speech, thanking “my mates Ringo, George and John” just “four little boys born here in Liverpool and we went on to do quite well”. He then thanked America for voting in Obama.
Rick Astley picked up Best Act Ever, though later admitted his embarrassment at having won this title in the face of the competition (I’m not sure that he is better than Bob Dylan, for instance, but what do I know).
Some footage of the MTV Europe Awards can be seen on the Guardian website, including Kate Perry’s entrance on a giant Chapstick.
This was the full list of winners:
Most Addictive Track: PINK: So What
Video Star: 30 Seconds to Mars: A Beautiful Life
Headliner: Tokio Hotel
Ultimate Urban: Kanye West
Rock Out: 30 Seconds To Mars
Artists Choice: Lil Wayne
Act of 2008: Britney Spears
MTV Europe Music Awards Ultimate Legend: Sir Paul McCartney
Album Of The Year: Britney Spears – Blackout
Europe’s Favourite Act: Emre Aydin (Turkey)
New Act: Katy Perry
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