Last Night's American Music Awards Left Us All Losers

BIllboard - BTS and Taylor Swift were among the artists who set records at the 2021 American Music Awards, held on Sunday (Nov. 21) at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

BTS won artist of the year, becoming the first group to win in that top category since One Direction won back-to-back awards in 2014-15. The K-pop sensations beat Swift, who has won six times in the category, more than anyone else. This is only Swift’s second loss in the category. She previously lost to 1D in 2015.

BTS won favorite pop duo or group for the third year in a row. They’re just the third act to win three years in a row in this category, which dates to the show’s first year (1974). They follow Daryl Hall + John Oates (1983-85) and One Direction (2013-15).

BTS also won favorite pop song for “Butter,” which logged 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, longer than any other single so far this year. That gave BTS three awards on the night, which put them in tie with Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion as the night’s numerical leaders.

Swift won favorite pop album for a record-setting fourth time, for evermore.

I'll be real with you all.

The American Music Awards are lame as fuck.

They weren't always this way. As you read above, they used to have actual bands and artists dominate the show year in and year out like Hall & Oates.

(sidebar - do you ever wonder how big of a hog John Oates is packing? 12"? 15"? Also, if you don't fuck with Hall & Oates I'd prefer you never read my blogs again. Thank you.)

Anyway, this awards show used to rock.

Now it's just more of the fabricated, payola bullshit that is American Radio today, just on television.

All the acts the labels pay radio and the streaming services to ram down our throats, being crowned officially, with performances of those same beaten-to-death songs sprinkled in.

Tom Morello agrees.

Except for Silk Sonic's opening performance. They are fucking unreal and this performance was incredible.

Cardi B's opening monologue was as contrived as W.A.P.

From there, it was basically the Taylor Swift and BTS show. Taylor also won favorite female pop artist for a record-extending sixth time. Yawn.

Female artists won four of the five album awards. In addition to Swift’s win for favorite pop album (evermore), Megan Thee Stallion took favorite hip-hop album (Good News), Doja Cat won favorite R&B album (Planet Her) and Gabby Barrett won favorite country album (Goldmine).

The only male artist to win an album award was Bad Bunny for favorite Latin album, which was he won for the second year in a row. He won this year for El Último Tour Del Mundo. 

Olivia Rodrigo won new artist of the year. The teen phenom is almost certain to win best new artist at the Grammys on Jan. 31.

Kelly blogged earlier covering Rodrigo's winning night, performance, and outfit and did a great job.

Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” won for favorite R&B song, giving Bruno Mars his third win in the category. 

Cardi B, who hosted the show, won favorite hip-hop song for “Up.”

Carrie Underwood won favorite female country artist for the eighth time. That’s second only to Reba McEntire, who has won 11 times in the category. The fan-voted award may mean a little extra to Underwood this year: She was passed over for a nod for female vocalist of the year at the CMA Awards for the first time, ending a 15-year nomination streak.

My guy Luke Bryan won favorite male country artist for the fifth time. Only three other artists have won that many or more awards in this category. Garth Brooks leads with eight wins, followed by Tim McGraw with six. The late Kenny Rogers also won five.

Marshmello won favorite dance/electronic artist for the third time. He’s the first three-time winner in the category, which dates to 2012. Calvin Harris and The Chainsmokers have each won twice.

Doja Cat featuring SZA’s “Kiss Me More” became the first all-female collab to win collaboration of the year. The category dates to 2015. Doja Cat also won as favorite female R&B artist for the second year in a row.

The Weeknd won favorite male R&B artist for the third time; the second year in a row. He’s the first artist to win two or more years in a row since Usher (2010-12).

MGK won best rock artist.

Manneskin, one of the hottest rock bands in the world, from Italy, ripped it with their single, (the cover) "Beggin'"

Lil Nas X took music video of the year for “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).” His “Old Town Road” collab with Billy Ray Cyrus was nominated two years ago, but lost to Swift’s “You Need to Calm Down.”

Artist of the Year went to BTS

The highlight of the night, by far, was New Kids on The Block and New Edition bringing the house down.

Lots of lookers were out at least.