1D wins big at AMAs; Dion pays tribute to Paris victims

  • By Mesfin Fekadu Associated Press
  • Sunday, November 22, 2015 8:48pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

One Direction might have debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts behind Justin Bieber, but they won the top award at Sunday’s American Music Awards.

“This is a testament to how incredible our fans are,” Louis Tomlinson said onstage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

“We just want to thank everyone that’s helped us in the last five years,” Liam Payne added.

The band won the top award at last year’s show — as a quintet with Zayn Malik. They also won favorite duo or group — pop/rock Sunday night.

Bieber, who won best collaboration with Diplo and Skrillex, closed the night with a medley of his hits, including “Sorry,” “Where Are U Now” and “What Do You Mean.” Purple laser lights beamed from the stage as the singer danced and sang for the loud audience. He ended it drenched after standing under a waterfall.

Billboard announced Sunday his new album, “Purpose,” will debut at No. 1 on its charts Monday after selling 649,000 equivalent albums. It beat out One Direction’s “Made In the A.M.,” which sold 459,000 equivalent albums.

Bieber’s performance wasn’t the only well-received one: Celine Dion paid tribute to the victims of the recent Paris attacks by singing Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à L’Amour” in French as some audience members cried.

Jared Leto, who introduced Dion, said his band 30 Seconds to Mars recently performed at the Bataclan, the Paris concert hall where 89 people were killed in the Nov. 13 attack.

Dion earned a rousing applause after her performance, which started with the Eiffel Tower projected behind her.

The Weeknd’s performance was also a favorite, and he walked away with two awards, and presented the first one from Prince.

“Make some noise for Prince, ladies and gentlemen,” the singer said after picking up favorite album — soul/R&B for “Beauty Behind the Madness.”

Nicki Minaj was also a double winner, taking home favorite artist and album — rap/hip-hop. She encouraged her feverish fans to “find their voice.”

“I want to just thank you, the fans, for allowing me to change and have a different voice every time I come back out (with a new album),” Minaj said. “And please find your voice and find your purpose before it’s too late. Love you.”

Other girls at the awards show encouraged their peers: Zendaya and Hailee Steinfeld danced excited as Selena Gomez performed onstage; Fifth Harmony and Rebel Wilson sang as Demi Lovato was in strong form with “Confident”; and Gomez sang as Grande performed “Focus” in a shimmery number.

Meghan Trainor and Charlie Puth’s performance got additional attention after the singers made out onstage after singing their song, “Marvin Gaye,” which features the lyrics: “Let’s Marvin Gaye and get it on.”

“I’m still laughing at Charlie and Meghan smooching,” Bryan said onstage after winning favorite male artist — country.

Bryan beat out Jason Aldean and Sam Hunt, who won new artist of the year.

Host Jennifer Lopez kicked off the AMAs in a dance routine that highlighted some of the year’s biggest hits like “Where Are U Now,” “Anaconda,” “Uptown Funk!” and “Hotline Bling.” She also impressively sang in almost a cappella form.

Taylor Swift, who is out of the country shooting a music video, was the top nominee with six. She won song of the year for “Blank Space,” favorite album — pop/rock for “1989” and favorite artist — adult contemporary

Swift lost favorite female artist — pop/rock to Grande, who was shocked when accepting the honor.

“I think I owe a lot of this to my nonna who made sure to remind me that she voted. She goes, ‘Ariana, I went on the computer, I voted, so I think you’ll win,”’ Grande said in an Italian accent.

The three-hour show, which aired on ABC, also included a clip from the upcoming “Star Wars” film. Performers included Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, Alanis Morissette, 5 Seconds of Summer and Carrie Underwood, who won favorite female artist — country.

———

Online:

www.theamas.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.