By Nekesa Mumbi Moody
Associated Press
NEW YORK – Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice” video was the big winner at Thursday’s MTV Video Music Awards, winning six of the nine awards for which it was nominated, but it was the sexy video “Lady Marmalade” that took home the year’s top trophy.
“Lady Marmalade,” the “Moulin Rouge”-inspired video, was a collaboration featuring Pink, Christina Aguilera, Mya and Lil’ Kim. It also received an award for best video from a film.
The night’s other big winner was ‘N Sync, who received four awards for the special-effects laden video, “Pop,” including the viewer’s choice award.
The “Weapon of Choice” clip by Fatboy Slim, a DJ, doesn’t even feature the artist; its star is actor Christopher Walken, dancing around an empty hotel lobby. Among the early awards it nabbed was for best direction, which was done by Spike Jonze, and best choreography.
As always, however, the awards themselves tend to be an afterthought, upstaged by the evening’s over-the-top moments. Thursday was no exception, as ‘N Sync capped off a colorful rendition of “Pop” with the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. Jackson gyrated for only a few seconds to ‘N Sync’s hit, but received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Another anticipated moment was Britney Spears’ performance of her new song, “I’m A Slave For You,” which featured the singer slithering on stage with a snake and other animals.
Mudvayne won the MTV2 award spotlighting emerging artists, but it was hard to concentrate on the heavy metal group’s acceptance speech: They appeared at the podium in gory makeup that made them look as if they had been shot in the forehead, with fake blood oozing down their faces and chests.
And Macy Gray upstaged the announcement of the award for best new artist as she urged everyone “to take a minute and concentrate on my dress,” which read: “My new album drops Sept. 18, 2001.”
Comedian-host Jamie Foxx got the evening off to a somewhat raunchy start. After parodying the evening’s setting at the Metropolitan Opera House with opera renditions of hits like “Bootylicious,” he launched into a monologue that had to be bleeped by MTV censors.
Foxx had previously said he would not lampoon celebrities during the show, but apparently had a change of heart, joking about Mariah Carey’s recent nervous breakdown and Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean’s battle with alcohol abuse.
Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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