Alberta rockers Nickelback may have picked up a leading three trophies at the MuchMusic Video Awards last night, giving music critics across the country another reason to groan, but in the end it was all about Lady Gaga’s “flaming boobies.”
The critically unpopular group, who picked up three Juno Awards back in March, went into the televised street-oriented awards show – which saw thousands of fans take over the blocks surrounding MuchMusic’s Toronto Queen and John Sts. headquarters – with a leading five MMVA nods, tied with R&B Toronto newcomer Danny Fernandes.
Nickelback’s trio of trophies were for best video and best rock video for Gotta Be Somebody while the clip also got the nod for best post production.
“Wow,” said frontman Chad Kroeger, arriving on the red carpet with his bandmates in a bullet-proof van to find out they’d already won two awards before the official show even began.
“I give it all to the fans. The fans have stuck with us, they’ve been amazing. We’re just trying to sustain it.”
Added guitarist Ryan Peake: “Couldn’t be a better band for this (bullet-proof) vehicle.”
Fernandes, whose debut disc, Intro, was produced by Palestinian-born, Ottawa-based rapper Belly, picked up a single trophy for best pop video for Private Dancer and busted out a dance move as a presenter alongside MuchMusic veejay Sarah Taylor.
Piano-rockers The Midway State, whose members hail from Collingwood and Thornhill, Ont., were surprise double winners, picking up two MMVA trophies for best independent video for Never Again and Ur Fave new artist for the same song.
Montreal pop-punk band Simple Plan won Ur Fave video for Save You.
Teen-pop sibling act the Jonas Brothers, who were also co-hosts for the evening, opened the show with their hit song, Burnin’ Up, which later won the award for Ur Fave international video, and were immediately followed by St. Catharines, Ont., post-hardcore-screamo act Alexisonfire performing Young Cardinals in a wild contrast of music styles.
And while the trio of brothers can certainly sing – they returned to sing their current hit, Paranoid, to screaming female fans – a skit later in the show with celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton fell totally flat.
“You guys truly are the greatest fans in the world – we love you so much,” said Nick Jonas, upon accepting their award.
When it came to international winners, many were on hand to pick up their hardware as they were also MMVA performers.
Lady Gaga picked up best international video (artist) for her breakout single, Poker Face.
“You guys make it so hard to live anywhere else,” said Lady Gaga in a gold braided outfit and matching headband.
“To God and the gays!”
But she really had people talking when she later transformed the MMVA stage into a New York subway station and wore a revealing black leather and silver studded ensemble that barely covered her nether regions for her performance of LoveGame/Poker Face that also included dancing NYPD officers and sparks flying out of a metal frame bra she was wearing by the end of the song.
Black Eyed Peas, who currently have the No. 1 album in Canada with The E.N.D., won for best international video (group) for that album’s first single, Boom Boom Pow, which they also performed with female singer Fergie decked out in hot pants, thigh-high boots and long fake finger nails on one hand.
Kelly Clarkson also blew the roof of the joint – okay so there was no roof outside – with her big-voice and hit song, My Life Would Suck Without You, as she performed barefoot in jeans.
One Canadian group who did well last night was Billy Talent. The Toronto pop-punk outfit picked up the international video award (Canadian) for Rusted From The Rain, the first single from their new album, Billy Talent III, due later this summer, and performed the song during the MMVAs broadcast on an elevated platform.
“I don’t have any flaming boobies,” said Billy Talent frontman Ben Kowalewicz as he picked up the award, in reference to Lady Gaga’s eye-popping performance which had just occurred.
