Shattering the previous record of most all-time Billboard Music Awards wins, Drake took home 12 Billboard Music Awards, including Top Artist – the most of the evening, bringing his total to 27, now the most of any artist ever!
Airing this evening from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at on NBC, the 2019 Billboard Music Awards opened with a spectacular world premiere performance by global superstar Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie, followed by a show-stopping medley of today’s biggest hits from show host, Kelly Clarkson. The night was full of legendary, nostalgic, and never-before-seen performances, celebrating this year’s biggest and best in music!
Below are my favorite moments:
The Jonas Brothers:
The “Cake by the Ocean” song carries a whole different meaning since I came back from a vacation in the Dominican Republic. I see tropical palm trees on Joe Jonas’ jacket. It reminds me of when I was in Punta Cana.
Joe joins Nick on stage and sings “Jealous.” It was refreshing to hear Joe’s voice on “Jealous.” It complemented Nick’s hit melody and gave “Jealous” added strength to an already amazing song. The performance travels into the party anthem “Cake by the Ocean.” Nick Jonas kisses the forever beautiful Priyanka Chopra before getting on stage. Kevin is spotted in the middle of fire-lit ambience and all three brothers sing in fire.
Ariana Grande
A pink graffiti-drawn car lifts up from inside the stage. For her Billboard performance, we can see a planet from outer space. Ariana moves to the center and gets in line with her dancers in front and back of her and they pony-kick their legs into hip rocks. Ariana Grande can dance.
There was a grace and elegance to how she slid across the table in a performance of “Break Up With Your Girlfriend. I’m Bored” during Coachella 2019.
There were big bows floating off her shoulders as Ariana took a look at the audience and strut down the runway. In the “Tearin’ Up My Heart” dance with NSYNC, I thoroughly enjoyed how she delivered her body rolls, which were not under or overdone, Ariana did it right.
Taylor Swift
This is the one of best performances by Taylor Swift. First, she starts with a marching band! Like Mary Poppins, Brendon Urie flies into the performance by Umbrella.
But one of these things is not like the others
Like a rainbow with all of the colors
Baby doll, when it comes to a lover
I promise that you’ll never find another like me-e-e-eh
Ms. Swift and company perform with costumes that were colored with a kaleidoscope.
“Living in winter. I am your summer.” I always love Taylor Swift’s paradoxical lyrics.
One can also see a business-man (one of her dancers) marching with a suitcase in the corner.
Ms. Swift spins Urie around and sings “You’re the only one of you. Baby that’s the fun of you!” and dancers swim with their legs while holding onto umbrellas coming down from the ceiling and if that was not enough, they spin their tops and whip around the umbrella-like performers in a circus!
Paula Abdul
Fast tapping and hip twists with a double turn into an ending pose of a half split-lunge, is just the beginning of Paula Abdul’s dancing for her Billboard performance. Ms. Abdul’s legs lead the way as she is then carried off stage by one of her dancers and continues to perform.
Songs performed include: “Straight Up,” “Forever Your Girl,” and “Cold Hearted.” Ms. Abdul even reunites with the 90’s MC Skat Kat.
Alexa Politis is a graduate student for Speech Pathology at Adelphi University. She wonders what adventures will await her next.
