The YouTube Music Awards 2013 proved to be a mix of everything. And when we say everything, we mean everything. Odd couple Jason Schwartzman and Reggie Watts hosted the show, directed by Spike Jonze. The live event, broadcast Sunday from New York City, was a mix of live videos from some of the biggest artists in music, time-killing ramblings from the hosts and a scavenger hunt in which the hosts dug through a series of cakes looking for one of the awards. "There was nothing scripted tonight," said Schwartzman, adding that the night was about creativity. "This is all about anything happening," he insisted.
There were only six categories, with Eminem winning the "Artist of the Year" award. South Korean sensation Girls' Generation won "Video of the Year." While this group may be unknown to American audiences, the pop group is a national phenomenon in Korea. The group's record releases are a national event with every news outlet running stories and inciting fans to near-hysteria. However, they're still making their way into the U.S. music scene. The "Breakthrough of the Year" award went to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, whose songs include the gay rights anthem, "Same Love."
"See Me Standing" by DeStorm won "Innovation of the Year," while "Response of the Year" went to violinist Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix, for their cover of Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive." Walk off the Earth, along with KRNFX, took the "Phenomenon of the Year" for their version of Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble," and while accepting their award, Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler interrupted in true Kanye West fashion. "Not Taylor Swift," Butler said. "I'm gonna let you finish. Not Taylor Swift. The YouTube phenomenon of the year was definitely the 'Harlem Shake.' I don't know. No disrespect, but everybody knows that if you've ever been on YouTube, so whatever." He then dropped the mic and walked off stage.
Among the highlights of the show was Lady Gaga's stripped down performance, away from her usual over-the-topness. She sang her somber ballad "Dope" from her new album, ARTPOP, choosing a plain flannel shirt, sunglasses and a trucker hat over her typical outlandish outfits. She sat alone at a piano, with the camera tight on her face. She removed the glasses to reveal tears on her face as she sang. Going the opposite way, Earl Sweatshirt and fellow rapper Tyler, the Creator, performed their song "Sasquatch" in the midst of a mosh pit, using hand-held cameras to relay the frenetic experience.
There was also famous DJ Avicii, who played the hot dumb guy in a "short live film" written by Lena Dunham that ended with a "double suicide" and the crowd splattered in blood. However, nobody seemed to care and continued dancing to Avicii's beats. Although it was a show all over the place, it lacked Latino presence. There are many Latino sensations that are breaking records on YouTube. Just ask Daddy Yankee, whose music video for his song "Limbo" has over 164 million views, so why not even nominate him for the "Video of the Year" category? And let's not forget about YouTube sensation Colibritany and her "Sexy Chambelán." Although many people think Harlem Shake should've won "Phenomenon of the Year," we would've loved to see Colibritany make it to the nominations at least.
Did you watch the award show? What did you think of the YouTube Music Awards 2013? Which Latino artists would you have loved to see nominated?
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