MTV EMA: women win and k-pop arrives

For the second consecutive time in Spain, last year the event was live from Bilbao, the MTV Europe Music Awards have just ended, awards of the broadcaster that have been on the air since 1994. And, confirming the trend we had noticed in 2018, women were still the great protagonists of the evening. Starting from the run, entrusted to the Latin music star Becky G, passing through the most important prizes, won by Taylor Swift (Best Video with MYSELF), Billie Eilish (Best Song with bad guy), Halsey (Best Pop), Nicki Minaj (Best Hip Hop) and finally coming to performances, the only topic that will continue to be talked about even after the end of the show. Because, if TV audiences are increasingly buzzing, it is on social media that performances will live in the coming days.

To inaugurate the show an expected return, that of Dua Lipa, turned blonde to present for the new single Don't Start Now, first excerpt of his new album. If the piece has not yet fully convinced us, Dua's performance, accompanied by a wall of dancers dressed in yellow, remains among the best of the evening. Then followed by Mabel – who we find to be the daughter of Neneh Cherry, and Niall Horan, formerly One Direction on the second solo test with Nice to meet ya. And for the first time on the EMA stage there was also space for k-pop, with the performance of the NCTs 127. A sort of consecration towards a genre that, like it or not, grinds incredible numbers. And the confirmation comes from the delirious screams of the fans in the hall.
Given the location, Rosalìa could not be missing again, already among the performers of the 2018 edition, this time on stage with more than 50 dancers to sing Do me nombre. Then the sweet but psycho Ava Max, who increasingly seems to be inspired by the Lady Gaga of the beginning, and Halsey, who tonight is a bit of a nymph of the woods and a bit of Florence and The Machine.

Alongside all these 'new' pop names there is also space for some legend: Green Day with Father of all is Basket houses, and Liam Gallagher, winner of the first Rock Icon Award, who closed the evening with ounces and above all with Wonderwall giving, to those of MTV who lived the golden years, the most unforgettable moment of this edition.

Mahmood, absent because on tour, has taken the flag of our country high and brought home the prize in the category Best Italian Act.

On balance, there is no real winner of this edition, no "take it all" as in the past. Unfortunately, there are many illustrious absentees. Starting with Ariana Grande who, playing as a favorite with 7 nominations, closes with zero awards won, and sounds a bit like «come next time». But also Shawn Mendes and Billie Eilish, winners of one and two statuettes withdrawn at a distance respectively. What is certain is that, in recent times, the system has changed so much that it becomes increasingly difficult to choose candidates for an award like this, which, perhaps, should return to more European names. Like that of the aforementioned Mahmood, who after the blockbuster of Money would not have disfigured if candidate in one of the main categories. And, while we are thinking about how EMAs could evolve in a less American way, we continue to enjoy a show of great impact, one of the last remaining, which should be followed just to see, for once, some pop performance worthy of being called such. See you next year.

All winners of this edition:

BEST VIDEO
Ariana Grande thank u, next
Billie Eilish bad guy
Lil Nas X Old Town Road (Remix) ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
Rosalia, J Balvin With Altura ft. El Guincho
Taylor Swift ME! ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco

BEST ARTIST
Ariana Grande
J Balvin
Miley Cyrus
Shawn Mendes
Taylor Swift

BEST SONG
Ariana Grande 7 rings
Billie Eilish bad guy
Lil Nas X Old Town Road (Remix) ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
Post Malone, Swae Lee Sunflower
Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello Senorita

BEST COLLABORATION
BTS, HalseyBoy With Luv
Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus Old Town Road (Remix)
Mark Ronson, Miley CyrusNothing Breaks Like a Heart
Rosalia, J BalvinCon Altura ft. El Guincho
Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello Senorita
The Chainsmokers, Bebe RexhaCall You Mine

BEST NEW
Ava Max
Billie Eilish
Lewis Capaldi
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Mabel

BEST POP
Ariana Grande
Becky G
Camila Cabello
Halsey
Jonas Brothers
Shawn Mendes

BEST LIVE
Ariana Grande
BTS
Ed Sheeran
P! NK
Travis Scott

BEST ROCK
Green Day
Imagine Dragons
Liam Gallagher
Panic! At The Disco
The 1975

BEST HIP-HOP
21 Savage
Card B
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Travis Scott

BEST ALTERNATIVES
FKA Twigs
Lana Del Rey
Solange
twenty one pilots
Vampire Weekend

BEST ELECTRONIC
Calvin Harris
DJ Snake
Marshmello
Martin Garrix
The Chainsmokers

BEST PUSH
Ava Max
Billie Eilish
CNCO
H.E.R.
Jade Bird
Juice WRLD
Kiana Lede
Lauv
Lewis Capaldi
Lizzo
Mabel
Rosalia

BEST WORLD STAGE
Bebe RexhaIsle of MTV Malta 2019
Hailee SteinfeldIsle of MTV Malta 2018
MuseBilbao, Spain 2018
The 1975Lollapalooza Paris Festival 2019
twenty one pilotsLollapalooza Paris Festival 2019