The 2015 Billboard Music Awards were presented thid past Sunday night in Las Vegas. The audience was full of seemingly everyone who's anyone in the music industry (plus Jesse McCartney and Molly Ringwald). The night was full of the expected cheesy jokes from co-hosts Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen, performances from artists ranging from Van Halen to Pitbull, and Taylor Swift winning awards.
These were no Academy Awards, but there were some great moments that you did not want to miss.
1. The Trip
While the co-hosts were walking onto the stage to start the show, an innocent audience member tripped over Chrissy Tiegan's dress. This seemed like an appropriate way to start off this questionable award ceremony.
2. Nick Jonas's "Jealous"
I was never much of a Jonas Brothers fan, but I was impressed with Nick's performance of his hit single. His voice sounded just as good as it does on the radio, which always surprises me with current pop artists.
I would not call myself a "Directioner," but I have always found One Direction songs catchy and thought the members seemed cute and chill. I felt bad for them and their fans when the drama with Zayn Malik quitting shook up the group. I was happy to see them win some awards, and thought it was sweet of Liam Payne to say at the end of their first acceptance speech: "There's one more person to share this with, and that's our brother Zayn." Stay classy 1D.
4. Sam Smith's Silent Speech
Musician Sam Smith was not at the awards show because he was recovering from vocal chord surgery in New York. When he won the award for top male artist, he accepted it virtually, Love Actually style. He looked adorable (and noticeably thinner after a recent weight-loss) and gave a nice shout-out to his fans and friends Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, and Ed Sheeran.
5. Tori Kelly
Up-and-coming musician Tori Kelly was chosen as "Kia's One to Watch" to perform at the awards. She looks like the standard, pretty, 22-year-old, blonde, pop or country star, but I was pleasantly surprised by her beautiful voice. She performed her song "Nobody Love," and it was great!
6. Molly Ringwald + Taylor Swift
While actress Molly Ringwald was on stage honoring the 30th anniversary of The Breakfast Club, she asked if she could be in "Taylor Swift's club" now. As a huge Swift fan, I appreciated this joke, and was even happier to see the pair dancing in the audience together to Simple Minds's "Don't You (Forget About Me)." I love seeing girl power span through the generations.
7. "Stand By Me"
The final great moment from the show was Imagine Dragons's tribute to the late Ben E. King. Their "Stand By Me" performance was touching, especially because King's daughter and granddaughters were singing along in the audience.
