PARIS & BERLIN, Nov 7, 2009 / FW/ — From the historic U2 performance in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to Katy Perry hosting the event consecutively and couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé performing on the same stage, albeit at different times, the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards was a series of dazzling performances from international musical artists.
With U2 performing a short set in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate as a free ticketed show, it set the tone for the evening – an exciting night for music fans.
Rock icons U2 brought Berlin to a standstill with an awe-inspiring performance beamed into the show from the city’s historic Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of peace and reconciliation to people around the world and site of the first ever MTV Europe Music Awards.
In front of 10,000 music fans, the music legends performed a short set comprising some of their best loved songs including a powerful rendition of Sunday, Bloody Sunday and an uplifting medley of Magnificent and One – the haunting anthem inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Inside the venue, the EMAs burst into thrilling life with an electrifying opening number by Green Day, followed by Katy Perry’s irreverent mash-up of the five Best Song contenders that included Beyoncé’s monster hit Halo and Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody.
Effervescent host Katy Perry brought her trademark energy and quirky humour to the awards, appearing in a dazzling array of costumes and looks inspired by burlesque and Liza Minnelli’s Oscar-winning appearance in Cabaret, the novel which lifted the lid on decadent 1930’s Berlin.
The stunning hostess fulfilled her role with signature relish and flair, equally at home in a stylish bowler hat covered in thousands of crystals, or reclining in a giant cocktail glass, or soaring high above the audience on a glittering half-moon shaped swing.
Among the many show highlights was a strikingly sexy performance of Happy by Leona Lewis, an upbeat version of Sweet Dreams by Beyoncé and a high octane rock medley of Wheels and All My Life by the Foo Fighters.
Colombian siren Shakira sent temperatures rising with a steamy performance of Did It Again, performed with dancers dressed only in skimpy towels.
[SARA CONDE]
Photo by Getty Images
