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Young, Gifted & Lucky: Review of Billboard Music Award Winners

© Paula Chase-Hyman

I remember how exciting it was to watch the American Music Awards as a kid. The show seemed excrutiatingly long for a person whose bedtime was several hours before the show actually ended. But, it was still the music awards show of choice for me and my peers.

Unlike the Grammy's, which were too stuffy and had far too many categories involving country, classical and foreign music - the AMAs always offered that hip, trendy flavor that only our youth can truly appreciate.

The Billboard Awards has taken on that same aura for my daughter. An avid music fan at seven years old the awards had her bouncing off the walls. I tuned in mainly because there was little else on TV - but was fascinated by her excitement.

The BBAs differ from the AMAs because almost 90% of the winners and performers at the BBAs are under 30. So there is definitely a different feel to this show.

The show kicked off with a pre-recorded performance by Brittney Spears in front of the Bellagio Hotel and then a direct cut over into Pink performing her latest. Those first 10 minutes of bubble gum Pop fueled my daughter with enough energy to run a marathon.

There were no real surprises as Alicia Keys, Shaggy, Lil Romeo, and other popular acts took home multiple awards. Also, N'Sync was nominated for a special achievement award for having the highest one-week sales total of the year with "Celebrity."

Janet Jackson, at 35 years old virtually a grandma among these teeny-bopper acts, was honored with an Artist Achievement award. And R. Kelly, another vet, was the night's biggest winner walking away with six awards.

Because the Billboards are a nod to whats hot at the moment, sometimes who isn't there is just as telling as who is. BackStreet Boys and Sisqo - a big winner last year - were not in the building.

The energy bursting from the awards was very much alive. Alicia Keys, Angie Stone and Eve performed the remix of Stone's "Brotha." Keys was more into it than she was her own "A Woman's Worth." She was definitely having fun with it, which was fun to watch.

N'Sync chose the ballad approach and performed their crossover hit, "Gone." I have to admit I was singing along with my daughter - and received more than one sideways glance from my husband who mocked me for actually knowing the words.

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