2016 American Music Awards Performance Reviews

Well, hey there guys! I hope you all enjoyed the 50,000 Pageview Special last night! In case you missed it, scroll below this post to check it out! So, today I'm here to bring you a quick performance review and recap of the 2016 American Music Awards. First off, let me say that the performances were very good and the show as a whole was good for the most part. Supermodel Gigi Hadid and Saturday Night Live star Jay Pharoah hosted the night. They were both pretty comical, but we didn't hear from them throughout the night much anyways, because I may have gotten annoyed at some point if we did. Hadid, a host with great humor and she did well with that widely despised Melania Trump impression, not saying that it was the best thing to do. Pharoah had a good night, was a great impressionist for some audience humor and that Taylor Swift remake commercial was hilarious, but not as good as the original, obviously. Anyways, let's get on with the post, shall we?

Green- A- - A+
Blue- B- - B+
Pink- C- - C+
Yellow- D- - D+
Red- F

Bruno Mars - 24K Magic

Comments: I would say that this was a pretty good way to start off the show, maybe not the best I can think of, but certainly decent at least. Mars was right on key for the most part and the backup singers sounded great. One of the things I liked most about this performance was that the audience was having fun, which is a good thing to have happen during a live performance. 

Vocals: 21/25
Body Language: 22/25
Connection: 24/25
Presence: 20/25
Overall Grade: 87% (B+)

Niall Horan - This Town

Comments: This was a very slow and very sweet performance. I don't think this guy ever needs autotune because he sounded exactly like he did in the song, with a few minor slip ups. I would say that this put a calm state over the audience and was a decent live performance.

Vocals: 24/25
Body Language: 18/25
Connection: 24/25
Presence: 22/25
Overall Grade: 88% (B+)

Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl

Comments: Now, this performance got generally bad reviews, as the ruins resembled that of the World Trade Center on 9/11, which now, I can kind of see, but not entirely. I don't think these girls, or the network would purposely do that anyway. So, looking past that, the girl's vocals weren't at their peak, but their body language and connection with the audience really improved my view on the performance, so it wasn't bad at all.

Vocals: 18/25
Body Language: 25/25
Connection: 24/25
Presence: 24/25
Overall Grade: 91% (A-)

The Chainsmokers/Halsey/Travis Barker - Closer

Comments: This was definitely a step up from their Video Music Awards performance about three months ago. I think its pretty safe to say that this is probably the most favored electronic dance song this year, but who knows? Anyways, Taggart's and Halsey's vocals were on point and Pall and Barker had fabulous stage presence. I also liked how they switched the song up a little bit, which was very interesting, as the audience seemed to like it. This was definitely one of the best performances of the night.

Vocals: 25/25
Body Language: 24/25
Connection: 22/25
Presence: 25/25
Overall Grade: 96% (A)

James Bay - Let It Go

Comments: This was definitely a performance I could live without. Honestly, I think this song wasn't needed because it is way too old. James Bay was off key at some points, and he had barely any body language. The connection with the audience though, I have to admit, was exceptional. So, that's pretty much all I have to say about this.

Vocals: 17/25
Body Language: 5/25
Connection: 25/25
Presence: 23/25
Overall Grade: 70% (C-)

Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better/Mercy

Comments: This was very good. I would say that the vocals were pretty good and the stage presence was spectacular. Even though Treat You Better is old now, the live performance was still very good. Likewise, Mercy was very good as well. That's all I have to say.

Vocals: 23/25
Body Language: 21/25
Connection: 21/25
Presence: 25/25
Overall Grade: 90% (A-)

The Weeknd - Starboy

Comments: First of all, I would like to say whatever it was that he was performing in was so cool. His voice was very good, but body language was lacking. I would have enjoyed if he moved around a bit more considering that this song originally features Daft Punk and is a bit more dance worthy, but it was good anyway.

Vocals: 23/25
Body Language: 18/25
Connection: 23/25
Presence: 23/25
Overall Grade: 87% (B+)

Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj - Side To Side

Comments: This was a very good performance. This was also better than their Video Music Awards performance of this song. Nicki Minaj isn't the best live performer, so that docked the vocal grade, Ariana improved it though. Otherwise, body language was great to fit the song, the connection with the audience was good, and the presence was fantastic. Also, it was considered good because it is my favorite song at the moment.

Vocals: 22/25
Body Language: 25/25
Connection: 25/25
Presence: 25/25
Overall Grade: 97% (A)

John Legend - Love Me Now

Comments: This was good at the least. I really liked the connection the pictures in the background conveyed, a very close message to the song. The dancing was kind of weird, but the vocals that John had were pretty good that night.

Vocals: 24/25
Body Language: 14/25
Connection: 25/25
Presence: 22/25
Overall Grade: 85% (B)

Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out/Heathens

Comments: I loved this performance. This was definitely one of the best live performances I've ever seen. The vocals were so good and the body language was perfect. The audience loved it and the stage presence was almost perfect. I think it is safe to say Twenty One Pilots are amazing live performers.

Vocals: 24/25
Body Language: 25/25
Connection: 25/25
Presence: 23/25
Overall Grade: 97% (A)

Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You

Comments: The fact that this was all the way from Italy was a good feature. The audience was crying, heaven knows why, which means the connection was good. Bieber had great a great dancing routine to compliment the song as well, so, all in all, it was a decent performance.

Vocals: 19/25
Body Language: 24/25
Connection: 25/25
Presence: 16/25
Overall Grade: 84% (B)

Lady Gaga - Million Reasons

Comments: This was a very sweet and audience friendly performance. Lady Gaga's vocals sounded exactly how they do in the track we hear on the radio, and I really don't know what else to say.

Vocals: 25/25
Body Language: 21/25
Connection: 24/25
Presence: 23/25
Overall Grade: 93% (A)

Green Day - Bang Bang
 
Comments: This performance wasn't very good at all. The stage presence was terrible, like almost zero. Also, the vocals weren't very good, as well as the diss to Donald Trump which probably wasn't the best thing to do, but the only actual good thing that came out of this was that the audience was somewhat interested, but not me, of course.

Vocals: 11/25
Body Language: 4/25
Connection: 19/25
Presence: 2/25
Overall Grade: 36% (F)

Sting - I Can't Stop Thinking About You/Message In A Bottle/Every Breath You Take

Comments: The only part of this performance that I was somewhat drawn into was Message In A Bottle. The body language was mediocre at best and the vocals were dry, but the connection was somewhat good, so I'll give him that.

Vocals: 10/25
Body Language: 11/25
Connection: 22/25
Presence: 19/25
Overall Grade: 62% (D-)

DJ Khaled/Nicki Minaj/August Alsina/Future/Rick Ross - Do You Mind

Comments: Okay, so this wasn't as bad as I had expected it to be. DJ Khaled brought the vocal grade down a bit, but the presence was very good and the body language was good as well, so I was very impressed with this.

Vocals: 16/25
Body Language: 21/25
Connection: 23/25
Presence: 23/25
Overall Grade: 83% (B)

Maroon 5/Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know

Comments: This could have been better presence wise. Adam Levine showed barely any enthusiasm at the beginning, but it got better. The rest was good, though, so that's all I'm really going to say, besides that Kendrick Lamar did great.

Vocals: 25/25
Body Language: 24/25
Connection: 24/25
Presence: 17/25
Overall Grade: 90% (A-)

Top 5 Performances (Grade Wise):
1. TIE: Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj - Side To Side
1. TIE: Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out/Heathens
2. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer
3. Lady Gaga - Million Reasons
4. Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
5. TIE: Maroon 5/Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know
5. TIE: Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better/Mercy

Bottom 5 Performances (Grade Wise):
1. Green Day - Bang Bang
2. Sting - I Can't Stop Thinking About You/Message In A Bottle/Every Breath You Take
3. James Bay - Let It Go
4. DJ Khaled/Nicki Minaj/August Alsina/Future/Rick Ross - Do You Mind
5. Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You

Love ya fam!

A special surprise is coming your way!

~ Jack :)