One of the biggest global annual music events celebrating the hottest artists from around the world, the 2014 MTV EMA was punctuated with outrageous, unexpected moments, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations and rousing performances that will undoubtedly go down in history. This year’s show transformed Glasgow’s SSE Hydro into an unforgettable time-travelling extravaganza, catapulting viewers through memories of the most outlandish moments in the MTV EMA’s 20-year history.
The show kicked-off by transporting viewers back to 1994, where a young Nicki Minaj watched the first-ever MTV EMA from her bedroom before traveling into the future, making a grand entrance into the 2014 MTV EMA in a frilled ball gown and sequinned bra.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
“Her Royal Minajesty” truly commandeered the evening, taking home the award forBest Hip Hop, and even giving the audience a show-stopping, jaw-dropping blend of her biggest hits including “Super Bass”, “Anaconda” and a global debut performance of her new track, “Bed of Lies”, which featured a surprise appearance by Skylar Grey. The host also made it rain, telling the Glasgow crowd, “It’s my round!” before showering them with enough “Minaj money” for 1,000 free drinks.
One of the greatest rock bands of all time, U2 took to the MTV EMA stage for a fourth time with a poignant, understated rendition of “Every Breaking Wave”, accompanied by a strings section. Alicia Keys serenaded the crowd from the nearby viewing party at the O2 Academy Glasgow, with an inspired performance of her Best Song with a Message-nominated track “We Are Here” being beamed into the SSE Hydro and to MTV EMA viewers the world over. Best Song and Best Female winner Ariana Grande flew over the audience in a perspex bubble chair, treating fans to a Barbarella-esque medley of her smash hits “Problem” and “Break Free”:
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Ed Sheeran, on the other hand, brought his chart-topping track ‘Thinking Out Loud’ to life, lighting up the stage with an elaborate music box.
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne made his triumphant return to MTV to accept this year’s Global Icon Award. In a surprise closing performance, Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil joined guitar legend Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators to pay tribute to Ozzy with an epic rendition of his classic hit “Crazy Train”. Best World Stage winner Enrique Iglesias called on the crowd to be part of his medley of “Freak” and “Bailando”, with thousands of fans donning xylobands to light up the floor of the SSE Hydro.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
True to form, madness prevailed. Katy Perry revealed an unusual obsession with Minaj’s “pillows”, and the show further honoured the host’s rear with a “butt putt” mini-golf green in the middle of the arena. Redfoo took to the stage dressed in a kilt to present the award for Best Pop to One Direction, having earlier revealed he was going commando on the MTV EMA red carpet, which was chosen by fans via social media with the hashtag #UnderFoosKiltEMA. In another nod to the heritage of the 2014 host city, David Hasselhoff dressed up in blue face paint to become “BraveHoff”.
2014 MTV EMA winners are as follows:
- Best Song: Ariana Grande – “Problem” ft Iggy Azalea
- Best Pop: One Direction
- Best Female: Ariana Grande
- Best Male: Justin Bieber
- Best Live: One Direction
- Best New: 5 Seconds of Summer
- Best Video: Katy Perry – “Dark Horse” ft Juicy J
- Best Rock: Linkin Park
- Best Alternative: Thirty Seconds To Mars
- Best Hip Hop: Nicki Minaj
- Best Electronic: Calvin Harris
- Biggest Fans: One Direction
- Best Look: Katy Perry
- Best PUSH: 5 Seconds of Summer
- Best World Stage: Enrique Iglesias’s MTV World Stage Isle of MTV Malta
- Worldwide Act: Bibi Zhou
- Global Icon: Ozzy Osbourne
Before closing out the evening, Queen Nicki announced that the 2015 MTV EMA will take place in Milan, Italy at the Mediolanum Forum on 25th Oct 2015 (Sunday). Italy and the city of Milan will serve as the official location for Expo 2015, the Universal Exhibition, and the MTV EMA will close out a year of international events taking place in Milan.
For more pictures from the awards, check out the gallery below:
*Pictures from Getty Images.
Miss the 2014 MTV EMA? Fret not! The show will repeat on the following times:
Pre Show
- Monday, 10 November at 7pm (WIB), 8pm (SG/PH), 9pm (MY)
- Saturday, 15 November at 12pm (WIB), 1pm (SG/PH), 2pm (MY)
Main Show
- Monday, 10 November at 8pm (WIB), 9pm (SG/PH), 10pm (MY)
- Tuesday, 11 November at 10pm (WIB), 11pm (SG/PH)
- Wednesday, 12 November at 2pm (WIB), 3pm (SG/PH), 12am, 4pm (MY)
- Thursday, 13 November at 5.30pm (WIB), 6.30pm (SG/PH), 7.30pm (MY)
- Saturday, 15 November at 1pm (WIB), 2pm (SG/PH), 3pm (MY)
- Sunday, 16 November at 5pm (WIB), 6pm (SG/PH), 7pm (MY)
Don’t forget, we’re still running the MTV EMA exclusive limited edition merchandise giveaway here! But you gotta watch and win 
For more information, hit up the MTV EMA website.