AMAs: Justin Bieber, Jack Ü Win Collaboration Of The Year For ‘Where Are Ü Now?
Justin Bieber’s “Where Are Ü Now?” collaboration with Jack Ü’s Diplo and Skrillex was recognized at last night’s American Music Awards 2015 (AMAs) as the game-changing sonic and personality collaboration it turned out to be.
The star-studded, Jennifer Lopez-hosted music ceremony took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and was broadcast on the ABC network.
The plaintive EDM-Pop jam won the “Collaboration of the Year” category at the AMAs, three years after the awards show created a Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist award in 2012. Fast forward to 2015, Bieber, Skrillex and Diplo’s win with “Where Are Ü Now?” clearly demonstrates the massive crossover advances made by EDM since then.
The combined effect of Bieber’s uber star power with renowned tastemakers Skrillex and Diplo shifted the very concept of where EDM could go to within pop and vice versa, and the effects of that cannot be quantified. From electrifying club dance floors, to exposing a generation to the talents of Sonny Moore and Diplo, earning a New York Times Vlog write-up, and the continuing wrath of Deadmau5, to generating (to date) nearly 400 million worldwide streams, a No. 8 peak on Billboard’s Hot 100, double platinum in the U.S. — and the not inconsiderable feat of rejuvenating interest in and respect for Justin Bieber the artist, beyond his fan base — “Where Are Ü Now” accomplished that and more. That’s a powerful song.
To take home this year’s AMAs “Collaboration of the Year,” the Bieber featuring banger trumped Taylor Swift and the rapper Kendrick Lamar on “Bad Blood,” Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars on “Uptown Funk,” RiRi, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney on “FourFiveSeconds,” and Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth on “See You Again.” Strong contenders all.
Fittingly, P. Diddy (who made a somewhat comical cameo during Skrillex’s closing set at the Ultra Music Festival earlier this year) presented the fan-voted award to the Biebs, Skrillex, and Diplo onstage.
The #AMAsUnleashed magenta moment is here! Winner for Collab of the Year Un-leashed by @TMobile is… #AMAs https://t.co/pdy7WAGIGS
— AMAs (@TheAMAs) November 23, 2015
The Jack Ü producers wore black (and white for Diplo) on the podium, while Justin rocked Virgil Abloh’s off-white label.
Bieber, who reportedly left briefly left the AMAs before his finale performance to compose himself, didn’t say a lot on stage, but he introduced Diplo and Skrillex and showed his appreciation to the pair in hearty applause.
On stage, Diplo called “Where Are Ü Now?” “one of the strangest collaborations of the year… of all time.”
He then thanked Bieber, his manager, Scooter Braun, and everyone who “believed” in the collaboration. Skrillex told the AMAs audience that [Jack Ü] were “here to keep pushing music forward” while “breaking stereotypes and boundaries” down so others could express themselves freely.
Watch Skrillex, Diplo, and Bieber win and accept the AMA for “Collaboration of the Year” below.
BIG shout out to @justinbieber+@diplo+@skrillex for taking home #AMAs Collab of the Year! 🎉 https://t.co/pkIm8sXNEW
— AMAs (@TheAMAs) November 23, 2015
Other award winners at the AMAs included The Weeknd, who took home the night’s first trophy for the Favorite Album Soul/R&B category. One Direction won Artist of the Year. Sam Hunt waltzed off with the Kohl-sponored New Artist of the Year, while Song of the Year went to Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space.” Brit Ed Sheeran won Favorite Male Artist. Ariana Grande walked off with Favorite Female Artist.
Luke Bryan nabbed Favourite Male Country Artists. Carrie Underwood won the female equivalent. Nicki Minaj won the rap/Hip Hop Favorite Artist, while The Weeknd won Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist, among other wins.
Performances on the night included JLo, 5 Seconds of Summer, Coldplay, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Gwen Stefani, and more, with Bieber closing out the show with a wet and wild performance of his Purpose album hits “Sorry,” “What Do You Mean?,” and this year’s AMAs Collaboration of the Year, “Where Are Ü Now?”
Rather neatly, the song that kicked off Justin Bieber’s hugely successful comenback was part of the finale celebrating him and a great year in American music.
To see the full winners’ list for the 2015 AMAs, click the highlighted link.
— diplo (@diplo) November 23, 2015
[Images via ABC]
