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Watch Justin Bieber’s Electric Medley At 2016 Billboard Music Awards, Won Top Male Artist

By Page Mackinley
Published on: 19:17 PST, May 22, 2016

https://rumble.com/embed/vce5r/

Justin Bieber stunned at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards with a medley performance of his previous No. 1 hit “Sorry” and “Company,” aided by state of the art effects. The superstar took home the Top Male Artist award and the Top Social Media Artist Award.

The 22-year-old was nominated for 12 awards in 11 categories at the music event, which was hosted by Ludacris and Ciara at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Biebs beat out Drake, Fetty Wap, Ed Sheeran, and The Weeknd to win the Top Male award, and set a new record as the first male to win it twice. He previously won it in 2011.

Bieber’s performance was introduced by pal and Snapchat’s biggest star DJ Khaled, who talked up the pop icon’s massively successful 2015 album Purpose. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart last November, produced three number ones, (so far) sales of over four million, and saw the singer make history as the first artist since The Beatles to have three simultaneous hits in the Top five on Billboard. Both “Sorry” and “Company” are singles from Purpose.

Clad in ripped jeans, a beige T-shirt, and rocking his buzzcut, the Biebs was first seen on stage solo while bathed in aqua lights as he sang “Company” inside an illuminated box, before showcasing slinky moves when he was joined by a lineup of dancers and acrobats in white. The effect was even more mesmerizing when the setting changed to a swirling fire tableau of red lights.

A segue over looped “Company” chords ushered in Bieber’s world-circling hit “Sorry,” with Matrix-emerald lights instead of the usual downpour. During the dancehall-favored banger, Justin shook hands with fans, which was a sweet touch after a month in which the star set some evidently needed boundaries with his fans over impromptu photos.

The singer was given a thoroughly deserved standing ovation after his rendition of “Sorry.”

Right after his stage spot, Bieber was up again to accept the Billboard Music Award Top Male Artist award. In his brief speech, the “Sorry” singer said “Thank you. I’m not really a talker but I’ll say thank you to my family. I want to thank God. I want to thank everyone that believed in me and believes in me.”

He added, “That’s it! You guys are awesome. Enjoy your night.”

Later, Justin won the Top Social Media Artist award, which isn’t surprising given his combined heft on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and more.

Besides the Biebs, the rest of the Billboard Music Awards performances included a completely lip-synced opening medley from Britney Spears, the usual circus act stuff from Pink, schmaltz from Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani, powerhouse spots from Rihanna (especially) and Ariana Grande, emotion and beauty from the Icon Award winner Céline Dion, booty shaking from Fifth Harmony, sweetness from Shawn Mendes, Kesha’s earth-scorching touching cover, Madonna’s bizarre Prince tribute assisted by Stevie Wonder and an introduction by Questlove, and more.

For a snapshot of the other winners, The Weeknd claimed Top 100 Artist, Top R&B song with “The Hills,” Top R&B Artist, and Top R&B album. Adele was not at the Billboard Awards as she is touring. She landed the Top Billboard 200 Album award for 25, and also won the Top Artist award. Rihanna won the Billboard Chart Achievement Award, while Fetty Wap won Top New Artist.

Meanwhile, Bieber is currently on a break from his Purpose World Tour, which resumes on June 19. For a full list of 2016 Billboard Music Awards winners, click the link.

[Images via Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

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