The smash remake of the ’70s hit “Lady Marmalade” took top honors at the MTV Video Music Awards at Lincoln Center last night – MTV’s night of little dresses, big egos, music movers and booty shakers.
“Marmalade” – which features Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, Pink and Missy Elliott – was named Video of the Year and Best Video from a Film.
“Weapon of Choice,” the Spike Jonze video of Fatboy Slim’s song that features a surreal dance routine by Christopher Walken, took six of the nine awards for which it was nominated – including best director.
Jonze said when it came time to cast the video, Walken came to mind.
“He was a born dancer,” Jonze said. “He’s definitely got the rhythm.”
Most of the awards show, broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera House, was shockingly sedate.
The biggest non-surprise surprise in the three-hour-plus event came when Michael Jackson took a break from rehearsing for his Madison Square Garden show and joined boy-band *NSYNC for a live re-creation of their video “Pop.”
The boys were thrilled to share the stage with Jackson – but Michael danced awkwardly, appearing like a deer caught in the headlights.
Jackson still got a standing ovation even though he didn’t sing a note.
The worst performance of the night was Missy Elliott’s attempt to stage “Get Ur Freak On.” The song is so intricate that the live performance seemed out of time, out of key and without the sonic nuances that make the recording so good.
But most of the acts, including U2’s and Alicia Keys’ stage turns, were very good.
For many, the most memorable moment of the night came from Britney Spears. Like last year, she stole the show, in an orgasmic performance that again proved she isn’t a little girl any more.
Besides being incredibly sexy, Spears’ “I’m A Slave 4U” from her upcoming disc had great beat and hot production.
The proceedings took a serious turn early on when pop princess Aaliyah was eulogized by Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott, among others.
Jackson read a letter from a fan that said, “We haven’t lost anyone, we gained an angel.”
The tribute was expected, tasteful and mercifully brief allowing the ceremony to get back to dishing out the Moonmen awards showcasing the nominees.
Hip-hopper Outkast took the Best Hip Hop Video prize for “Ms. Jackson.” Although Outkast was a strong contender for the award, few predicted the win.
There were other upsets. Jaws dropped when *NSYNC snagged the Best Dance Video, beating out favorite Fatboy Slim.
But by the time the band nabbed the Viewers’ Choice Award and the award for Best Pop Video, nobody was saying anybody was robbed.
At that point, host Jamie Foxx said: “This is becoming the *NSYNC show.”