In 2016, even a group as resolutely upbeat as Fifth Harmony felt a need to perform atop a flaming pile of apocalyptic wreckage at the American Music Awards on Sunday.
The group’s members trampled over a rubble-strewn, fire-spitting stage as they performed “That’s My Girl” — an apropos setup for America at the moment of the AMAs this year. The show’s task is unenviable: How does one pull off a silly, populist awards program amid an increasingly tense and tumultuous time in American politics and culture?
The first hour of the show veered between hosts Jay Pharoah and Gigi Hadid trying to make light of recent events — Pharoah had a witty riff on President-elect Donald Trump as a Bruno Mars fan, because he can’t discern Mars’ race and therefore won’t deport him.
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Singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5, left, and rapper Kendrick Lamar perform onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.
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Jenny McCarthy, left, and Donnie Wahlberg introduce a performance.
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Ariana Grande accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards.
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Brian Kelley, left, and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line accept the award for favorite country duo/group at the American Music Awards.
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Tyka Nelson accepts the award for top soundtrack for “Purple Rain” on behalf of her brother Prince at the American Music Awards.
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Hailee Steinfeld, left, and Blake Jenner present the award for Favorite Female Artist Pop/Rock.
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Selena Gomez accepts the award for Favorite Female Artist Pop/Rock at the American Music Awards.
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Co-host Gigi Hadid passes by singer Rachel Platten and actress Bella Thorne who are walking onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards.
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Lady Gaga performs onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards.
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Ariana Grande, second from left, and Nicki Minaj, third from right, perform “Side to Side” at the American Music Awards.
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Nicki Minaj performs during the 2016 American Music Awards.
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Rapper August Alsina.
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DJ Khaled.
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Heidi Klum, left, and Rebecca Romijn present the award for top soundtrack at the American Music Awards.
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Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards.
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Sting accepts the Award of Merit.
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Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun present the award for favorite artist - rap/hip-hop.
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Lauren Jauregui, from left, Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Dinah Jane, Normani Kordei, of Fifth Harmony, and Ty Dolla Sign accept the award for collaboration of the year for “Work From Home.”
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Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs during Sunday’s American Music Awards. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
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Singer John Legend performs during the 2016 American Music Awards.
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The Weeknd performs at the AMAs on Sunday in Los Angeles.
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Tyka Nelson accepts the award for top soundtrack for “Purple Rain” on behalf of her brother Prince at the American Music Awards.
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Alex Pall, left, and Drew Taggart of the Chainsmokers accept award for favorite EDM artist.
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Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields is flanked by Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, left, and Brian Kelley.
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Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots.
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Josh Dun, left, and Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots.
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Fifth Harmon’s Lauren Jauregui, Camila Cabello, Dinah Jane Hansen, Normani Kordei and Ally Brooke.
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James Bay accompanies himself during a performance at the American Music Awards on Sunday.
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Internet personality Gigi Gorgeous, left, and singer Bebe Rexha prepare to present an award.
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Actress Teyana Taylor and Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals hit a home run with their stage antics at the 2016 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater.
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Travis Barker.
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Drew Taggart of the Chainsmokers, left, and Halsey perform during the 2016 American Music Awards.
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Halsey performs at the AMAs.
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Actresses Octavia Spencer, left, and Taraji P. Henson and singer Janelle Monáe announce an award onstage.
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Josh Dun, left, and Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots accept the award for favorite pop/rock band/duo/group.
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Bruno Mars, center, performs during the 2016 American Music Awards.
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Drake accepts the award for favorite rap/hip-hop album for “Views.”
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Co-hosts Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah get the show started.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Hadid did a pretty droll duck-lipped, plagiarizing Melania Trump impression. While awards show wisecracks feel totally ill-equipped to sum up people’s feelings at the moment, the hosts at least tried some kind of levity and ridicule at the current situation.
The early performances didn’t yield any huge Grammy-style surprises, but that’s not what the AMAs are here for. They’re out to be a diverse, friendly roundup of popular taste, and they got almost everyone who has a hit right now. Bruno Mars in his full ‘80s electro-funk regalia, Niall Horan in Mumford & Sons-y acoustic repose, James Bay doing his spooky preacher thing.
The Chainsmokers and Halsey tacked on Travis Barker to drum at the end of “Closer,” and it was notably better than their much-pilloried set at the MTV Video Music Awards (though Alex Pall’s beach-vacation getup showed about how seriously they took the occasion). Ariana Grande continued to be the one saving grace of this sort of show; she sounded excellent as always with Nicki Minaj on “Side to Side.”
Does anyone care who takes these awards home? Probably not. But Twenty One Pilots, winner of favorite duo or group, pop/rock, seemed genuinely appreciative of the fact that a weird genre-mashing band could ascend like they did.
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Lady Gaga arrives at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday.
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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.
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Julianne Hough, Rebecca Romijn and Cam.
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Sting.
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Model-actress and host Gigi Hadid.
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Janelle Monae, Teyana Taylor, Hannah Davis
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Actress Kat Graham arrives for the 2016 American Music Awards on Nov. 20 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
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Model Bella Harris and recording artist Jimmy Jam
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Idina Menzel, left, Ciara, Keke Palmer.
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Lady Gaga arrives at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday.
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DJ Khaled
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Hailee Steinfeld, left, Z LaLa, Garcelle Beauvais.
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Actress Milla Jovovich.
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Ariana Grande.
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Green Day: Mike Dirnt, Billie Joe Armstrong and Tré Cool.
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Bella Thorne, left, Selena Gomez, Halsey.
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Heidi Klum
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Fifth Harmony: Dinah Jane Hansen, left, Lauren Jauregui, Normani Hamilton, Ally Brooke and Camila Cabello.
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Travis Barker.
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Shawn Mendes.
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Jillionaire, left, Walshy Fire and Diplo of Major Lazer.
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Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg.
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Travis Barker arrives with his family.
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Alex Pall, left, and Andrew Taggart of the Chainsmokers.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press) Drake was up twice in the rap category and surprised no one by winning for his recent album “Views.” The Chainsmokers vouched for the validity of electronic music at awards shows, and while plenty of dance music peers wouldn’t have picked them to fight that fight, at least they tried.
It’s fair to ask what’s the point of all this, especially when so many of the young fans of this music are scared for their future. But if we’re ready for diversions after this last week, the AMAs had as many as one could hope for in pop music right now.
For breaking music news, follow @augustbrown on Twitter.
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