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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1997)
K Page 14_Friday, September 5,1997 The Winners Video of the Year Jamiroquai, “Virtual Insanity” Best Group Video No Doubt, “Don’t Speak” Best Female Video Jewel, “You Were Meant for Me” Best Male Video Beck, “Devil’s Haircut” Viewers’ Choice Prodigy, “Breath” Video Vanguard L.L. Cool J Best New Artist Fiona Apple, “Sleep to Dream” Best Bap Video The Notorious B.I.G., “Hypnotize” BestB&B Video Puff Daddy, “I’ll Be Missing You” Best Alternative Video Sublime, “What I Got” Best Banco Video Spice Girls, “Wannabe” * Jamiroquai wins Video of the Year award By Sean McCarthy Music Critic The MTV Video Music Awards almost rivaled the Oscars in terms of length Thursday night, clock ing in for slightly more than three hours. It also might have been about as exciting as sitting through the Oscars. With the exception of seeing Mariah Carey reveal slightly more than a Hustler centerfold and seeing Marilyn Manson scare away half the crowd, the MTV Video Music Aw ads had a lot of filler in its broadcast Jamiroquai walked off with the Video of the Year award with his conveyer belt-inspired video, “Virtual Insanity.” No Doubt hopped off with the Best Group Video for “Don’t Speak.” Chris Rock proved to be a better host than 1993’s MC, Christian Slater, making as many references to the Spice Girls as he could. Speaking of the Spice Girls, the group walked away with the Best Dance Video award with Wannabe. One line he told the audience at the beginning of the show rang with a par ticular resonance: “A lot of people ain’t gonna be here next year.” Tributes to both The Notorious B.I.G. and Princess Diana dominated the ceremony. Puff Daddy’s per formance had video clips of Biggie Smalls in the background. Sting also appeared with Puff Daddy, singing the “Every Breath You Take” sample in “I’ll be Missing You.” Princess Diana was again honored by Madonna and Puff Daddy. And yes, even the Spice Girls ded icated their performance of “Say You’ll be There” to the princess. I’ll bet donations to the Princess Diana Memorial Foundation sharply dropped off after the Spice Girls made that ar nouncement. Fiona Apple was bleeped out during her acceptance speech for the Best New Artist award for her Sleep to Dream.” Her obscenity-filled acceptance speech about individualism was by far the most enter taining speech of the night. L.L. Cool J was awarded a Video Vanguard award for his rich contributions to rap and R&B. Director Mark Ramanek - whose credits include Nine Inch Nails, Sonic Youth and Michael Jackson - also received the Video Vanguard award. U2 gave a slightly uninspired performance of “Please, Please.” Bono came on the stage in a dark robe that made him look more like a Jedi knight and less his “Fly” and “McPhisto” stage incarcerations. Beck gave a performance that could best be described as a mix between David Bowie and a Vegas lounge singer with “The New Pollution.” Beck wound up winning Best Male Video with “Devil’s Haircut ” Jewel took the honor of Best Female Video with “You Were Meant for Me.” The English industrial group Prodigy won the Viewers Choice award with “Breathe.” Sublime accepted the award for Best Alternative Video with “What I Got.” Though Beck won for Best Mule Artist, and Jamiroquai walked off with the big prize Puff Daddy was the true big winner of the nit ht. Puff Daddy picked up the Best R&B Video with the help of Faith Evans and 112 for the song “I’ll be Missing You.” He also accepted the Best Rap Video award on behalf of The Notorious B.I.G. for the song “Hypnotize.” The Notorious B.I.G.’s mother was also with Puff Daddy to accept the award. Marilyn Manson gave the most... striking performance, sadly at the end of the awards show, with “The Beautiful People.” Exposing more of his ass than Prince did at the 1991 awards show, Manson gave theatrical performance that was the most lively of the night. Coincidentally, nearly half of the seats were empty as the lights went up after Manson performed. r