Spice Girls Clean Up At American Music Awards

The Spice Girls were the big winners Monday night at the 25th annual American Music Awards, walking away with three awards in the pop/rock category, for favorite album (Spice), new artist, and band, duo, or group.

But, while the Spice Girls had plenty to celebrate, Puff Daddy, in one of the biggest surprises of the evening, lost in all five categories in which he was nominated. The evening's other multiple winners were Babyface, who won twice, for favorite male artist in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories; and George Strait, who nabbed two wins in the country category, for male artist and album ("Carrying Your Love With Me").

Also winning awards were Celine Dion (female artist, pop/rock), Mariah Carey (female artist, soul/R&B), Boyz II Men (band, duo, or group, soul/R&B), Share My World by Mary J. Blige (album, soul/R&B), Erykah Badu (new artist, soul/R&B)and Bush (artist, alternative).

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

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