And here we thought Adam Lambert’s performance at Sunday’s American Music Awards was controversial.
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez introduced Jay-Z and Alicia Keys as they performed the 2009 Yankee theme song “Empire State of Mind” at the AMAs in Los Angeles. But not everybody was cheering the slugger - or his musical cohorts.
Not only did A-Rod get a few boos from the California-based crowd when he talked about how the Yankees “took the World Series,” but he got an F from the Los Angeles Times for his introduction, with Jay-Z and Keys getting a D for their performance. The Times’ Pop and Hiss Blog wrote:
Dressed all spiffy in their finest formal wear, Keys and Jay-Z performed their pandering “Empire State of Mind.” This was fine the first time we heard it on an award show — at the MTV Video Music Awards, and it was fine at the World Series, but enough. It’s worn out its welcome. Yes, we know New York is cool. Bars are open late and the public transportation is swell and all, but performing this love letter to New York in Los Angeles? We’re tired of it. No more songs about cities. D Side-note: The introduction by Alex Rodriguez gets an F. And was he chewing gum? He’s unprofessional off the field too.
Ouch! I think “Empire State of Mind” is a great song, and I loved how they echoed the song’s line about Jay-Z being the new Sinatra by having him wear a tuxedo. The way the performance opened with the other Yankees’ theme song, “New York, New York,” was cool as well. Now, if Jay-Z really is the new Sinatra, who does that make his good friend A-Rod - Dean Martin? Joey Bishop?
As for A-Rod’s gum chewing, I have to agree that it wasn’t a good thing. Rodriguez is known for chewing gum on the field - like in the ALCS celebration,where he screamed so loud the gum flew out of his mouth. But that’s baseball. At an awards show? Not a good idea.
Why couldn’t girlfriend Kate Hudson, who also presented at the AMAs (and canoodled with A-Rod backstage), do a gum intervention, the way Oprah Winfrey made Jamie Foxx take the gum out of his mouth at the Academy Awards just before he won an Oscar?
That being said, the rest of the blog’s gripe about A-Rod being unprofessional smacks of sour grapes from an Angels fan. Too bad, so sad.
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More on these topics:
A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, Ameican Music Awards, Empire State of Mind, Jay-Z, World Series
montana says:
they should have booed alex rodreguez off the stage, the world series is over now done and dusted, why is he even given the opportunity to speak at the music awards, someone should tell arod that nobody cares for him and his life anymore. and chewing gum? what a stupid fark!
montana says:
arod is such a egomaniac that he actually believes everybody in america loves him, he is so misinformed, he came on stage at the AMA and talked about winning the baseball thinking folks are still dwelling on him & the yankees & maybe he will get a huge ego boost. Its all about ME attitude just made him look like a complete fool infront of national television..omg was he chewing gum also?...& wasnt that his skanky arse gal showing her tits & falling out of her dress on stage?
symphony says:
If it was a real award show I would concern myself with the gum but its the AMAs, its tied on the scale with the Billboard awards and the only thing less important than those are the MTV awards.
Montana cares too much to write no one cares. LOL He obviously does something for you whether you like him or not. And thats all media (and Arod to be honest) needs.
He's good copy.
Lisa Swan says:
A-Rod has gotta be loving this. He's the rare athlete who is a tabloid star!