Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 1, 1995 TAG: 9502010043
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
``I'll Make Love to You'' brought Boyz II Men honors for favorite single in the pop-rock and soul-rhythm and blues categories, and the vocalists won top soul-R&B group. They lost only a bid for adult contemporary artist.
``It's something we believe in - romance and falling in love,'' group member Shawn Stockman said backstage.
Monday night's awards show honored such American Music Award veterans as McEntire and Alabama, along with new stars ranging from Counting Crows to Snoop Doggy Dogg.
Top male artist awards went to Michael Bolton in pop-rock, Babyface in soul-R&B and Garth Brooks in country. Favorite female artists were Mariah Carey in pop-rock, Anita Baker in soul-R&B and McEntire in country.
Bolton also collected the award for favorite adult contemporary artist.
McEntire's other victory was in the country album competition for her ``Read My Mind,'' which beat the popular compilation work ``Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles'' and Alan Jackson's ``Who I Am.''
Capping a phenomenal rise to popularity, Sweden's Ace of Base quartet was named pop-rock's favorite new artist over All-4-One and Counting Crows, and favorite pop-rock group over Pink Floyd and Stone Temple Pilots.
Comparisons to Sweden's earlier export, Abba, were inevitable, but Ace of Base member Buddah didn't mind.
``I think Abba did a great thing for Sweden, so to be the new Abba is great, I think,'' he told reporters.
Country winners also included Tim McGraw as favorite new artist, Vince Gill's ``Whenever You Come Around'' as favorite single, and the venerable Alabama, which picked up its 13th consecutive favorite group trophy.
Toni Braxton's ``Toni Braxton'' aced the album competition in soul-R&B, and the youthful vocalists of All-4-One won the category's new artist honor.
``The Lion King'' soundtrack was chosen over Counting Crows' ``August and Everything After'' and Carey's ``Music Box'' as favorite pop-rock album.
Counting Crows did collect a trophy for alternative music artist, and in a bittersweet victory, Nirvana was top heavy metal-hard rock artist. The band's lead singer Kurt Cobain committed suicide last year.
Snoop Doggy Dogg, the rap star accused of murder, won his first American Music Award as favorite rap-hip hop star. He was low-key in his acceptance, and backstage his handlers yelled to reporters ``no legalities,'' meaning no questions about his problems. When a reporter asked why not, the rapper said, ``Let's keep it on a positive note.''
The closest the show came to controversy was a performance by the artist formerly known as Prince, gyrating with a scantily clad dancer. The show avoided trouble by jumping to long-distance camera shots at key moments.
The three-hour show closed with a tribute to ``We Are the World,'' the anthem that raised money to fight hunger in Africa. It was recorded by 45 stars after the American Music Awards show on Jan. 28, 1985.
It was a salute to one of the music industry's proudest moments. Apparently, though, no one bothered to tell the artist formerly known as Prince.
As dozens of singers at Monday night's American Music Awards came on stage to sing ``We Are the World,'' the ex-Prince stood there silently sucking a lollipop.
At one point, Quincy Jones handed him a microphone. The artist responded by pulling the lollipop out of his mouth and shoving it in Jones' direction.
Maybe Jones should have kept the sign he posted above the door 10 years ago - on Jan. 28, 1985 - when 45 artists entered A&M Studios in Hollywood to record the song that would eventually raise more than $60 million for African famine relief.
The sign read: ``Check your egos at the door.''
``That night was an emotional roller coaster for all of us,'' said Kenny Rogers, who was host of Monday night's 10th anniversary tribute to the song, along with Jones and Harry Belafonte, who conceived the idea.
The song was written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, and produced by Jones.
It ``had to be more than just a pop hit, it had to capture a special emotion,'' Jones said.
``We Are the World'' was recorded immediately after the 1985 American Music Awards show in an all-night recording session that included Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Huey Lewis and Diana Ross.
Among the artists who sang the song 10 years later were Michael Bolton, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Paula Abdul and Anita Baker.
by CNB