THE 2011 MMVA'S IS NOW HISTORY. GREAT NIGHT FULL OF SURPRISES.

It was an incredible night at the 2011 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS with the best in music – homegrown and international – descending on the legendary corner of Queen and John in Toronto. Fans went GAGA for out-of-this-world performances and ultra-hot celebrities when the stars rocked the block at this year’s celebration of the best in music videos. The MMVAs resonated internationally via social media with four of the Top 10 trending topics on Twitter worldwide directly related to tonight’s show.

Watch the MMVAs now on-demand at muchmusic.com. The epic street party was seemingly “born this way” as Lady Gaga lit up the MMVAs stage for two numbers, as well as taking home International Video of the Year.Co-host and pop-sensation Selena Gomez owned the show with her performance of “Who Says”, while BF Justin Bieber and friend Drake surprised fans when they showed up to acceptInternational Video Of The Year By A Canadian, an honour for which they tied with “Somebody to Love” and “Find Your Love” respectively.

Bieber coyly teased the co-host, saying to Selena, “Nice to meet you. You’re very beautiful. Maybe we can go out sometime.” The surprises continued when first-time MMVA performers Far East Movement and Dev were joined on stage by the god father of hip hop Snoop Dogg. In their first ever live performance together, the trio dropped it like it’s hot with the smokin’ medley of hits “Like a G6/Bass Down Low/If I Was You (OMG).” Fefe Dobson returned to rock the MMVAs stage, winning the UR Fave Video Award for “Stuttering” and joining Simple Plan for their performance of “Jet Lag.” Meanwhile, Down With Webster topped the dopeness of last year’s MMVA’s performance with “She’s Dope” complete with a children’s choir.

Seven-time MMVA winner and Canadian fave Avril Lavigne, performed “What The Hell” in a high-energy return to the MMVAs, and Bruno Mars swaggered through a ‘70s-inspired performance of “Just the Way You Are.” City and Colour and The Black Keys both took over the Much studio with rocking performances. The uncomparable Lady Gaga opened and closed the show, dancing up an apartment fire escape for “Edge of Glory,” and emerging from a cocoon for an over-the-top performance of “Born This Way.”

Last nite's show will surely go down in music history as an amazing spectacle of celebrities, surprises, and performances,” said Sheila Sullivan , Executive Producer, 2011 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. “From Selena and Lady Gaga to Simple Plan, Fefe, and Bieber, our home-grown superstars helped make the magic happen. We’re thrilled with how the MMVAs once again put our fans front and centre.”

And the winners are…

UR FAVE VideoFefe Dobson – “Stuttering”

UR FAVE New ArtistJustin Bieber featuring Usher – “Somebody to Love (remix)”

UR FAVE International VideoLady Gaga – “Born This Way”

MuchMusic.com Most Streamed VideoTaio Cruz – “Dynamite”

Video Of The YearShawn Desman – “Electric/Night Like This”

International Video Of The Year - Artist
Lady Gaga – “Judas”

International Video Of The Year - Group
Far East Movement featuring The Cataracs & Dev – “Like a G6”

Pop Video of the YearDown With Webster – “Whoa Is Me”

International Video Of The Year By A CanadianTie:Drake – “Find Your Love”Justin Bieber featuring Usher – “Somebody To Love” MuchLOUD

Rock Video Of The Year
Abandon All Ships – “Geeving”

MuchVIBE Hip-Hop Video Of The Year Classified – “That Ain’t Classy”

Director Of The Year
You Say Party – “Lonely’s Lunch”

Post-Production Of The YearDanny Fernandes featuring Belly – “Automatic”

Cinematography Of The Year
Blake McGrath – “Relax”

MuchFACT Indie Video Of The Year
JDiggz featuring Neverending White Lights – “This Time”

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MMVA 2011: ULTIMATE SPOTLIGHT ON JRDN.

His name is JRDN and was born Jordan Croucher. He grew up in the 416 at Jane and Finch and then off to the 902 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. JRDN is a phenomenal R&B singer that relatively entered the music in 2010 releasing a new album, his first "I AM JRDN." The album was released in November 2010 and two singles were laid in the charts right away namely "Like Magic" and "U can have it all." These radio favorites were really the hottest sounds to touch my IPOD. OMG, Jordan is like magic with talents in professional basketball and wanted to go to the NBA when he really made another dream come true as that was what he wanted to do. He is an alumni of Canadian Idol's third season and though he did not advance to the finals he continued to pursue his dreams and look what we have now.

JRDN is now the sexiest, awesome R&B crooner we love in Canada right now. I caught up with him at so many events this year including the Canadian Radio Music Awards above pictured with with Reema Major and I, the Stylus awards and now the MMVA's this weekend. JRDN spoke to me about the anticipation and road to the MMVA's Listen below.

MMVA 2011: “ICON THE ANOMALI” OF THE CANDY COATED KILLAHZ BECOMES THE FIRST NIGERIAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARD.

MMVA nominee Icon the Anomali of Candy Coated Killahz

Icon and I during our interview on 6/15/11

Nigerians have been making musical waves once again here in Canada lately. Di'ja was the first to be nominated for a Canadian Radio Music Award in 2008 for "Rocksteady", then Stevano Ugo of the U.G.O Crew who was nominated for a 2010 Juno Awards for the remix of "I'm still Fly" and a 2011 Canadian Radio Music Award for "Change feat Sean Kingston."

Now meet Michael Akinlabi aka ICON THE ANOMALI, hailing from Nigeria where I am from. He moved to Canada eight years ago. Akinlabi is one half of the electro pop music duo of Candy Coated Killahz. Canada’s national newspaper The Globe and Mail cited CCK as the band responsible for Toronto’s emergence as an “Electronic music capital.” CCK is “Icon the Anomali” and “Tasha” Schumann who was a friend he met when they were students working in a Toronto restaurant. Tasha was away when we did this quick historical making interview but after the MMVA's, we will have a full CCK interview on their tour and more.

The video nominated is titled “Neon Black” and it’s going for the Best Post Production trophy making Akinlabi the first Nigerian in the history of the awards to be nominated. The MuchMusic Video Awards is Canada’s music video awards put together by the music channel MuchMusic. It is well known as the “MMVA’s.” We met downtown at the Dark Horse bar this week and I asked him how he came up with the group name. He told me it was a lyric in another song. The video is very addictive. KJ also did a mini photo shoot with him outside the Dark horse which you could view at his fan page here.

He told me that he’s always been a great dancer back home in Nigeria and started making beats when he arrived in Canada. Their music has appeared in the blockbuster movie by Tyler Perry “I can do bad all by myself.” He also draws cartoons and designs video games. Icon also told HipHossip that his sister “Zeal” is an emerging female music artist based in Nigeria. CCK will be touring this summer and will make a stop at the Calgary Stampede Fest performing alongside other notables artists like Classified and Rapper Flo Rida. The MMVA’s airs live on Sunday June 19^th 2011 on the MuchMusic channel. You can visit their site to watch their videos and listen to their music at www.candycoatedkillahz.com.

Photo Credits: Jennifer Conley Photography

THAT NEW MMVA TROPHY LOOKS HEAVY AND SPIFFY!

MMVA nominees Icon and Tasha of Candy Coated Killahz show the new MMVA trophy on CP24 (photo credits-CCK website)

The big party is this weekend and an all-new shape, all-new MMVA. With the hottest street party just days away, MuchMusic reveals a new design for the MuchMusic Video Award. The new trophy coincides with the clean and structured look of the new Much logo, weighing 10 lbs and made out of aluminum alloy. The re-imagination of the award is the fourth incarnation of the trophy in the history of the MMVAs. The newly designed hardware will be handed out live from Much HQ on Sunday, June 19, airing at 9 p.m. ET on MuchMusic in Canada , and on Fuse in the U.S.

“Over the last year, MuchMusic was rebranded,” said Peter Moller, Creative Director, Design. “Along with a fresh, optimistic, clean and structured look and feel came a new brand logo, which was implemented everywhere. MuchMusic’s biggest event of the year, the MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS, wasn’t spared. The heavy-weight trophy was meant to materialize the impact, significance, weight and profoundness of receiving a prize. Therefore picking up one of the statues always leaves a surprise and clearly elevates the moment.

The simple yet stylish shape is timeless and is meant to be on a shelf of a proud MMVA winner for many years without becoming dated. The reduced, right-angled shape reflects MuchMusic’s brand values and aesthetics. It also allows for bigger ownership for the winners, as their names are printed directly on the trophy rather then on a plaque attached to the statue. ”The award was designed by the CTV Creative Agency and produced by Society Awards.

SNOOP DOGGY DOGG TO PERFORM AT THE MMVA'S!

Above, that's how close I got to Snoop at the BET HH awards in 2009. Lets hope I get closer at the MMVA's lol...

MuchMusic announced today additional presenters for the biggest party of the year, the 2011 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. Golden Globe® winner Colin Farrell, Godfather of Rap Snoop Dogg, sassy starlets Cassie Scerbo (MAKE IT OR BREAK IT) and Kat Graham (VAMPIRE DIARIES), along with brooding hearthrob Munro Chambers(DEGRASSI) are set to take to the MMVAs stage on June 19.

Snoop Dogg will perform on the MMVAs stage. (YAY!!!!)

Also announced today as presenters are surfer stud Trevor Donovan (90210), singer Karl Wolf, Canadian rockers The Midway State, Foster the People and MMVAs nominees Alyssa Reid, Danny Fernandes, Neverest, and David Guetta. The night gets started with the 2011 MMVAs RED CARPET SPECIAL on Sunday, June 19 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the main show at 9 p.m. ET. Viewers in the U.S. can watch a simulcast on Fuse. Staying true to its essence, the 2011 MMVAs will showcase the hottest stars of film, TV and music.

See full list of presenters below.

The 2011 MMVAs list of presenters includes:

• Golden Globe® winning star of FRIGHT NIGHT, Colin Farrell
• Multi-platinum superstar Producer/DJ David Guetta (1 nomination)
  
• DEGRASSI actor Munro Chambers90210’s Trevor Donovan
• MAKE IT OR BREAK IT gymnast Cassie ScerboIan Somerhalder, Kat Graham, and Nina Dobrev from THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
• Canadian singer-songwriter Alyssa Reid (1 nomination)
• R&B artist Karl Wolf
• Recording artist and SYTYCDC judge, Blake McGrath (2 nominations)
• Canadian hip hop artist and MMVA winner Classified (1 nomination)
• Australian singer-songwriter Cody Simpson
• Pop/R&B singer and MMVA nominee Danny Fernandes (3 nominations)
• THE BIG BANG THEORY’s favourite geek Johnny Galecki
• American electro party rock group LMFAO
• Nikki Reed from the Twilight saga
  
• Canadian PRETTY LITTLE LIAR Shay Mitchell
• R&B artist and MMVA nominee Shawn Desman (4 nominations)
• Power pop band These Kids Wear Crowns (2 nominations)
• Canadian pop boy band Neverest (1 nomination)
• Epic Canadian rock band The Midway State
• LA rockers Foster The People
• AND, THANKS TO THE MMVA PUBLICISTS Alison and Theresa for keeping us in the know.
  

MUCH MUSIC PERFORMERS: BRUNO MARS ADDED TO LIST AS WELL AS AVRIL, THE BLACK KEYS AND CITY AND COLOR.

Yay! Just as I wanted to see that "Easy Come, Easy Go" piano dragging guy who also plays around with his lazy monkey pals. BRUNO MARS is in the house for the MMVA's!!!

Fans will go Gaga for the 2011 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS as MuchMusic announced today more blockbuster performers. Set to rock the block at MuchMusic HQ in Toronto are Bruno Mars, The Black Keys, Avril Lavigne, and City and Colour. Co-hosted by screen and music superstar Selena Gomez, these A-List performers join previously announced Queen of Pop, Lady Gaga, on the MMVAs stage. The fan-tastic event goes down live on Sunday, June 19 at 9 p.m. ET on MuchMusic and Fuse in the U.S. , with the MMVAs RED CARPET SPECIAL at 8 p.m. ET. Additional performer and presenter announcements to come.

"I'm really looking forward to performing on the MMVAs,” said Bruno Mars. “It’s my first time doing all this stuff and I find it all very exciting, I hope all my fans in Canada enjoy my performance."

Bruno Mars

There’s no denying that Grammy®-winning and 2011 MMVA UR Fave nominee Bruno Mars is out of this world! Not only has Mars lent his other-word-ly abilities as co-writer on dozens of chart-toppers including “Billionaire” by Travie McCoy, and “F*** You!” by Cee Lo Green, his 2010 solo album Doo-wops and Hooligans kicked ass in the charts and got rave reviews. Mars was the most nominated artist at this year’s Grammys® Awards with an outstanding seven nods, including Album of The Year, and two nominations for his producing talents (Record of the Year and Song of The Year for “F*** You” produced by his team The Smeezingtons). Mars capped off Grammy night with a win for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Just the Way You Are” and brought the house down with his performance alongside B.o.B and Janelle Monáe. Fans can expect a similar high energy, crowd pleasing performance at the MMVAs.

The Black Keys

For years now The Black Keys have been building a rabid following of fans through a succession of critically acclaimed albums, and in 2010 they blew it wide open with the release of the albumBrothers. Aside from debuting at #3 on the Billboard Album Chart, Brothers ranked #2 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s Best Albums of 2010 chart, while Spin Magazine named The Black Keys Artist of the Year. Not to mention taking home 2011 Grammy® Awards for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals for their hit single, “Tighten Up.” Not too shabby for two guys from Akron , Ohio , right?

Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne first connected with MuchMusic fans when she stepped out onto the hood of car as a pop-punk tomboy at the 2002 MMVAs red carpet show, after releasing her now six-time platinum debut album Let Go. Since then she’s earned seven MuchMusic Video Awards, eight Grammy® nominations, won seven JUNO Awards, sold more than 30 million albums, and graced more than 100 magazine covers worldwide. All this from a small-town girl from Napanee, Ontario ! Lavigne is now all grown up and returning to MuchMusic’s HQ to perform the hit single from her latest album Goodbye Lullaby.

City and Colour

Diversity and originality is something MuchMusic fans have loads of so it’s no wonder critically-acclaimed City and Colour’s Dallas Green is an MMVAs favourite. Green’s stripped-down, heartfelt performances as City and Colour instantly connected with Canadians, and fans around the world. Exceeding expectations, his debut album Sometimes achieved platinum certification in 2006, the same year he gave a memorable performance at the MMVAs, landing Green a UR Fave Award for Favourite Canadian Artist. City and Colour’s sophomore release Bring Me Your Love (2008) debuted at #2 on the Top 200 Soundscan chart in Canada and is also certified platinum. On the heels from a sold-out Australian tour, Green has been garnering praise and recognition the world over and more recently sold out London 's legendary Royal Albert Hall. Now back on home turf, City and Colour returns to perform his newest single “Fragile Bird” taken from his much-anticipated upcoming release Little Hell, out on June 7.

LADY GAGA'S JUDAS VIDEO IS THE HOTTEST THING SINCE ICE CREAM!

The Lady Gaga camp is definitely our family and the video Judas has to be the coolest and shortest way to turn a portion of the bible into a music video. Talk about being talented. Kudos to Michelle Fleishman at the Gaga team who always send us cool new Gagalicious things first in Canada. Now how do we decipher this video? We let the folks at MuchMusic to the hard work. Now read......

" MMVA performer Lady Gaga’s eagerly anticipated video for her religious love song Judas has arrived and is the most comprehensive and interesting video Gaga has made to date. Starring Gaga as Mary Magdalene and Norman Reedus as Judas, the video, which was co-directed by Gaga and her creative director Laurieann Gibson, is rumoured to have surpassed Michael and Janet Jackson’s 1995 Scream as the most expensive video ever made.

In the video we see Mary with Jesus and his disciples riding into town on their motorcycles on Palm Sunday to be greeted by the townspeople, who are waiting in eager anticipation over Jesus’ arrival. In addition to Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ close friend and rumoured prostitute, Gaga also dresses as Pontius Pilate and depicts the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.While many of the details aren’t accurate (but really, think of how much shorter the Bible would have been if everyone had been able to get around on motorcycles?), Gaga and her co-director Laurieann Gibson stayed true to their word that Judas would not be blasphemous.

This, of course, is not the first time that the story of Jesus and his crucifixion have been given a musical spin, with films like Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell depicting the life of Christ, with some added singing and dancing. Still, I’m sure the Catholic Church will have a field day with this one."

Ha! Ha! Allison blogged this one. Ditto on the points here... That Mary Magdalene Gaga was sure sexy. Waiting for the Church of England to start bitching!

The eccentric songstress incurred the wrath of religious figures after releasing the track, which they say features blasphemous undertones. Gaga has laughed off the outrage, insisting the only worries she had was about her wardrobe."In my opinion, the only controversial thing about this video is that I'm wearing Christian Lacroix and Chanel in the same frame," she said in an interview with E! Online.

I am working on my own video with KJ on the portion of the bible called ....what else? Joshua!! KJ's middle name. lol.. Who cares about the church rite now? As long as that SONG is performed at the MMVA's! Check out the picture frames of the video here.