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With precision-highlighted curly locks flying in the wind machine, Beyoncé Knowles cleaned up last night at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), held at Berlin's O2 World arena, and we were there see it. Why? To track down the green slant, as well as scream our voices hoarse over local favorite, mohawk-flourishing german wunderkinds Tokio Hotel, winner of Best Group.
From four nominations, the 28-year-old Knowles took home three coveted awards: Best Female, Best Song, ("Halo") and Best Video, ("Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"). Clad in a string of yes-I-work-out body-hugging costumes (including a space-agey black dress with metallic detail by David Koma that apparently is similar to one pop sensation Cheryl Cole wore last weekend, and a sexy crimson garter number), the Houston, Texas native gave a shout-out to hubby Jay-Z for "putting a ring on it" and a gushing thank you to friend and fellow nominee for Best Female, Shakira.
Additional winners of the night were: Lady GaGa (Best New Act); Eminem (Best Male); Jay-Z (Best Urban); Green Day (Best Rock); Pacebo (Best Alternative); Pixie Lott (Best Push Artist); maNga (Best European Act); and Linkin Park (Best World Stage Live Performance).
Among the moments that made me lean forward into the exuberant British man in front of me are the mega pyrokinetics (read: not so green) by Tokio Hotel that concluded with lead singer Bill playing on a piano that appeared to be in flames and the cameo from The Hoff (aka David Hasselhoff, who I adore because he is just so Hooked on a Feeling), who was introduced as "the man responsible for the fall of the Wall." Given the reach of the saucy orange-bathing suit hit Baywatch and considering he performed his song "Looking for Freedom" in front of half a million people on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1989, the year the Wall came down, the statement has a ring of truth to it.
Beyoncé Fights Hunger and Drug Addiction
Beyoncé is not a name pasted all over the pages of TreeHugger and Planet Green--a quick search just brought up her tad large obsession with clothes (when you run out of space for your knickers, might as well turn your entire apartment into a closet). But this diva's heart has space for more than Prada, Gucci, and Hermès: Last January, according to OK! Magazine, the star generously donated her entire $4 Million salary from her 2008 film Cadillac Records to Phoenix House, which runs drug treatment centers across America.
The former frontwoman for Destiny's Child is also big on making sure everybody gets their fillof more than soul food. During her 2009 "I AM..." world tour, the artist is co-sponsoring large-scale international food drives as part of the Show Your Helping Hand initiative, a national hunger relief campaign created by General Mills' Hamburger Helper in partnership with Beyoncé and her Survivor Foundation, which lends a helping hand to "families and individuals whose lives have been affected by disasters, natural or otherwise, and have been displaced." The star's ambitious goal? Help Feeding America deliver more than 3.5 million meals to local food banks.
U2: The Environmentalists in the House
That said, despite a tour said to have the same carbon footprint as a trip to Mars, U2 was probably the most environmentally active group in the house. The Irish rockers landed Best Live Act and gave a free show at the Brandenburg Gate the same night. We're certainly big fans of organic clothing company Edun, launched by Bono and his wife Ali Hewson to drive trade into Africa. Bono also wears recycled clothing, combats HIV/AIDS, and fights poverty and pushes for trade reform with One, the global activist organization he co-founded. Take that Beyoncé.
At Major Music Events, Consumption Will Always be a Problem
Major celeb-packed events like the EMAs are not exactly light in the consumption department. To put it in perspective, we're talking 600 false eye lashes, more than 25 different glitters, 60 eye shadows, 300 nail polishes, 20 pots of loose powder, 200 powder puffs, and 125 different shades of lipstick to get those faces in the limelight alone, reports Reuters.
The arena, which boasts an energy-efficient design, 400 bicycle stands, and a bicycle rental service, does have vocal green efforts. And while it would be better to ban the bottled water, staff will recycle the 24,000 bottles of water artists, crew and guests were predicted to drink on site during the event.
All in all, I left feeling like I had seen 10 concerts in one blow, so perhaps we can say that's green by consolidation...
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