Wanna Be Paparazzi & Make Easy Money? Email us your Celebrity Digital Photos and Videos... There could be a fortune sitting in your mobile handset. If you snapped it then send it to us at: Very. Important. Pictures.

23-01-02 news EXCLUSIVE TALIA SOGHOMONIAN
Irish bands have no NRJ in France...

CANNES, France – The energy was at full voltage last Saturday night on the French Riviera at the third annual NRJ Music Awards but not for U2, Westlife, or The Cranberries.

Hosted for the second year running by French-Canadian comedian Anthony Kavanagh, the annual awards show, organized by the top pop radio station NRJ, recognizes both francophone and international artists by presenting them with awards voted for by fans.

The Palais des Festivals, home of the Cannes Film Festival each May, saw Pop stars instead of Hollywood actors climbing its legendary red-carpeted stairs.

The audience was an array of stars, rowdy fans and industry bigwigs, including Virgin magnate Richard Branson. The stage saw a mix of some of the best French and international artists.

And although none of the Irish nominees – namely, U2, Westlife and The Cranberries – took away any awards, the night was rich in performances.

Britney Spears opened the show with a performance of ‘I’m a Slave 4 U’. Spears was slightly less dressed than at September’s MTV Video Music Awards in New York, where the hit single was the closing song of the ceremony.

Dressed in a skimpy green bikini top and skirt, she was color coordinated with Kylie Minogue, who was also dressed in the emerald color. The Princess of Pop reappeared later in the evening alongside French singer and ex-boyfriend of Vanessa Paradis, Florent Pagny, to present the award for Best International Male Artist to the self-proclaimed King of Pop Michael Jackson.

“Merci à tous mes fans,” (“Thanks to all my fans”) Dido said when she won the first award of the evening, presented by Wonderbra model Adriana Karembeu and French sports champion David Douillet.

Ironically, it was the award for Best International Newcomer, the same category from which her nomination was withdrawn in the Brits. Apparently, Dido (pronounced Dee-do in France) is a newcomer in France, as are other confirmed artists and fellow nominees Usher, Mary J. Blige and Westlife.

It was a Top of the Pops à la française as a string of performances by French pop artists mingled with those of their international colleagues.

Jean-Jacques Goldman, who has written some of Céline Dion’s most popular songs, delivered the second performance, before leaving the stage to Jean-Claude Van Damme and his antics. The Belgian was introduced as a “big American actor”, mainly to mock his forgetfulness of his native French language ever since he hit it big in Hollywood.

Another notable French performance was that of Mylène Farmer and Seal, who sang their hit single ‘Mots d’Amour”. The French songstress later exploded the applause barometer as she accepted the award for Best French Female Artist.

Another artist who got the applause barometer up to an unusual level was Kylie Minogue. A little more dressed – and more tastefully dressed - than Britney, “Keelie” performed her mega hit single ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’, which continues to hold the top spot in the European Top 20.

Geri Halliwell was amongst those who applauded with the most enthusiasm. A few minutes later, the former Spice Girl picked up the award for Best International Song for her cover of ‘It’s Raining Men’, beating Michael Jackson’s ‘You Rock My World’, Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me’ and Dante’s ‘Miss California’.

“C’est formidable et vive la France!” But Geri wasn’t the only one practicing her French. Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan, who presented the award, made good use of her school-level French.

“I practice, I try, I try,” she told the bemused audience after uttering a few French phrases. Geri discovered that her biggest fan base was probably in France, judging from their enthusiasm while she sang a medley of ‘Au Nom de l’Amour’/’It’s Raining Men’. It was also raining condoms. Anthony Kavanagh, accompanied by two ladies in red, distributed condoms to the audience, while the red AIDS ribbon flashed on the screens.

The act was an effort to bring awareness and recompense the cause with a sort of Free Your Mind award. French singer and U2 fan Pascal Obispo did the honors. As is the tradition of any awards ceremony, one particular artist came out as being the grand slam winner.

French Canadian singer Garou, who made various stage appearances throughout the evening – presenting an award, singing, singing again – took away the most trophies, including that of best website, beating those of U2, Gorillaz, Depeche Mode, Lenny Kravitz and Jamiroquai.

Destiny’s Child beat U2, Depeche Mode, Daft Punk and The Cranberries in the Best International Group/Duo category, presented by Latino heartthrob Enrique Iglesias and Noémie Lenoir.

U2 was beat again, this time in the Best International Album category by Dido. The French preferred ‘No Angel’ to Jamiroquai’s ‘A Funk Odyssey’ and Daft Punk’s ‘Discovery’.

This time, Dido’s French was limited to “merci”. She added: “I don’t actually have enough French to accept two awards.” She later gave the best performance of the evening. Singing ‘Hunter’, she was perhaps the only artist present who didn’t lip-synch.

Another memorable performance was that of the “légend” Mick Jagger. The Rolling Stone came as a solo artist promoting his new album.

No French awards ceremony is complete without a representative of the rap/hip-hop scene, the most popular form of music in the Hexagon. And who better than France’s biggest rap export, MC Solaar? ‘Hasta la Vista’ was a prelude to the close of the evening, but not a couple of more awards and the final performance.

MC’s girlfriend Ophélie Winter joined Seal to announce the winner of the Best International Female Artist. J-Lo beat all the divas - Kylie, Geri, Madonna and Mariah.

Amid swooning female fans and dancing audience members, Westlife closed the show with ‘Uptown Girl’.

Click here to get U2 mobile Ringtones