Good news for people who like bad news...

First and foremost, TV ON THE RADIO WON THE SHORTLIST. Now, while you know what a big fan I am of their competitors like the Killers and Franz Ferdinand and Wilco (all of whom I think are now gold and would be, technically, ineligible for the prize if nominations came out today), I was routing for them. They are clearly the most “avant garde” of the nominated artists. Plus they are the most racially diverse act. AND they’re from Brooklyn. And, frankly, they just make kick ass music. I dare you to not be into “Ambulance” or “Poppy.” I’m really proud for them. Apparently they were nominated by five panelists (the most nominations received), including judges as diverse as Robert Smith (cool) and Norah Jones and John Mayer (uncool—although they do get some cool points in my book for knowing a good music when they hear it, even if they can’t play it themselves!). Now I’ll definitely have to tune in when MTV2 shows the shortlist concert featuring all of the nominees. (Though the Dizzee Rascal performance will be the perfect time for a bathroom break!) Ah…that’s why I pay for cable!

Speaking of Mr. Rascal…my second bit of good/weird/interesting news is that he is involved in a remake of my FAVORITIST Christmas song of all time, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid! He is joined by the Darkness and Bono (who apparently flew in just to rerecord his line of "tonight thank God it's them instead of you,” lest Justin of the Darkness be allowed a chance at that seminal line!) and a bunch of other British acts that no one in the States could give a rat’s arse about (um… Busted, I’m talking to you!). Now I know this song was always cheesy and it is especially, um, distasteful? to be singing about God and Christmas now that the song is being sung for the starving Muslim people of the Sudan instead of the famine victims in Ethiopia (who are apparently largely Christian). I don’t care. I freaking love this song. If anyone is wondering where my Jewish ass will be on Christmas Eve, it’ll be on a bar stool at Japas Karaoke warbling this tune. Apparently this remake has already been released in the UK and premiered on British MTV…Does anyone know when it will be available to us Yanks?

And speaking of MTV Europe… Tonight the MTV Europe awards were held in Rome (right? The past tense is correct because they were held at like 8 pm Rome time and it is now well after midnight?). Acts like Eminem, Beastie Boys and Gwen Stefani performed. (Is it wrong that I am totally excited for her new album? It drops next week and her single has totally become an earworm to me. At first, I was totally put off by her video—I don’t know if it was her attempted acting or her stupid self-importance but I just wanted her to fail. But now, I find myself singing “What You Waiting For?” in line at the supermarket and in bathroom stalls at work. Yeah, I know, I’m really popular!) And lucky us, U.S. viewers with digital cable, they are airing the awards on MTV2 tonight. Yes, it will conflict with the OC and the Apprentice and all of that other embarrassing Thursday night TV that I cancel plans to come home and watch every week, but hopefully they’ll do like they do with the American video awards and just reshow them every day for a week. Because I’m curious (sorry, spoilers ahead!) to see how Muse could win Best Alternative Act when they are going up against Bjork and Franz Ferdinand. And I’m curious to see if Britney came with her new douchey white trash husband. And I’m curious to see if both members of OutKast will come to accept all of the awards they win. (They are nominated for 5 awards and I know that they won at least 2 of ‘em). And I’m curious to see why the Europeans, who generally have better taste in rock than Americans (ok, the British have better taste, the rest of Europe just likes boy bands and house music!) would nominate people like Anastacia (who no one here even knows….Except—and I digress here—once I saw Matt Damon in the Tower Records on Broadway and he was buying her stupid album. He was really cute and quite short, but I could never have a crush on someone with taste that bad!) or Maroon 5 (who are currently winning the race of Rebecca’s Least Favorite Band of 2004 or Band I Most Hope Gets Painful Diahrea). And I’m curious as to why Xzibit is hosting. People in America barely know who he is—outside of the faithful watchers of that shitty, always-on show, Pimp My Ride!

Anyway, in case you were wondering, here are the MTV Europe nominees. It’s not perfect but it is MUCH more diverse than the US nominees usually are. I bet that this year when the VMA nominations are announced that Usher is up for everything. Boo Usher!

2004 MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

BEST VIDEO
The Cure "The End Of The World"
Jay-Z "99 Problems"
Outkast "Hey Ya!"
The Streets "Fit But You Know It"
The White Stripes "The Hardest Button To Button"

BEST ALBUM
Beyonce Dangerously In Love
The Black Eyed Peas Elephunk
Dido Life For Rent
Outkast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Usher Confessions

BEST SONG
Anastacia "Left Outside Alone"
Britney Spears "Toxic"
Maroon 5 "This Love"
Outkast "Hey Ya!"
Usher feat. Ludacris "Yeah!"

BEST MALE
Jay-Z
Justin Timberlake
Nelly
Robbie Williams
Usher

BEST FEMALE
Alicia Keys
Anastacia
Avril Lavigne
Beyonce
Britney Spears

BEST GROUP
Beastie Boys
The Black Eyed Peas
D12
Maroon 5
Outkast

BEST NEW ACT
Franz Ferdinand
Jamelia
Keane
Maroon 5
The Rasmus

BEST POP
Anastacia
Avril Lavigne
The Black Eyed Peas
Britney Spears
Robbie Williams

BEST ROCK
The Darkness
Good Charlotte
Green Day
Linkin Park
Red Hot Chili Peppers

BEST HIP HOP
Beastie Boys
D12
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Nelly

BEST R&B
Alicia Keys
Beyonce
Kelis
Outkast
Usher

BEST ALTERNATIVE ACT
Bjork
Franz Ferdinand
The Hives
Muse
The Prodigy