AllRespect.com // Enrique Iglesias Debuts 'Tonight' At American Music Awards

Posted on 2010-11-22 03:00:13
Artist/band(s): Enrique Iglesias [FB], Pitbull [FB]

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652757/20101121/iglesias_enrique.jhtml

Spanish hitmaker sings toned-down version of raunchy club joint at awards show.By Mawuse Ziegbe

Enrique Iglesias performs at the American Music Awards on SundayPhoto: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/DCP

Enrique Iglesias' new song, "Tonight," boasts some very unsubtle lyrics, so it makes sense the Spanish pop crooner chose a major awards show to perform the track for the first time.

At the American Music Awards on Sunday night (November 19), the heartthrob hit the stage with his bouncy, fist-pump-friendly number, whose chorus addresses a fetching love interest with the lyrics "Please excuse me/ I don't mean to be rude/ But tonight I'm f---ing you." Of course, the blush-inducing banger was scrubbed clean for prime-time TV, but the singer still kept the performance spicy.

Following a bilingual introduction from actors Eric Stonestreet and Rico Rodriguez II from ABC's "Modern Family," Iglesias began with the bawdy track, swapping out "f---ing you" for "loving you." After the first chorus wrapped up, two huge drum lines strolled down the aisles and ascended the stage as the singer launched into his "Jersey Shore"-approved hit, "I Like It." The drummers pounded away, bringing a marching-band vibe to the track, while the song title whipped though the giant monitors. In contrast to the rowdy vibe of the track, guest rapper Pitbull hit the stage in a classy ensemble, spitting his rhymes in a suit and ascot.

When MTV News caught up with Iglesias at a rehearsal for the AMAs last week, he maintained that the lyrical raunchiness of "Tonight" isn't meant to twist up any knickers, but rather is just good, kind-of clean fun.

"I thought it was a strong statement ... to say in a song, but it's fun," Iglesias insisted. "It's probably what a lot of guys and girls think about at times, but they don't have the guts to say. It's pretty straightforward. Music has become so direct and you can say whatever you want, which is cool. At the end of the day, it's just a song — you don't have to take it seriously. You can have fun with it."

The singer said he was also amped to rock the stage with Pitbull for "I Like It."

"I just want to make it as energetic as possible. I've done it before and I loved it and being able to bring in as much percussion as possible and as much energy," he said. "And this time I get to perform it with Pitbull, which is a good friend and I always love sharing the stage with him because he truly is a great guy and a great showman."

What did you think of Enrique Iglesias' performance of "Tonight" at the American Music Awards? Tell us in the comments.

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