Robbie Williams moons fans

Mexico City – Robbie Williams’ bottom and a band that dresses like furry bunnies graced MTV’s 2006 Latin America Music Awards, where reggaeton sensation Daddy Yankee won top prize for artist of the year. MTV made a triumphant return to Mexico on Thursday after Hurricane Wilma ruined last year’s ceremony just hours before it was to begin on a pristine Caribbean beach. This year’s ceremony is the first to take place outside Miami. “MTV finally understood that Miami is not Latin America,” said presenter and actor Diego Luna as some 10 000 attendees cheered. Britain’s Robbie Williams, who won best international pop artist, gave the audience an eye-full before performing Rock DJ when he pulled his pants down and mooned the audience.

Daddy Yankee, who helped spread catchy reggaeton music – a fiery mix of reggae and hip hop – from dance floors in New York’s Bronx to Venezuela’s posh clubs, said his music was no short-lived trend. “Reggaeton made the change in music. Reggaeton is here to stay, that’s what people showed us,” the Puerto Rican singer told Reuters. Colombia’s Shakira went home with the tongue-shaped award for song of the year for “Hips don’t lie” from her second English-language album, “Oral Fixation Vol 2.”

Mexican singer and accordion player Julieta Venegas’ six nominations turned into just a single win for best performer of the year. But Mexican indie act Panda won in three categories – best band, best alternative artist, and newcomer of the year. MTV set up a green carpet at the Palacio de los Deportes dome, in southern Mexico City, where artists and guests paraded before screaming fans while television crews and photographers elbowed for room. Clad in their trademark white bunny outfits to keep their identities a secret, members of the Mexican band Austin TV joked with fans. Mexican band Mana won video of the year and best rock artist plus a special award to honour their two decades in the music business. Mana’s drummer Alex Gonzalez told Reuters the band was getting ready for a tour that will take it across Latin America and Europe.