Friday, November 7, 2008 - Obamamania at the MTV EMA

Obamamania met Beatlemania Thursday at the MTV Europe Music Awards show.

Pink and Kanye West took home prizes — Britney Spears won two — and stars on the stage included Beyonce, Kid Rock and former Beatle Paul McCartney.

But the absent president-elect was given star status, too.

Singer Katy Perry, who hosted the show and also was named best new act, appeared in a dress emblazoned with Obama's face and quipped that "maybe Europeans will love us again now."

Her co-host, 30 Seconds to Mars singer Jared Leto, wore an Obama T-shirt and urged the 10,000-strong crowd at Liverpool's Echo Arena to yell "Congrats, Barack."

Hometown pride was also on display in the Beatles' birthplace, with McCartney receiving an "ultimate legend" award from U2 singer Bono.

McCartney said, going on to pay tribute to his bandmates in The Beatles, the people of Liverpool and Americans, "for voting in Senator Obama."

Backstage, McCartney said he had a song he thought the new U.S. leader would like for his wife, Michelle Obama — the Beatles ballad "Michelle."

Beyonce, The Killers, Pink and Kanye West all performed, West alongside British singer Estelle on their hit "American Boy."

It was West's second onstage appearance at the European awards — but the first time by invitation. The rapper stormed the stage at the 2006 show in Copenhagen after he failed to win the Best Video prize, telling the crowd that "if I don't win, the awards show loses credibility."

This year West was a perfect gentleman, accepting his prize for "ultimate urban" act with a polite "this is for my fans."

The winners of the awards, which are presented in a different European country each year, are selected by fans across the continent. They are broadcast on 21 channels in 40 European countries.