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The 2010 Soul Train Awards taping began with the show’s purple carpet arrivals outside the Cobb Energy and Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, with a crowd of both audience members and media gathered to welcome celebrities while a group of Soul Train dancers kept up an energetic party atmosphere. After the pomp and circumstance outside, an eager audience awaited for the show’s festivities to commence.
R. Kelly’s opening act certainly satistfied, starting with a medley of his older hits and culminating in his latest soulful single, “When A Woman Loves.” His engaging performance was the perfect note on which to launch the night.
Acclaimed actors Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard returned for the second year as the awards show’s hosts. Always considered cute and adorable together, some of their hosting segments came off a bit lackluster in delivery, as they engaged in magic tricks and spells that left the audience only slightly amused. If anything, Henson and Howard should have continued to do segments that spun off their “girls versus guys” dance-off challenge bit, which was much more entertaining and crowd-pleasing.
Key performances of the night included those by Ne-Yo, Gyptian, Cee-Lo, Bruno Mars, Jazmine Sullivan with Doug E. Fresh and Erykah Badu.
Among the show’s presenters were Raven Symone, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas, SWV, Kim Fields, Biz Markie, Ray-J, Fonzworth Bentley, Elise Neal and others.
Anita Baker and Ronald Isley were the proud recipients of the Soul Train “Legends” awards. Baker was honored through song by the likes of Chrisette Michelle, Tamia, Faith Evans, Rachelle Ferrell, Lalah Hathaway, Goapele, Dionne Farris, and El DeBarge, while Isley’s rousing tribute featured Debarge, Bilal, Eric Benet, Keyshia Cole and Tank – all of whom beautifully carried out their individual renditions of their respective songs.
Other award recipients’ for the evening included B.O.B for Song of the Year; Melanie Fiona for Best New Artist; Eminem for Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year; Gyptian for Best Reggae Artist; and Janelle Monae received the Soul Train Centric Award.
For the politically inclined, the audience was delighted to see the Rev. Jesse Jackson among the attendees, as well as Wolf Blitzer from CNN’s “The Situation Room,” who had the audience roaring in laughter from his dance tutorial from rap legend Doug E. Fresh and his comedy-steeped acceptance speech of Eminem’s award in his absence.
Throughout the show, audience members were treated to video snippets of classic Soul Train interviews by Don Cornelius with legends such as Isaac Hayes and Marvin Gaye, as well as showing the unforgettable Afro-sporting, platform-shoe wearing Soul Train dancers, along with their “Scrabble Board” moments.
List of winners for the 2010 Soul Train Awards:
– Best New Artist: Melanie Fiona
– Best Female R&B Soul Artist: Alicia Keys
– Best Male R&B Soul Artist: (tie) Trey Songz and Usher
– Song of the Year: “Nothing on You,” B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars
– Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year: “Love the Way You Lie,” Eminem featuring Rihanna
– Record of the Year (songwriter award): “Unthinkable (I’m Ready),” Alicia Keys; songwriters Alicia Keys, Aubrey Graham, Brothers, Noah “40″ Shebib
– Album of the Year: “Raymond vs. Raymond,” Usher
– Best Reggae Artist Award: Gyptian
– Centric Award: Janelle Monae
– Best Gospel Performance Male Female or Group: Marvin Sapp
– Best Dance Performance: “Ride,” Ciara
