Lorde has been taking some well-earned time off from performing lately due to some health issues, but the New Zealand superstar was back in a big way on Sunday night (May 18) at the Billboard Music Awards for the prime time debut of her new single, “Tennis Court.”

Shedding the fuzzy goth Muppet outfit she came in, the 17 (and a half)-year-old singer switched into yet another all-black-everything ensemble, complete with a giant Zorro hat, for one her patented intense, jittery performances under a forest of disco balls.

With two awards already in hand for the night (Top New Artist, Top Rock Song for “Royals”), Lorde felt free to bust out some of her signature “whut-whut?” arm motions and bring frosty, cool kid vibe to an otherwise poptastic night of over-the-top performances from the likes of a holograhic Michael Jackson, Ariana Grande and 5 Seconds of Summer.

Gil Kaufman

We’re already aware that Katy Perry is capable of walking on air, but now, thanks to her 2014 Billboard Music Awards performance of “Birthday,” we know that she can fly, too. As long as she’s got a dozen or so balloons and mad wires handy.

Filmed at Katy’s Prismatic World Tour stop in Newcastle, England, on May 10, the set’s highlight was definitely when the green-haired singer, clad in an eye-popping body suit, grabbed onto some colorful balloons and appeared to take flight over the Metro Radio Arena.

OK, OK, and that part where Katy pulled an audience member onstage (“I’m looking for one special birthday person!”) and serenaded her on top of a giant cake was pretty cute, too. But, like, Katy Perry. Flying. With balloons. Mary Poppins-style. That obviously wins.

You know how Katy sings “So let me get you in your birthday suit/ It’s time to bring out the big balloons” in “Birthday”? Here I was, thinking it was some kind of sexual double entendre, but no! Girlfriend just really likes balloons.

Katy Perry was nominated for a total of 10 Billboard Music Awards, and she even took home the title of Top Female Artist. She and her balloons are, presumably, very happy about the win.

John Walker

It was the kind of mind-blowing multi-media magic trick that would probably have made Michael Jackson giggle into his jewel-encrusted glove as he hid in the back of the room under a face-shrouding fedora.

Taking his place alongside the iconic Coachella Tupac, MJ was back to life (well, hologramically anyway) at Sunday night’s (May 18) Billboard Music Awards, opening the show by beaming to the stage for a beyond-the-grave performance of the electro dance anthem “Slave to the Rhythm” from his just-released posthumous Xscape album.

The bit began with a troupe of “Aliens”-like commandos in black shiny space suits doing some MJ-style popping and locking as the sound of helicopters blasted the crowd at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. And when the curtain was raised there was… well, a hologram of a guy who looked (sort of) like Jackson.

Seated on a gilded throne, the HoloMJ sang the song’s hard-edge vocals as live dancers moved alongside him center stage. The effect was, to be honest, a bit weird, but also kind of exciting and a pretty mind-blowing. The moves were all right, down to the moonwalk, copious crotch grabs and shoe tip balancing.

Yeah, it was impressive, but what did the folks at home (and in the room) think?

Who’s Bad?
Before she deleted it, Nicki Minaj had posted a photo of MJ with the word “ALLEGEDLY” written across it as a response to his “performance.”

But others disagreed. #Rad

Gil Kaufman

After the rousing end of the trial of Tyrion Lannister, the latest episode of “Game of Thrones” was one of ‘dem in between episodes. A bridge, if you will, between the big events coming towards the end of the season.

But that doesn’t mean nothing big happened. Let’s throw a few things through the Moon Door and see what stuck on “Mockingbird:”

A Tyrion Carol
Tyrion is visted in his jail cell by three ghosts compatriots, all of whom the littlest Lannister tries to recruit to fight Cersei’s champion: The Mountain.

The same Mountain, we should mention, who’s reintroduced chopping human beings in half for fun.

The first spirit visitor is Jaime, who is angry his brother threw his life away to prove a point the people of King’s Landing, “will be talking about for days,” he says sarcastically. Tyrion wants Jaime to fight for him, since the last time there was trial by combat — back at the Aerie in season one — Jaime wasn’t around. This time, Jaime has only one hand, and laments he can’t help.

The second is Bronn, who has been bought off by Cersei with a title, a new wife and more riches than he can imagine. He offers the chance for Tyrion to buy him back, but Tyrion has nothing to offer. In a brief bit of tenderness that wasn’t shown in the book, Bronn holds Tyrion’s hand for a moment longer than necessary. It’s a bittersweet moment as we realize the sell-sword won’t be around to protect the ...

So, it looks like Kendall Jenner had a bit of a prompter mix-up while introducing 5 Seconds Of Summer at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards tonight.

After nearly announcing the Australian pop-rock band as “One…” before cutting herself off, the “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” star self-deprecatingly joked: “You guys, I’m the worst reader.”

And, you know what? More power to her. I’m not the greatest interpretive dancer on the scene, but just try telling that to, like, MY BODY when “Chandelier” comes on.

Anyway, 5SOS obviously nailed it onstage at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena, performing their Song of the Summer-worthy single, “She Looks So Perfect.”

Calum and Luke’s tag-teamed vocals were on point, Mikey was just in the zone as he hopped all over the stage, and Ash was doing some drumstick tricks that would’ve epically failed in lesser hands.

Honestly, my only complaint is that they didn’t perform in their American Apparel underwear. Anytime, guys! Anytime.

Look for 5 Seconds Of Summer’s self-titled debut album when it drops stateside on July 22. That’s 5 Seconds Of Summer, Kendall.

Gratuitous 5SOS GIF fest!

John Walker

By Maurice Bobb

Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea both hit the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (May 18) night dressed sexier than any burlesque show on the strip.

No one has a “Problem” with that, do they?

First to hit the raised rostrum was Iggy, dressed as a naughty cheerleader with the word “Rebel” emblazoned on her chest. Flanked by a cheering squad of dancing beauties, the Aussie singer served up “Fancy,” from her debut album, The New Classic.

Joined by collaborator Charli XCX, the blonde bombshell danced and pranced around while shaking her pom-pomed-sneakers, rapping lines like, “Hot girl, hands off, don’t touch that/Look at it, I bet you wishing you could clutch that.”

Next up was Ariana’s performance of her chart-topping hit, “Problem.” The Yours Truly chanteuse continued to explore her sensual side with a black and white leather mini skirt and knee-high go-go boots.

As she gyrated in front of biker jacket wearing male dancers to the song’s chorus, “got one less problem without you,” her new BFF Iggy came back out to run through her guest verse.

To close out her set, Ariana centered herself on the brightly lit platform to take in her monumental BBMA moment, which comes in the same week that her single exploded on the Digital Songs chart at #1 and #3 on the Hot 100.

MTV News Staff

Giving new meaning to the phrase “too soon,” billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner, notorious not-tongue holder and “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban set off a bad taste stink bomb at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (May 18).

Introducing Florida Georgia Line along with fellow Tanker Kevin O’Leary, Cuban joked that he and O’Leary were on hand to announce their latest investment… a $3.2 billion payout for a “hot” new company. “[It's] called ‘Beatdowns by Solange,’” Cuban said. The low-blow joke inspired a momentary stunned silence from the all-star crowd that turned into some audible boos.

“That was a great elevator pitch,” O’Leary added, trying to save the pair from being pelted with Louboutins and $9,500 Prada Ostrich totes.

The joke came just days after Jay Z, Beyoncé and Solange issued a statement on the elevator fight seen ’round the world.

Not cool, dude, not cool.

Gil Kaufman