Although keen to ensure it does not become a sombre affair, expect a slightly different tone at this year’s MTV Music Awards tonight. The event has been moved forward a week to keep distance between it and the date of the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Washington and New York. "It's gonna be definitely in everyone's heads and everyone's minds, I think," this year's host Jimmy Fallon says. "It's definitely going to be a different tone, not so much in your face.” Though equally he’s not planning any serious proceedings. “It's just gonna be goofy. I'm not taking this seriously at all."
The network had planned to move its annual awards to LA, but decided to stick with New York this year as a mark of respect. "After Sept 11 we felt that we could not abandon our hometown," Tom Calderone, senior vice-president of music and talent programming at MTV and MTV2, told reporters. "We're going back to LA, but this is not the year to do it."
Bruce Springsteen, whose new album ‘The Rising’ is filled with musings on Sept 11, will open the show and Sheryl Crow will sing a song about the spirit of New York. There is also expected to be tributes to TLC’s Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez who was killed in an accident this year. But organisers are keen to ensure it is a fun party. "With all the Sept. 11 reflection, we want to make sure that it doesn't get too dark," Calderone added.