Barack Obama craze in Liverpool

London: Beatlemania was rivalled by Obama-mania as Liverpool hosted an MTV Europe Music Awards to remember.
Energised by the city's musical heritage and the US presidential election, singer Katy Perry, who hosted the show and also was named best new act, appeared in a dress emblazoned with Obama's face and joked that "maybe Europeans will love us again now".

But Perry wasn't the only one as her American co-host, '30 Seconds to Mars' singer Jared Leto, wore an Obama T-shirt and managed to get the 15,000-strong crowd at the city's Echo Arena to shout "Congrats, Barack" repeatedly.

And even when hometown pride brought tears to almost everyone's eyes as Sir Paul McCartney received his 'Ultimate Legend' award, the former Beatle couldn't help but mention the newly-elected American President.

McCartney's acceptance speech was modest. "I want to thank my mum and dad," he said, going on to pay tribute to his bandmates in The Beatles, the people of Liverpool and Americans, "for voting in Senator Obama".

Pink and Kanye West took home awards - Britney Spears scooped two - and other stars on the stage included Beyonce and Kid Rock.