Foreign talent INVADE the AMAs

I like foreigners.

Apparently, so does the American Music Awards.

British band One Direction took home three trophies, including Artist Of The Year.

Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea won Favourite Hip-Hop Artist.

Spaniard Enrique Iglesias won Favourite Latin Artist.

Unsurprisingly, all-American gals Katy Perry and Taylor Swift got their kudos, but it's still shocking just how many exotic foreign creatures emerged victorious.

Good for them.

Of course, it's not popular - in any country on earth - to like foreigners.

Those immigrants you grumble about would be grumbling too if you moved to live in their country.

It's the great human Circle Of Grumpiness.

Thing is, outsiders tend to be some of the absolute greatest creators, in large part because they're outsiders.

Outsiders try harder.

Outsiders have a unique perspective. Outsiders often have richer life experiences than your average local yokel.

Imagine The Lord Of The Rings movies without New Zealander Peter Jackson at the helm.

Would Yo-Yo Ma be Yo-Yo Ma if he hadn't been born to Chinese parents in France?

British comic writer Alan Moore took iconic American superheroes such as Batman and Superman to greater heights.

Of course, not every alien is a creative genius, but even the mediocre ones can bring a certain energy and passion to their adoptive home.

It takes gumption to move to a new country. Or better yet, desperation.

One of the things I love about Singapore is that it is so open to the world.

Some of you may scoff, but it's true.

In my nearly 20 years here, I've encountered overt racism only a handful of times. Of course, being 1.9m tall helps with that.

But seriously, as a radio DJ on Kiss92, I've been welcomed with open arms. No one has ever complained that my job should go to a Singaporean - at least not to my face.

The cool thing is that Kiss92 plays basically nothing but songs from US and UK artists - and yet listeners don't even think twice about it.

One Direction makes a song in England, it becomes big in America, and then it's played in Singapore by a Canadian DJ. I like that.

Then again, as an outlander, I would.