The MTV Video Music Awards marked their 40th anniversary with a spectacular celebration that embraced the show's rich legacy and transformed it into a vibrant pop fest. The event was a nostalgic trip through iconic VMA moments—Madonna and Britney’s 2003 kiss, Beyoncé’s pregnancy reveal in 2011, Michael Jackson’s 1994 quip with Lisa Marie Presley, and Madonna’s 1985 “Like a Virgin” performance. But despite this rich history, MTV in 2024 couldn’t seem to locate any footage of actual music videos.
This year’s VMAs truly felt like a massive pop celebration, featuring dazzling performances from stars like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Karol G, and host Megan Thee Stallion. Megan declared, “Tonight, VMAs stands for Voluptuous Megan Awards,” setting the tone for an unforgettable night.
Taylor Swift emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home both the first and last awards for her hit “Fortnite,” a collaboration with Post Malone. In a surprising move, Taylor didn’t use her acceptance speeches to tease new projects or political endorsements. Instead, she focused on encouraging everyone to vote, making a significant statement following her recent endorsement of Kamala Harris.
One of the night’s standout moments came when Flavor Flav presented the Best Collaboration award to Taylor and Post Malone, enthusiastically shouting, “Swifties in the building — yeah, boyeeee!” Flav’s excitement was palpable, reflecting his deep admiration for Taylor’s music.
Chappell Roan made a memorable debut, embracing a medieval princess theme as she performed “Good Luck, Babe!” clad in armor and shooting a flaming arrow into a castle. Her emotional acceptance speech for Best New Artist, delivered from her diary and directed to queer fans, was a poignant highlight of the evening.
Sabrina Carpenter delivered a captivating performance with a sly alien-sex routine but left out her summer hit “Lie to Girls.” Nevertheless, she received a warm introduction from Cyndi Lauper, another MTV pioneer, and won Song of the Year for “Espresso,” receiving her trophy from Miranda Lambert in a touching pass-the-torch moment.
Tinashe, presenting Best New Artist, turned heads with her glamorous runway strut, offering a brief but memorable showcase of her star power. MTV also gave a nod to the Global Icon Award’s history, subtly phasing it out after last year’s controversial recipient.
Karol G impressed with her energetic rendition of “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” while Halsey rocked out with her garage-themed performance of “Ego.” Other notable performances included Glorilla, Benson Boone, and Rauw Alejandro, with Lenny Kravitz bringing his signature flair to the stage.
Tyla, winner of Best Afrobeat, gave an engaging speech about the global reach of African music and humorously enlisted Lil Nas X to help carry her Moon Person. Eminem kicked off the show with “Houdini,” referencing his classic 2000 VMA performance, while Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello delivered their own standout performances
Megan Thee Stallion kept the energy high with her charismatic hosting and a tribute to Britney Spears’ 2001 python dance, albeit with a faux snake. Anitta’s performance was unfortunately overshadowed by an ill-conceived interruption, but she shone brightly in her own right with “Savage Funk” and “Alegria.”
The night also featured LL Cool J’s energetic tribute, which turned out to be more of a greatest-hits medley than a true Def Jam tribute. Katy Perry was honored with the Video Vanguard Award, introduced by her fiancé Orlando Bloom, and delivered a heartfelt speech addressing music industry challenges and celebrating her MTV history.
In a nostalgic nod to the past, MTV rolled out a tribute to past winners and moments, including Billie Eilish’s win for “Video for Good” and a quirky Pepsi ad remixing the 2004 clip with modern stars.
The VMAs, as always, proved to be a stage for stars to shine and relive their greatest moments. With Carson Daly making a nostalgic appearance, the night was a reminder of MTV’s enduring legacy and its role in shaping pop culture.
.jpeg)
0 Comments