VMA Recap
If you missed this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, don’t feel too bad. I’ll cover some highlights for you so that you can at least be a part of any award show conversations this week. The show aired on Sunday night and it was a star-studded event with great musical performances. The evening was hosted by the legendary LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow.
Harlow kicked off the show with a performance of his song “First Class,” which samples Fergie’s song “Glamorous” from her 2007 album The Dutchess. He begins his performance walking down an airplane aisle with celebrities on his left and right. Giving you a treat of cameo appearances from Lil Nas X, Chloe Bailey, Avril Lavigne, Jimmy Fallon, Becky G, and Saucy Santana. As Harlow exits the set and enters the crowd, he stops to show love to the screaming fans and even gives out autographs before introducing his special guest, Fergie, who joins him to sing part of her “Glamorous” song.
Next up, we got a first time VMA performance from the band, Blackpink. A South Korea female group consisting of four ladies: Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo. They sang their hit single, “Pink Venom.” The crowd loved it!
Honorable mention, Nicki Manaj, was expected to be the highlight of the evening and she showed off! She performed a medley of her music and kept the audience engaged for what felt like endless minutes. She went on to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award (the highest VMA award) later that night. During her acceptance speech she thanked other famous musicians who have inspired her, supported her and given her opportunities over her career. She also paid homage to Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. The only person I didn’t hear her mention during her acceptance speech was her husband, Kenneth Petty. He actually may be at home on house arrest for forgetting to register as a sex offender in California. However, that’s a story for another day.
For the first time in twenty years, we got a collaborative performance from Eminem and Snoop Dogg. The duo were dressed in black, hanging out on a couch, animated psychedelically, transformed into monkey cartoons, and gamified like they were in the game, Call of Duty. Their set was impossible to look away from, but confusing to watch. There was certainly a lot going on.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers hit the VMA stage for the first time in over two decades. The band received the Global Icon Award and paid tribute to the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died in March from a drug overdose. He was found in a hotel in Bogota, Colombia, unresponsive.
To lift us up, Lizzo brought the love with “It’s About Damn Time” and her new single, “2 B Loved.” She actually surprised me with her ensemble because I rarely see her fully dressed. Her hot pink outfit had major coverage with just a few slits of her glowing skin. I think I like her a little less modest, which is contrary to her many fat-shaming haters in the press. During the speech for her win in the “Video for Good” category, Lizzo addressed her haters with, “You know what, I ain’t gonna say nothing. They be like, ‘Lizzo, why don’t you clap back? Why don’t you clap back?’ ‘Cause bitch, I’m winning, ho.”
Sources:
https://www.newsweek.com/taylor-hawkins-alison-widow-breaks-silence-foo-fighters-star-death-1713894
https://www.etonline.com/2022-mtv-vmas-all-the-best-moments-and-biggest-performances-189797
