MTV’s annual music extravaganza of meat dresses, interrupting rappers, and over-the-top performances lit up our TV screens last night, but this time from a different location. This year’s Video Music Awards was Brooklyn-based, even having a Brooklyn artist re-design the iconic moon man award.
Lady Gaga opened the show with her new single “Applause,” after being on hiatus while recovering from hip surgery. In typical Gaga style she changed her outfit about three times, the first being an abstract white costume, the next a skin tight black little number, and then a shell bikini highlighting a body that made the crowd actually go Gaga for her, especially the “not host” Kevin Hart who made two announcements about her backside and not knowing she had “yams.”
One Direction then presented, amongst screams, the award for Best Pop Video to Selena Gomez’s “Come and Get it.” Selena then accepted the award and even kissed each member of the boy band on the cheek, much to every girl in the room’s dismay.
Actress Shailene Woodley and “Miley Cyrus,” who was actually SNL cast member Vanessa Bayer, introduced the real Miley Cyrus‘ performance. Miley, in typical Miley manner, was dressed in a one-piece and twerked on stage before she was joined by Robin Thicke and 2 Chainz.
Next, Iggy Azalea and Lil Kim, dubbed “Queen of Brooklyn,” went on stage to present the Best Hip Hop Video to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for “Can’t Hold Us.” Once on stage Macklemore said, “They let independent artists up here!”
Jared Leto then introduced Kanye West, who performed “Blood On The Leaves” from his album Yeezus. He performed in complete darkness in front of a background of trees, with only his powerful rhymes as light for the audience.
Taylor Swift was presented the award for Best Female by Daft Punk, Pharrel and Niall Rodgers. During her acceptance speech she called out One Directions Harry Styles by saying “I want to thank the guy who inspired this song, he knows exactly who he is, and now I have this (the award)”
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis graced the stage again for having the video with the best message, “Same Love.” Macklemore then said probably the best line in the history of lines, “Gay rights are human rights, there is no separation.” He received approval from mother monster, Lady Gaga, who’s an avid supporter of the LGBT community during his speech.
The “President of Pop” then blew the stage into ashes, introduced by his Best Friend and future Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, with a medley of his multiple hits. Oh yeah, and then NSYNC performed together. Yes, you don’t have to get your eyes checked, NSYNC actually performed together. All five of them, on one stage, in real life, harmonizing “Bye Bye Bye” with the same choreography from 20 years ago. Afterwards JT graciously accepted the Video Vanguard Award, which he definitely proved he deserved.
The “Song Of The Summer” award was then given to One Direction’s “Best Song Ever,” even though it wasn’t actually out all summer.
Jason Collins and ASAP Rocky then introduced Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert, who’s the female vocals in “Same Love.” They then sang their pro-gay rights song, and were joined halfway through by Jennifer Hudson.
Bruno Mars then scooped up the award for Best Male for “Locked Out of Heaven,” and Katy Perry closed the night with a performance of “Roar,” under the Brooklyn bridge.
This year’s Video Music Awards was no different than the others, besides the changed scenery. You had super choreographed performances, then a controversial one that flooded Twitter with hash-tags like #prayforbillyraycyrus, and one performance that was basically a mini concert. Now we have MTV’s Movie awards to wait for, but fortunately we have the picture of Will Smith’s and his family’s looks of shock to hold us over until then, even though that picture turned out to be from another part of the show.
