You had to be living under a rock if you weren’t privy to all of the goings on at last night’s 28th MTV Video Music Awards. Twitter, Facebook, and most other social networks were tuned in to the awards show and all of its festivities, and I can say, it was—interesting. Every year, the VMAs stand out as the award show that isn’t stuffy, stodgy, and old school—they are usually full of personality and plenty of fodder for its viewers.
This year, without a host or a prevailing theme, the show seemed disjointed and horribly written. Many of the staged jokes didn’t go over well and seemed ill rehearsed and just plain bad. MTV”s attempt to make a more controlled show took away from the freeness and impromptu type of vibe it usually had. What we ended up with was a program strewn together with so-so performances (a few standouts, however) and song vignettes from a crippled Jessie J.
It was not the best VMAs.
The show opened with pop phenom Lady Gaga, who morphed into her alter ego (in drag) Joe Calderone. An Andrew Dice Clay type of dude, Gaga got to be someone other than herself for not just the performance, but for the entire awards. She sang her hit You and I, rather well, but the whole schtick of her as a man got old really quickly. Unluckily for us, she stuck to it all night. I think I liked the Gaga wearing a meat dress better. *shoulder shrug*
Kanye and Jay-Z performed Otis from Watch the Throne, and while it’s not my favorite track from the album, they had a solid performance.
Kevin Hart did his best not to host, but was used during the vignettes which were strewn about hastily in the show. I wish he would’ve just hosted the whole thing.
Chris Brown did an amazing job, even though he lip synched. He had one of the best performances of the night, hands down.
Adele, well she was Adele, her voice brilliantly shining, so much she got a standing O. Adele’s voice was outstanding. An aria for modern times. I love Someone Like You.
Then King Bey (Beyonce if you’re nasty) came out and reminded us why she is so great. Singing live while dancing to Love on Top, in a shiny coat and pants, she reigned supreme. Everyone was talking about how she showed off her baby bump and broke the news that she was with child on the the VMA red carpet, and she was on stage showing how dope she really is. And when she ended the performance by opening her coat and rubbing her belly while her husband Jay-Z smiled lovingly, we saw why she was Queen and he is King. Music royalty awaiting their prince or princess.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the Britney Spears tribute, but who cares? It was cute seeing little girls dance to Brit’s hits, but I thought it Britney wasn’t due for a tribute just yet in her career.
The Amy Winehouse remembrance by Bruno Mars was appropriate, but I know the Grammys will due Amy justice.
And Lil Wayne’s closing of the awards was o_O. Didn’t like it at all, but hey, who am I?
Entertainment wise, the VMAs this year was just okay. I was expecting a little more, but it seems that they are going by the way of other awards shows—status quo.
Click to view my MTV VMA red carpet arrival pics.
Photo credit: Wireimage/Getty Images
Kim says
Hold the phone Joan! Who in the world thought Britney Spears deserved a tribute??? A tribute for what? Bad singing, craziness, trying to jack Janet’s style? She’s the queen of manufactured pop acts. UGH! Clearly I am too old for this & I’ll thank the good Lord that I missed that portion of the show.
Adele can do no wrong. She can sang. I love her.
I didn’t like Beyonce’s performance or the song but I loved the outfit. I’m glad she and her husband are expecting. They both need time away from the limelight to just be and Baby Carter will surely slow them both down. Congrats to them as babies are true blessings.
Jay & Kanye’s Otis performance was cool. Lady GaGa or Joe whatever. Girl/boy please stop.
I loved Chris Brown’s performance, especially the Wu-Tang Clan Protect Ya’ Neck part. I was on my feet throwing up the W, lol! I didn’t mind his lip synching so much as it was such a high energy performance.
Overall the show was lame and did not hold my interest. I channel surfed through most of it.