On August 25, the city of Brooklyn didn’t do much sleeping as it hosted the 30th annual Video Music Awards at Barclays Center. The show ended on a high note with the largest rating so far in MTV history with 10.1 million viewers tuning in. After so many tuned in to watch the show, they were left talking about it.
The show started off with the return of Lady Gaga, opening the show once again. She performed her latest hit “Applause.” Her VMA performance marks the first show she has done since getting hip surgery a few months ago. Even though it wasn’t her best performance, she still proved that she can shake her hips and look amazing after the surgery. However, that wasn’t what many viewers were gossiping about it.
One of the two things that audiences were talking about was Miley Cyrus’ controversial performance on stage with Robin Thicke. The former Hannah Montana star went all out for her latest single “We Can’t Stop” with twerking and giant teddy bears. Yes, giant teddy bears. Her dancers were dressed up as teddy bears and roaming around the stage as she wore a teddy bear patterned leotard. If that’s not bad enough, then maybe her being off key at times is.
Just when the audience thinks it’s over, they get a surprise. Robin Thicke arrived on stage performing “Blurred Lines,” while Miley stayed on stage grinding and twerking with him. At this point she had stripped out of her clothes into a nude bikini outfit. Next there’s the foam finger, which riled up the crowd and topped off the worst performance of the night. To conclude this controversial performance, many who watched behind the scenes and backstage, or on mtv.com saw that no artists or crew members were entertained by this performance. The most priceless face expressions were from the Smith family, as Will, Willow, and Jaden Smith were stunned at the antics on stage. Note that Willow is only 12 and Jaden is 15.
Other stars that were not there took to twitter to share their opinions. Many called it trash TV, while others called the performance “trying too hard to shed the Disney image.” Brooke Shields tweeted that her performance was a bit desperate and Kelly Clarkson followed up saying there were “pitchy strippers.”
Despite that ill performance, there were many great ones such as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love” featuring Jennifer Hudson. They were the night’s biggest winner. Their first award was Best Social Message in a Song for “Some Love,” in which both Lady Gaga and Will Smith, seating a row behind, gave them a standing ovation. After only being signed to an independent record company, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis proved that no one can hold them down.
Also singing their hearts out was new proud daddy, Kanye West with “Blood on the Leaves,” and Bruno Mars, who won big as well for Best Male Music Video and sang his newest hit “Gorilla.”
Other artists who won were One Direction for Best Song of the Summer, which led to Taylor Swift dissing them to Selena Gomez. Gomez, who was a nominee herself, won for Best Pop Music Video. Her other half, Taylor Swift won for Best Female Music Video. Upon receiving her award she personally thanked Harry Styles in her speech, indirectly, for helping her to write the song, “I Knew You Were Trouble.”
Finally, the second hottest topic of the night was about the most awaited performance from Justin Timberlake. He was the show’s guest of honor since he was getting awarded with the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award. Not only did he show to the world that he still has got it going on after two decades of being in the entertainment business, but was able to bring back his N’Sync band mates for just a two minute stint within the 20 minute heart stomping show. In those two minutes alone, many people in the audience went crazy, including Lady Gaga, the Smith family, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Rhianna, and many more. Along with “Bye, Bye, Bye,” Timberlake performed many of his greatest hits such as, “Cry Me a River,” “SexyBack,” “My Love,” “Take Back the Night,” and many more until it ended with his latest song “Mirrors.”
Timberlake also proved why so many fans adore him. While accepting his award by Jimmy Fallon, not only did he thank his parents, but also his N’Sync band mates. Later that night he also won Best Video of the Year and dedicated the award to his grandparents.
The show concluded with Katy Perry’s “Roar” on the Brooklyn Bridge. Thousands of people watched as she executed her most intense performance yet.
