Fiery Beyonce dominates MTV Video Music Awards

NEW YORK | Beyonce on Sunday dominated the MTV Video Music Awards as she took home top prizes and awed the audience in a fiery dance medley with a subtle political touch.

The pop superstar won Video of the Year for “Formation,” the most outspoken work of her career, as well as Best Female Video for “Hold Up.”

The two tracks appeared on “Lemonade,” Beyonce’s latest album which she released in a surprise tie-in with a film of the same name that paid tribute to African American women.

Beyonce stole the spotlight at the gala party in New York’s Madison Square Garden by performing a “Lemonade” medley of more than 16 minutes, managing even to change outfits in a set that culminated in the stage erupting in fire.

In one of the most striking moments, the sound of a single gun-shot rang out as her circle of angelic-clad dancers each collapsed in a fog of red.

“Formation,” directed by Melina Matsoukas, offered solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality with officers depicted raising their hands as if under arrest.

“I dedicate this award to the people of New Orleans. God bless you guys,” Beyonce said as she accepted the award for “Formation,” which was musically inspired by the southern city’s bouncy hip-hop scene.

Beyonce arrived at the show, broadcast to more than 120 countries from New York’s Madison Square Garden, with the mothers of four young African American men whose deaths have galvanized the United States — Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin.

Martin, 17, was killed in 2012 by a white neighborhood guard, a catalyst moment for Black Lives Matter. Brown, Garner and Grant were all killed by law enforcement.

Singer Alicia Keys offered another of the night’s powerful moments as she recited a poem she said was inspired by civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. who delivered his landmark “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington 53 years ago Sunday.

In a year marred by global conflict and a bitter U.S. presidential race, Keys, moving seamlessly from spoken word to a cappella, voiced hope that “maybe we can love somebody instead of polishing a bomb.”

“If war is holy and sex is obscene, then we got it twisted in this lucid dream / Baptized in boundaries, schooled in skin, divided by difference, sexuality and skin,” she recited.

KANYE TALKS KANYE

The Video Music Awards, broadcast to more than 120 countries, have long been known more for their on-stage antics than the winners, and this year MTV decided to let the artists loose.

In one of the night’s most anticipated moments, rap superstar Kanye West — who last year used the occasion to declare his intention to run for president in 2020 — delivered a nearly stream-of-consciousness speech about empowerment.

As the audience chanted his stage-name Yeezy, West said that unnamed wealthy white people warned him against comparing himself to Apple founder Steve Jobs and entertainment pioneer Walt Disney.

But West said that the pair were among fewer than 10 true artistic heroes — and that the slim list also includes himself.

“Three keys to keeping people impoverished are taking away their esteem, taking away their resources and taking away their role models,” said West, who started his speech by deploring street killings in his native Chicago.

He then presented a racy new video for his song “Fade” featuring actress and singer Teyana Taylor, who moved her body sensually in a gym before a steamy shower scene.

The video marked a theme in the evening, if accidental, of sexualized exercise.

Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj received roars of crowd approval for a sensual take on a workout, with the pop star and rapper dancing together in a stage transformed into a gym full of highly physical young men.

RIHANNA HONORED

Drake won in the rap category for “Hotline Bling,” one of the most popular songs of the year.

But Drake did not appear in time to accept the award. According to the presenter, rap icon Puff Daddy, the Toronto star got stuck in New York traffic.

MTV presented its Video Vanguard Award — named after late King of Pop Michael Jackson — to Rihanna, in recognition to her contributions to pop culture.

Rihanna opened the ceremony with, aptly, “Don’t Stop the Music,” as she glided across the stage in a snug white T-shirt with a team of performers in matching laced outfits.

In her acceptance speech, Rihanna pledged never to forget her native Barbados.

source: interaksyon.com

Taylor Swift leads winners but Miley Cyrus rules at MTV VMA show

LOS ANGELES | It was all about the shock factor on Sunday as the MTV Video Music Awards became the unofficial Miley Cyrus show, with the scantily clad singer cursing her way through her hosting duties.

“I’ve literally done everything on the VMA stage and none of it showed I was qualified to host, but here we are,” Cyrus, dressed in a plunging, sparkly rainbow jumpsuit, quipped as she opened the show.

Cyrus, 22, changed outfits numerous times throughout the show, each time coming out with less on, and starred in comedy sketches showing her cursing and smoking marijuana with actors such as Andy Samberg, musicians such as rapper Tyga, and her father, country musician Billy Ray Cyrus.

Viacom Inc-owned MTV’s annual VMAs, which draws the network’s youth audience coveted by advertisers, awards its Moonman statuettes to the year’s top achievements in music videos, but has become better known for delivering irreverent and unexpected moments.

Minaj opened the show singing “The Night Is Still Young,” dressed in an flamboyant red outfit with a feathered headdress, before being joined by Swift for her hit “Bad Blood,” one of the top nominated videos of the night.

The two came together to perform after a Twitter altercation last month when Minaj said the MTV VMA nominations only rewarded videos by “slim girls,” sparking a reaction from Swift. But the two showed no signs of “bad blood” on Sunday and ended their performance with a hug.

Minaj did call out Cyrus for criticizing her in a recent New York Times interview, to which Cyrus insinuated that the interview had been manipulated and congratulated the rapper.

Swift led the early winners on Sunday as “Blank Space” won best female video and best pop video, while Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s summer hit “Uptown Funk!” was named best male video and Minaj’s raunchy “Anaconda” won best hip hop video.

Ahead of the show, Fall Out Boy won best rock video for “Uma Thurman,” and the fan-voted song of the summer award went to Australian boy band 5 Seconds of Summer’s “She’s Kinda Hot,” which garnered more than 52 million votes.

source: interaksyon.com

Pop singer Miley Cyrus named MTV’s best artist of 2013

NEW YORK | Miley Cyrus, the pop star who caused a sensation with her raunchy performance at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, was named best artist of 2013 by the cable TV network on Tuesday.

MTV said the singer dominated the music charts and the headlines with the release of her album “Bangerz,” her jaw-dropping performances at awards shows and her hosting stint on the television sketch show “Saturday Night Live.”

“She is the third artist to receive the distinction of being named MTV’s Best Artist of the Year with past honorees including Katy Perry (2012) and One Direction (2011),” MTV said in a statement announcing the results.

Cyrus, 21, was also ranked MTV.com top artist, based on fan visits to the site, and had the most watched video of 2013 with her live performance with singer Robin Thicke at the VMAs.

In an MTV documentary released in October, the “We Can’t Stop” singer admitted that she was out to shock and to push the boundaries. She said she was unapologetic for her provocative performance with Thicke.

Cyrus, the former Disney Channel star who shot to fame in the show “Hannah Montana,” has made a concerted effort to shed her good-girl teen image with her suggestive performances and revealing outfits.

Hip-hop artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis came in second on the MTV list of best artists for 2013, with Justin Timberlake, rapper Kanye West and British boy band One Direction rounding out the top five.

Katy Perry was No. 6, followed by rapper Drake, R&B singer Bruno Mars, 17-year-old New Zealand-born singer/songwriter Lorde and Lady Gaga.

source: interaksyon.com

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Raise The Flag For 'Same Love' At VMAs

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis crowned a glorious night in Brooklyn with a VMA performance of their Best Video With a Social Message-winning "Same Love." The hip-hop duo were joined onstage by Mary Lambert, who holds down the song's chorus duties, and surprise guest Jennifer Hudson, who helped trill the track home. Before that, openly gay NBA basketball star Jason Collins and the Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky had joined up to give a spoken introduction to what's quickly become an equality anthem.


Macklemore has described "Same Love" as being socially relevant as "equality is at the forefront of what's going on in politics right now." The award-winning clip, which was co-directed by Ryan Lewis, strikes a poignant note, and it's a vibe that continued at the Barclays Center as giant American flags were raised to reveal a dusky and intimate stage setting. From there, Macklemore aired out a measured and sensitive rendering of his lyrics. Sporting a natty pastel blazer, the coiffed rapper seemed emotionally moved as he recited his rhymes.

In winning the Best Video With a Social Message category, "Same Love" fought off heavyweight VMA competition from Beyoncé, Miguel, Kelly Clarkson and Snoop and Drake, who collaborated on the anti-firearm ode "No Guns Allowed." It was part of a bonanza night for Mack & Ryan as they also overcame fierce challenges from Kendrick Lamar and their host A$AP Rocky to take home the Best Hip-Hop Video for "Can't Hold Us"

source: mtv.com

UK boy band One Direction big winner at MTV video awards

LOS ANGELES – British boy band One Direction were the big winners at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, edging out Rihanna and taking home three prizes to crown their arrival on the U.S. pop scene just six months ago.

The five baby-faced guys, contestants on the British version of TV singing contest “The X Factor,” beat Justin Bieber and Rihanna for best pop video, and fellow all-boy British outfit The Wanted as best new artists.

They also won the most-shareworthy video award – which was voted on by fans – for their debut hit single “What Makes You Beautiful” and later performed their latest release “One Thing” to hordes of screaming girls at the two-hour Los Angeles ceremony.

“To win one Moonman is amazing, to win two is incredible,” said Harry Styles, as the band collected the silver VMA trophy for best new artists.

“Thank you so much! We have grown up watching this show and to collect one of these straight away is incredible,” said a jubilant Niall Horan.

One Direction, which is managed by British TV entrepreneur Simon Cowell, made history in March when it became the first UK group to see its first album, “Up All Night,” debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

Rihanna, who went into the VMA’s sharing a leading five nominations with Canadian rapper Drake, came away with just one award.

But it was the most coveted award of the night – video of the year – and the Barbados-born superstar won it for her dizzying visual romp in hit single “We Found Love.”

“I love you guys! This is awesome,” Rihanna told her fans as she collected the Moonman trophy and showed off a new pixie hair cut.

In a hip-hop-heavy show, rapper Nicki Minaj won best female video for “Starships,” while Chris Brown won two awards – best male video and best choreography for “Turn Up the Music.”

Drake also came away with just one win, for his hip-hop video “HYFR,” which celebrates his Jewish heritage. “I want to dedicate this award to any kid who has had a long walk home,” Drake said.

The VMA’s have become known as one of the more unpredictable and controversial award shows, but Thursday’s ceremony had none of the jaw-dropping moments – like the steamy 2003 Madonna/Britney Spears kiss – that have marked previous years.

This year, U.S. Olympic gymnastics champion Gabby Ross, 16, back-flipped and leapt across the stage while Alicia Keys sang her new single “Girl On Fire.” Ross and her four fellow team-mates also introduced Keys.

Punk rocker Billie Joe Armstrong seemed fully recovered from a weekend dehydration episode that forced Green Day to cancel a performance in Italy, and he was mobbed on Thursday while singing after inviting fans to come up on stage.

Lil Wayne gave the first televised performance of his new single “No Worries,” and Frank Ocean, who made headlines in July by coming out as a rare gay hip-hop artist, performed an emotional version of “Thinkin Bout You.”

Calvin Harris was the winner of the VMA’s first award in the increasingly popular electronic dance music category for “Feel So Close.”

Country-pop crossover singer Taylor Swift closed the show with her best-selling single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and other performers included Pink, Minaj, and Rihanna.

source: interaksyon.com

Rihanna & Frank Ocean Will Perform on the VMAs

Rihanna is spicing up the MTV Video Music Awards.

The multiple-nominee is set to perform on the Sept. 6 show (live from L.A.'s Staples Center), along with One Direction and Taylor Swift, who is slated to perform her latest single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," for the first time live.


Rihanna, 24, who's up for best female video, best pop video and video of the year for "We Found Love," is also nominated twice more with Drake for his "Take Care" video.




One of this year's most highly acclaimed artists, Frank Ocean, is also scheduled to perform. Ocean, 24, is also a nominee in the best new artist category for "Swim Good."

The public can vote for general VMA categories at on the show's official website.

source: people.com