Every year, millions of people tune in with high anticipation to watch MTV’s Video Music Awards. Starting at 8pm, viewers can watch some of their favorite artists as they win awards, walk the red carpet, and perform some of their top hits. With many different categories, there’s something for everyone to see. But what exactly makes the VMA’s so different and exciting compared to other award shows?
When it comes to award shows, winners are typically nominated and chosen by the Academy, but when it comes to the Video Music Awards, it’s all decided by the fans. For an entire month before the show, music lovers can vote for their favorite artists which adds an extra level of excitement to it all. And with this year being the 40th annual ceremony, it was bound to be great.
While watching celebrities arrive at the show, it was very clear that this year fashion was not going to disappoint. Most of those who attended the VMA’s went for something with a bit of an edge. Popular colors worn on the red carpet included black, silver, and bold reds. Camilla Cabello, Benson Boone, and Suki Waterhouse all wore black but made sure that their outfits still had an element of character. Whether it was a touch of sparkle or simply a little bit of texture, they all had something to add.
One of the most notable outfits of the evening was undoubtedly Sabrina Carpenter’s Bob Mackie gown. Originally worn by Madonna in 1991, the strapless silver dress is timeless and looked absolutely amazing on Carpenter. Other celebrities who stunned in silver gowns include Paris Hilton and Coco Jones, whose choice of wardrobe looked great amongst all the other attendees.
This year, there were 18 performances, all of which were incredible. Eminem opened the VMA’s with his songs “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me” which got the crowd excited and prepared them for the show ahead. Throughout the night there was so much to see, but there were definitely a few performances that were much more entertaining than others,two of which were put on by Katy Perry and Chappell Roan.
Katy Perry’s time on stage included a total of eight songs within the span of only ten minutes. Perry’s act started with “Dark Horse” which she sang while being suspended over the stage, giving the illusion that she was levitating. From there, she went on to perform several fantastic dance numbers, eventually ending her set with “Lifetimes,” a song from her new album 143. After her whirlwind of a show, Katy Perry accepted the Video Vanguard Award. This particular prize is presented by MTV to those who have made a large impact on pop culture. So basically, it’s a pretty big deal.
Shortly after Katy Perry’s performance, Chappell Roan took the stage, and by no means did she come to mess around. Roan’s portion began when she emerged from a dark castle, shooting flaming arrows and illuminating the stage. From there, she sang her radio hit “Good Luck, Babe!” which seemed to appear everywhere this past summer. While she only performed one song, Chappell Roan thrilled the crowd and left no room for disappointment.
Even though the Video Music Awards are known for their iconic performances, they also are well-known for their number of awards. With 25 different categories, there were plenty of prizes to be claimed. However, Taylor Swift took home a total of seven, winning the most “moonmen” out of all the attendees this year. Within the past few years, this seems to be a common occurrence for Ms. Swift, as she’s typically incredibly successful at the VMA’s. Awards won by Swift include Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, Best Editing, Song of Summer, and Best Direction. Most of these wins can be attributed to her song, “Fortnight (Feat. Post Malone).”
While Taylor Swift won most of her nominations, there were also some incredibly difficult choices to be made when voting. Both Chappell Roan and Gracie Abrams were nominated for Best New Artist. The two musicians have each gained tons of popularity recently, which meant great anticipation leading up to the VMA’s. But ultimately, Chappell Roan came out on top, winning the title. But Best New Artist wasn’t the only category with great nominees; tough choices had to be made when deciding on a recipient for the additional prizes. Winners of the other categories include Ariana Grande for Best Cinematography, SZA for Best R&B, Lenny Kravitz for Best Rock, LISA for Best K-pop, Tyla for Best Afrobeats, and many many more.
Complete list of winners:
- Video of the Year – Taylor Swift
- Artist of the Year – Taylor Swift
- Best New Artist – Chappell Roan
- Song of the Year – Sabrina Carpenter
- PUSH Performance of the Year – LE SSERAFIM
- Best Collaboration – Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
- Best Hip-Hop – Eminem
- Best Pop – Taylor Swift
- Best R&B – SZA
- Best Afrobeats – Tyla
- Best K-Pop – LISA
- Best Alternative- Benson Boone
- Best Latin – Anitta
- Best Rock – Lenny Kravitz
- Video for Good – Billie Eilish
- Best Direction – Taylor Swift
- Best Cinematography – Ariana Grande
- Best Visual Effects – Eminem
- Best Choreography – Dua Lipa
- Best Art Direction – Megan Thee Stallion
- Best Editing – Taylor Swift
- Best Group – SEVENTEEN
- Best Trending Video – Megan Thee Stallion
- Song of Summer – Taylor Swift
- VMA’s Most Iconic Performance – Katy Perry
All in all, the VMA’s were a huge success for many musicians this year. Throughout the entire evening, both those at home and those amongst the star-studded audience got to witness some amazing performances and victories. With tons of different categories, there’s always something for everyone to see which makes the Video Music Awards universally enjoyable, unlike some other award shows. And with more music always on the way, I can’t help but wonder what next year will have in store.
