Valuable lesson learned by everybody watching and most of all by those performing or bound to perform in the future at the MTV Video Music Awards: Never, never come after a Beyoncé number or a Beyoncé speech, Beyoncé at the red carpet. Or anything Beyoncé.
Just look at what happened to poor Britney Spears. And this is the Britney Spears, already a legend in her own right. Not some newcomer like Alessia Cara. And take note, she was launching a single from her new album. Besides, it was Britney’s first-ever performance at the VMAs in nearly 10 years. It was supposed to be her moment of triumph. But she had to come after Beyoncé. Of course, she turned out lackluster.
And what about Rihanna. Last Sunday was supposed to be her big night. RiRi is this year’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard awardee and MTV took very good care of her. In fact, she headlined in four career-spanning numbers. The VMAs was her show. Well, her medley of Stay, Diamonds and Love On The Brain was OK. I think it was the only time when she did not lip-sync and I liked that dress she wore to accept her Moonman from Drake. Period. And nothing more.
I now see the logic in Taylor Swift’s decision not to attend. Well, there was, of course, the presence of the husband and wife team of Kanye West and Kim Kardasian to consider, plus the fact that MTV will premiere Kanye’s new video Fade and had given him four minutes of air time to do what he pleases with. Well, he turned out to be incoherent. And then Taylor might not have also wanted to see old flame Calvin Harris, who it turned out was also absent. But it would still be difficult even for somebody like Taylor to be the star while Beyoncé is around.
On the other hand though, it was not really a surprise after Beyoncé was seen on the red carpet in her magnificent gown with her budding fashion plate of a daughter Blue Ivy in tow. Beyoncé did not only look deserving of the awe and adulation, she is indeed deserving. She was the evening’s biggest winner with eight Moonmen for videos from her visual album Lemonade.
Beyoncé won awards for Breakthrough Long Form Video for Lemonade; Best Female Video for Hold Up; Best Pop Video; Best Choreography; Best Cinematography; Best Editing; Best Direction for Formation, which was also named the Video Of The Year.
Beyoncé’s 15-minute performance of songs from Lemonade was a statement for femininism, spoke against gun violence and for the Black Lives Matter Movement. It was eye-popping and literally stopped the show. And did you notice the way she climbed the stairs to the stage to accept her trophies? Back straight, chin level, face calm. So regal she looked like a queen in that gold gown with a cape.
Beyoncé was impeccably dressed and made up. In an evening when most of the females present were in various stages of deshabille, torn and see-through outfits, workout clothes, etc., Queen B was a sight to behold. In a show that showcased the lack of melody in today’s hit tunes, they have only beats and the stunted vocabulary of songwriters, hosts and guests alike, you know, hey man, my bro, yo, yo, yo, Beyoncé had something that matters to say and she knew how to put it into words.
The other winners at the MTV Video Music Awards held at the Madison Square Garden last Sunday evening, Aug. 28, and aired here by MTV Pinoy on Monday morning, were:
•Best Male Video: Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna, This Is What You Came For
•Best Collaboration: Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Work From Home
•Best Hip-Hop Video: Drake, Hotline Bling
•Best Rock Video: twenty one pilots, Heathens
•Best Electronic Video: Calvin Harris & Disciples, How Deep Is Your Love
•Best New Artist, presented by Taco Bell: DNCE.
•Song Of Summer, presented by Verizon: Fifth Harmony feat. Fetty Wap, All In My Head (Flex)
•Professional Categories Presented by Orbit Gum.
•Best Art Direction: David Bowie, Black Star
•Best Visual Effects: Coldplay, Up&Up
No, Kanye’s controversial video, Famous, did not win anything.