Whenever the MTV Video Music Awards is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the award show’s notorious history. From Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s award acceptance speech in 2009 to Lady Gaga showing up in a dress made of raw beef that angered animal rights activists in 2010, the show has a rocky history. Despite the cloud of controversies that seem to circle the award show, it is still praised as one of the most significant awards in the music industry, along with the Grammys. The award show celebrates notable music and artists of all genres, especially in the music video category.
The VMAs were held this year at the UBS arena in New York City. It was supposed to be on Sept. 10 but was postponed until Sept 11 to avoid conflicting with the presidential debate being held on the original date. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion hosted the show attended by an impressive lineup of musicians, including Taylor Swift, Camila Cabello, and Eminem, as well as significant figures such as socialite and businesswoman Paris Hilton, influencer Addison Rae, and Olympic gold medal gymnast Jordan Chiles.
The award show included numerous notable performances from well-known and upcoming artists. It opened with Eminem’s performance of songs from his new album, The Death of Slim Shady, after a lengthy hiatus outside the limelight. He showed up on stage in a blonde wig, surrounded by lookalikes, paying homage to his performance of The Real Slim Shady at the 2000 VMAs 24 years ago, which had an identical stage setup.
Sabrina Carpenter presented a medley of her biggest hit songs this summer from her album Short n’ Sweet, including “Please Please Please,” “Taste,” and “Espresso,” which was crowned song of the year. Fans online were captivated by her outstanding vocal performance.
“A highlight for me was when Benson Boone did a backflip off a piano,” said senior Austin Genova. In Boone’s performance of his radio hit “Beautiful Things,” he did a smooth backflip off of a piano while singing.
Another notable performance was made by the winner of Best New Artist, Chappell Roan. In her performance of “Good Luck Babe,” she dressed as a medieval knight. Starting by shooting a flaming arrow at a castle, she gave a heartfelt performance of the baroque-pop hit in the fiery set.
Roan, becoming a familiar name in the industry for her avant-garde sense of style and raw, unfiltered lyricism, has gained a massive following among young people for her relatable personality. However, her rise to fame has not been without controversy. She recently received criticism for canceling two major festival shows at the last minute due to “overwhelming pressure.” The controversy did not stop when she attended the VMAs this year.
“The most memorable moment of the VMAs this year for me was not the actual award show,” said freshmen Karina Fofiu, “but when Chappell Roan cussed out a cameraman on the red carpet.”
A video clip has been circulating online of Roan insulting a cameraman with foul language on the VMAs’ red carpet. Although it was later revealed the clip was taken out of context, this remained a significant topic surrounding the award show and the artist.
The night’s most memorable performance belonged to Katy Perry, who gave a ten-minute performance of both classic and new songs. The performance included multiple sets, including a giant laser ring where she performed while floating in the middle. This longest performance of the night, including iconic 2010s hits such as “Dark Horse,” “California Gurls,” and “Teenage Dream,” brought nostalgia to a majority of Gen Zers who grew up around her music.
Perry received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, also known as the Lifetime Achievement Award, a special recognition for “outstanding contributions” and “profound impact” in the music industry. She gave a heartfelt award speech alongside her husband, Orlando Bloom.
“My family, the deepest roots I know. We don’t always agree, but what a lesson that those disagreements can still be full of love,” said Perry.
The award show also saw incredible performances from big names such as Shawn Mendes, Glorilla, Lenny Kravitz, and Karol G, among others.
The night was also marked with awards for a variety of categories. Taylor Swift racked up seven awards for her album The Tortured Poets Department and its lead single featuring Post Malone, “Fortnight,” making her the most-awarded solo artist in VMA history. This has received both positive and negative opinions: some praise Swift for her influence and impact in the industry, while others found the decisions questionable and thought that the awards could have gone to others.
“I like Taylor Swift a lot,” said junior Nina Koplan, “but I thought ‘Fortnight’ and her new album in general weren’t amazing.”
The category of Best Hip Hop went to Eminem’s “Houdini,” contrasting the widespread critical disapproval he has received for his newer work.
Music critic Anthony Fantano criticized Eminem for “obsessing over his old self” in his modern music, often relying on “rehashing ideas that he knows have worked for him in the past,” making his new works outdated and lacking in originality. Others displayed dissatisfaction that popular tracks such as “Carnival” by Kanye West, “Like That” by Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar and Future, and “Redrum” by 21 Savage were nowhere to be found on the nominations list.
Overall, the 2024 VMAs was a night filled with memorable performances, motivating speeches, and great nostalgia, regardless of the dissension between viewers and critics over the legitimacy of the results of the awards. It wouldn’t be a complete VMAs without some controversy, right?
Edited by Kavya Athota
