Beyonce owned the MTV Video Music Awards by winning video of the year and giving a 16-minute performance featuring her recent hits from “Lemonade”, working various stages with strong, layered vocals, skilled dance moves and even an outfit change – all as the audience watched in awe and cheered her on.
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Rihanna received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award last night, and on the red carpet, Hailee Steinfeld, actress, singer and Rihanna superfan, was asked to name her favorite Ri-Ri video.
“Now, later tonight “Famous” might lose to Beyoncé [which it did, to “Formation” in the Video of the Year award] but I can’t be mad because I’m always wishing for Beyoncé to win”, West said.
Alessia Cara, up for Best Pop Video, performed on the pre-show with her friend Troye Sivan, and told ABC Radio that she’s getting used to attending awards shows since she broke out big a year ago with her hit “Here”.
“I dedicate this award to the people of New Orleans”, she said. Singing “Make Me” with the help of rapping collaborator G-Eazy, Britney reminded us all why she’s one of the VMAs most iconic artists.
“She’s someone I have been in love with since I was 22-years-old”, Drake confessed. “And I have to thank you guys for supporting me over and over!” she added. That’s why I called her. You know, like people come up to me like man, that’s right, [tell] Taylor this. White. And they tell me don’t compare yourself to Steve Jobs.
West said people stay impoverished when their esteem, resources and role models are taken away.
She sang live, danced heavily and worked the crowd as she ran through “Pray You Catch Me”, “Hold Up”, “Sorry”, “Don’t Hurt Yourself” and “Formation”, which won the top prize over Adele, Drake, Justin Bieber and Kanye West. West preceded the video with a rambling, improvised speech that touched on poverty, his wife Kim Kardashian, his long-running feud with Taylor Swift, and violence in black neighborhoods.
Drake won the first award for the night – best hip hop video for “Hotline Bling”. Fellow gymnast Gabby Douglas missed the show after she was admitted to hospital with a mouth infection.
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The VMAs will be shown on the MTV channel at 9pm.
