The pacing of the show slowed down tremendously until Rihanna’s second performance of the evening with a tribute to her Caribbean roots.
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Rihanna performed four separate medleys of her biggest hits throughout the show after she was named the receipt of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, MTV’s equivalent of a lifetime achievement honour.
Kim was waiting in the wings to introduce Britney Spears and her loyal husband had escorted her along. Not only did she lip sync, in typical fashion, but she did so badly. However, she should receive some credit – she did create a super successful hit even if she wasn’t the one singing it! “They’re like, ‘Mum! You’re cool now!’ I’m like, ‘Thanks!’ That’s all I had to do!” West’s video, showcasing a previously unseen of mix of athleticism and sudden human transformation into jungle animals left people scratching their heads equally as much as his preview speech before it. “Have a attractive night”.
Kanye West, who often hijacked the live VMA show, presented a new video for his single “Fade“. 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.
West also pointed out his ex-girlfriend Amber Rose in the crowd after he included a waxwork of her in his controversial video for Famous. “Tonight we celebrate you!” I mean, I put Ray J in there bro! Well, maybe different boats, but, if you think about last week, there was 22 people murdered in Chicago. Rihanna, “This is What You Came For”. Take, tell Taylor this.
“That’s why I called her”, he said with a laugh. This year, Grande and Minaj’s performance of “Side to Side” was exercise themed.
Hip hop video: Drake, “Hotline Bling”. Puff Daddy, who presented the award, said Drake was stuck in traffic. Harris accepted the award in a video message.
Art direction: David Bowie, “Blackstar”.
Sia’s Cheap Thrills also missed out in the Song of the Summer category to Fifth Harmony ft. The proud mama walked hand in hand with Blue, Bey was rocking feathers and sequins and her and Jay-Z’s daughter was wearing a tulle gown with matching headband and sneakers.
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He referenced back to his own past antics when he acknowledged that his music video might lose to Beyonce in the video of the year category.
