While everyone was eagerly anticipating the performances by Video Vanguard recipient Rihanna or the triumphant returning Britney Spears, out of nowhere came Teyana Taylor – starring in Kanye West’s “Fade” music video – and she completely stole the show.
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Rihanna was another big victor at the VMAs, which she opened with the first of four performances during the NY show, singing hits “Only Girl” (In The World), “We Found Love”, and “Where Have You Been”.
Drake was so proud of Rihanna that he determined it was not unworthy of a billboard advert. “She is one of my best friends in the world”, he shared, before giving her the award – and what looked like a kiss on the cheek. Read the full transcript of West’s speech below. We can’t wait to see its music video. Her appearance became an instant network classic with its outlandish 80s old-school skateboard theme and Taylor’s iconic NYC Barbie entrance.
Bey opened with “Pray You Catch Me“, an eerie number that included women next to her dropping dead and a boy in a black hoodie, reminiscent of Trayvon Martin, holding her.
‘When it comes to music she relentlessly takes over the charts with every release, ‘ he said.
Alicia Keys was a presenter, but she performed in her own way while honoring the 53-year anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech by reciting a poem. “All my adult life, I’ve looked up to her even though she’s younger than me”, said Drake.
MTV, this is such an fantastic night.
Rihanna, 28, sang 13 of the biggest hits in her 13-year career, including “Rude Girl”, “Diamonds” and “Only Girl in the World”.
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Now, later tonight “Famous” might lose to Beyoncé, but. This is the first Vanguard to land anywhere close to my country. I mean, from the very beginning, Evan and Carl from SRP, you guys believed in me, you brought me straight to Jay Z’s office, where I met Jay, Tata, LA Reid, Jay Brown, my whole publicity team, my glam team, so many people, man, they right with me from day to day. If you’re seeing people dying next to you you might think, what’s the point?
