The 2011 MTV VMAs

Once again, I find myself underwhelmed and confused with the VMA’s. That’s not to say that it didn’t have its moments though! Here are my thoughts on the good, the bad, and GaGa…

THE GOOD

Holy Beyoncé! First of all congratulations on what is sure to be one talented and beautiful baby! But damn B, YOU BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN TONIGHT! Strutting in those heels, kicking it back old school with the most upbeat, feel-good song on her amazing new album 4 (which if you don’t have it still, we’re done talking!) She continues to prove just what a powerhouse she is on that stage. I know she probably won’t be going on a world tour anytime soon with her pregnancy and all, but after a performance like that, please bring your baby with you on the road, make it a Family VonTrapp-like show or something and give us more! This is why I love her!!!

On the other side of the spectrum, ADELE!!! After some very confusing moments and several performances that were way too over the top and unnecessary, ADELE proves that simply singing on a lightly dimmed stage with just a piano player in the background is all you need to bring the house down as well. Her honesty, her natural beauty, and MAN that nursty snarl she’s got going on, ADELE makes me feel something every time I hear her perform! TAKE THAT GaGa, Pitbull, Chris Brown, & Weezy!

And Jessie J! I didn’t get to hear a full song of yours tonight (and you may have sung “No Scrubs” in the wrong key from what your band was actually playing), but you still have my heart! I’m waiting for you record your own cover version of “Firework” because you done put Katy Perry to shame!

And as much as I hate Bruno Mars’ ridiculous hair (poofed and all), I think he did a great job remembering Amy Winehouse.

THE BAD

Come on MTV, it’s been proven already in the past that the most awkward award shows you put on are when you don’t have a host. Are you trying to save money? Is no one willing to host something for a network that isn’t just about music anymore? Between Katy Perry’s awkward introduction, Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj’s awkward deliveries with the award presentations, and still trying to figure out why Kim Kardashian & Katie Holmes were there, you need a host to try and make sense of all of that for us. Bring back Chelsea Handler (hell, I’ll even accept Chris Rock again)! And did anyone else notice Katy perry ripping off Lady GaGa's different wardorbe changes throughout the night? A host would have been helpful to point that out and make fun of too!

And what was with Britney Spears’ so-called tribute? She still has her awkward moments whenever she speaks, but that doesn’t mean you have to cut her time short just to give GaGa more time to be GaGa! You gave Ms. Spears not even a minute of a dance tribute, you brought her on stage to ALMOST kiss GaGa, and then you make her introduce another artist. That was just rude MTV, she deserved better than that!

THE RIDICULOUS

Now Lord knows I love Lady GaGa, but come on already! The opening monologue was awkward enough, and there were moments in her performance that caught my eye (you know, the whole Outsiders/West Side Story dance homage she did with the boys), but the alter-ego charade should have ended there. Then you make her announce Britney Spears, you show her drinking in the middle of Beyoncé’s performance, and then give her an award to talk even longer! Get back to the true artistry I remember from last year when you wore a meat dress, or when you came with Kermit the Frog as your date.

ALL-IN-ALL

The real winner of the night was Beyoncé with her stunning performance and baby-on-board announcement (not to mention the sheer joy she had while performing, as well as the joy on hubby Jay-Z's face)

Needless to say, the VMA’s this year were a bit all over the place. If it hadn’t been for Beyoncé and ADELE, I think this would have been considered one of the all-time worst shows in its history. Get back to the basics. Moments like the Britney-Madonna kiss, the Whitney-Mariah feud, Kanye Wesy interrupting Taylor Swift, or even legendary performances like Justin Timberlake’s “Like I Love You”, Britney Spears’ “I’m A Slave 4 U”, and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” aren’t forced and cannot be re-created. Just the let show flow on its own from now on and the moments will happen naturally!

VMA Nominations (Voting Categories)

Here it comes again, another awards show! Y’all know just how excited this makes me, and of course you know just how much I love music videos! Here are my picks in the MTV VMA voting categories!

BEST POP VIDEO

ADELE – “Rolling In The Deep”

Britney Spears – “Till The World Ends”

Bruno Mars – “Grenade”

Katy Perry – “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”

Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Nayer, & Afrojack – “Give Me Everything”

Sure, my first choice is always going to be ADELE no matter what, but as far as what fans are going to vote for it has to go to Katy Perry (and I do agree with this one for the category). This video, with its genius homage to every John Hughes film (not to mention the insane amount of cameos) and Katy Perry’s natural humor makes it the standout in the group. Not to mention that Kenny G bringing “saxy” back also swings my vote in this direction too!

BEST ROCK VIDEO

Cage the Elephant – “Shake Me Down”

Foo Fighters – “Walk”

Foster the People – “Pumped Up Kicks”

Mumford & Sons – “The Cave”

The Black Keys – “Howlin’ For You”

God bless the Foo Fighters for always bringing pure fun and creative entertainment. I can’t think of any video they’ve done that has ever been considered boring in my opinion!

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO

Chris Brown, Lil’ Wayne, & Busta Rhymes – “Look At Me Now”

Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, and co. – “All Of The Lights”

Lil’ Wayne – “6 Foot, 7 Foot”

Lupe Fiasco – “The Show Goes On”

Nicki Minaj – “Super Bass”

Way to represent the ladies Nicki Minaj, but that video is better suited to be nominated for Pop Video than Hip-Hop. With that little tid bit aside, Kanye’s mesmerizing song and video is not only creative and breathtaking, but genius on all levels of creativity!

BEST FEMALE VIDEO

ADELE – “Rolling In The Deep”

Beyoncé – “Run The World (Girls)”

Katy Perry – “Firework”

Lady GaGa – “Born This Way”

Nicki Minaj – “Super Bass”

MAN! What a year for females! Every one of these videos (maybe with the small exception of “Firework”) is worthy, but if you’re going for the video that best represents women, you HAVE to go with Beyoncé’s power-house anthem for girls all over the world takin’ care of biz-ness!

BEST MALE VIDEO

Bruno Mars – “Grenade”

Cee Lo Green – “F*** You”

Eminem & Rihanna – “Love The Way You Lie”

Justin Bieber – “U Smile”

Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, and co. – “All Of The Lights”

With the exception of “Grenade” and “All Of The Lights”, everything else seems very outdated! Having said that, I’m expecting Bruno Mars (with that ridiculous hair and all) and his dramatic piano-pulling to take home this moon man! P.S. I am a Belieber, but who remembers his “U Smile” video at all?!!! It makes no sense to me!

BEST COLLABORATION

Chris Brown, Lil’ Wayne, & Busta Rhymes – “Look At Me Now”

Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, and co. – “All Of The Lights”

Katy Perry & Kanye West – “E.T.”

Nicki Minaj & Drake – “Moment 4 Life”

Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Nayer, & Afrojack – “Give Me Everything”

Look at all of them now! Chris Brown is turning things around for himself alright (minus that ridiculous bleached hair he’s got going on!) and bringing Weezy and Busta on this collabo definitely adds a whole other level of swag to the video!

BEST VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE

Eminem & Rihanna – “Love The Way You Lie”

Katy Perry – “Firework”

Lady GaGa – “Born This Way”

P!nk – “F****** Perfect”

Rise Against – “Make It Stop (September’s Children)”

There are a couple obvious choices for this category (“Born This Way” and “Firework”) but the real winner in my eye is the raw emotion and heartfelt message in P!nk’s music video. From the visual of the girl cutting, to the outcast message to just be yourself, it’s all very meaningful and very organic, nothing forced.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

ADELE – “Rolling In The Deep”

Beastie Boys – “Make Some Noise”

Bruno Mars – “Grenade”

Katy Perry – “Firework”

Tyler, The Creator – “Yonkers”

A couple of very odd choices for standout videos of the year grace this category (Bruno Mars and Katy Perry much?). But regardless, ADELE rules the world right now, and this song did wonders to all of us listening! The video is dynamic and very artistic, beautiful, and poignant all at once!