Red carpet and awards, throwback to the (too smooth) MTV Video Music Awards ceremony
On the night of Monday August 29, the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony was held, an annual event rewarding the best clips of the year. The ceremony was hosted by rapper LL Cool J, singer Jack Harlow and Nicki Minaj who thus signed his big comeback. For the occasion, she interpreted some of her flagship titles such as “Anaconda” or “Super Bass”.
Few outstanding moments or performances for this new edition. Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Panic! at the Disco, Blackpink, Måneskin or even Anitta followed one another on stage. Eminem teamed up with Snoop Dogg to perform “From the D 2 the LBC” while in song, the Red Hot Chili Peppers paid tribute to Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer, who died last March . Johnny Depp made an appearance on a giant screen, dressed in an astronaut suit. Taylor Swift took advantage of the ceremony to announce the release of her new album “Midnights” on October 21, 2022.
A concern for transparency
On the prize side, the best video of the year goes to Taylor Swift for the ten minutes of her clip “All Too Well”, featuring actors Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink. Lizzo was also rewarded for her viral clip “About Damn Time”. The essential Puerto Rican rapper, Bad Bunny, has been crowned artist of the year. Billie Eilish signs the best song of the year with “Happier Than Ever”. Jack Harlow wins four trophies including Song of the Year with “First Class” and Best Lil Nas X Collaboration for “Industry Baby”. Harry Styles leaves with three trophies including that of best pop and best album of the year for “Harry’s House”. For the fourth consecutive year, the unbeatable BTS is crowned group of the year. After being the first K-Pop group invited to the MTV Push program (special stage for intimate performances), SEVENTEEN is crowned with the best performance of the year with “Rock With You”.
Currently on tour, the Red Hot Chili Peppers win the rock category while Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby shine in hip-hop, The weekend in the R&B category and Måneskin in the alternative category with “I Wanna Be Your Slave”. With “Lalisa,” Blackpink member Lisa becomes the first Korean soloist to win a trophy at the MTV VMAs. Anitta becomes the first Brazilian artist to shine at the MTV VMAs by winning the title of best Latin album thanks to “Envolve”.
Like every year, the trophies were awarded following a vote, open to the public for most of the categories. But some results raise questions and some transparency from MTV has been demanded by fans. The institution would probably have preferred to reward the artists present at the ceremony. The result of the award for best new artist, whose votes closed last, still makes people cringe. Predicted winner, the South Korean group SEVENTEEN bowed against all odds in front of the American singer Dove Cameron.
