An unconventional yet powerful ceremony at the 2020 VMAs
Courtesy of Billboard
The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which took place on Sunday, Aug. 30, was unique compared to every previous ceremony. MTV had originally planned to hold the VMAs at Barclays Center until the COVID-19 pandemic made that impossible. But as the saying goes, the show must go on.
While the virtual backdrop, massive use of CGI and an eerily fake audience were minor drawbacks, the evening was jam-packed as always. Hosted by Keke Palmer and featuring performances from well-deserving nominees, it’s safe to say that this year’s VMAs had a lot in store for the night!
To begin the night, The Weeknd performed his hit song “Blinding Lights” which took place on top of the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Neon lights flashed throughout the performance, which ended with an outstanding display of fireworks. The Weeknd’s bruised and battered appearance was part of his “After Hours” aesthetic and added a good visual effect.
Palmer started the telecast with a tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman, who passed away on Friday, Aug. 28, just two days before the awards ceremony. During the tribute, Palmer said of Boseman, “He is a true hero. Not just on-screen, but in everything he did. His impact lives forever.” Additional footage showed Boseman dedicating an award at the MTV Movie and TV Awards to James Shaw Jr, who saved lives by stopping a gunman in Tennessee.
In addition to the tribute, Palmer reminded everyone that even though this year has been rather tough, there have been some opportunities for progress and signs of hope. She pointed out how not all heroes wear capes, including truck drivers, grocery store cashiers and healthcare workers who serve on the frontline each and every day.
In addition to the tribute, Palmer mentioned the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement along with the recent unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. “We’ve seen our generation step up, take to the streets and make sure our voices will be heard. We can never tolerate police brutality or any injustice,” she said.
The VMAs are famous primarily for their over-the-top performances, and this year was no different in that respect. Singer Miley Cyrus referenced her 2013 hit “Wrecking Ball” when she came swinging in on a disco ball to perform her recent single “Midnight Sky.” K-pop group BTS also made their VMAs debut with an explosive performance of their latest single “Dynamite.”
Rapper DaBaby delivered a powerful message by recapping significant events throughout 2020, highlighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, while performing a medley of his songs including “Peephole,” “Blind” and “Rockstar.”
However, Lady Gaga truly stole the evening with a show-stopping performance of a medley of songs from her recent album “Chromatica,” including her hit single “Rain on Me” featuring Ariana Grande. Both artists donned face masks for the remarkable performance.
Like every award show, it was a big night for the nominees and winners. Lady Gaga was one of those winners, taking home awards for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Cinematography and the VMAs’ first ever TRICON Award, to name a few. In true Lady Gaga fashion, she accepted her awards wearing several different dramatic costumes, each of which featured a matching face mask.
The Weeknd won for Best R&B and Video of the Year for his song, “Blinding Lights,” but accepted them with a rather somber tone. “It's really hard for me to celebrate at this moment,” the artist said, “So I'm just going to say, ‘Justice for Jacob Blake’ and ‘Justice for Breonna Taylor.’” Although short, his acceptance speech delivered a powerful message.
BTS also accepted several awards that night, including Best Group, Best Pop, Best K-Pop and Best Choreography. Other winners included Taylor Swift, who won Best Direction with her music video, “The Man,” Doja Cat, who won Best New Artist, Megan Thee Stallion, who won Best Hip Hop, H.E.R., who won Video for Good with her song “I Can’t Breathe” and Maluma, who won Best Latin for his song “Qué Pena” featuring J Balvin.
This year’s VMAs even featured new award categories tailored to fit the global pandemic. Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber won Best Music Video From Home with their song “Stuck with U,” while Latin American boy bad CNCO won Best Quarantine Performance. There was even another special award category, Everyday Heroes: Frontline Medical Workers, given to honor healthcare professionals who have worked tirelessly during these tough times.
The Black Eyed Peas closed the night with a performance of their recent single “Vida Loca” featuring Nicky Jam and Tyga. What really stood out from their performance, however, was when they sang their nostalgia-inducing 2009 hit song “I Gotta Feeling” and closed their set with the powerful statement, “Wakanda Forever! Black Lives Matter!”
Even though there were some initial drawbacks, this year’s VMAs served not only as entertainment for music audiences, but also as a powerful tool to convey messages calling out for unity, social justice and change for the better. While this year’s show was unusual compared to past ceremonies, it certainly did not disappoint.
