The 2024 VMA Awards in the Eyes of a Cougar
The time has finally come to watch the Music Television Video Music Awards ceremony, aka the VMAs. Hosted by none other than Megan Thee Stallion, only the media’s hottest artists are nominated to win a VMA.
Naturally, being the 40th anniversary of the show, MTV aimed for the stars. The night was filled with unique performances, female pop dominance, nostalgia and extremely questionable clothing choices.
The Performances
There were lots of incredible artists who performed at this year’s show; rising artists such as the fiery Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Benson Boone were all highlights of the night. From Sabrina Carpenter’s alien “Taste” dance to Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” backflips, each of the performances had unique premises.
Alongside these various upcoming artists, a hint of nostalgia was embedded into the show. There were lots of references to performances from years ago, and it was great to hear older songs being performed. Iconic artists such as opener Eminem and the roaring Katy Perry performed their most popular songs such as “The Real Slim Shady” and “Houdini” by Eminem and a mashup of songs like “Roar”, “Firework”, “I Kissed A Girl” and “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry. While the performance exhibited lots of talent, the choreography, costume and props of Katy Perry’s performance were outlandish at times.
However, these artists weren’t the only ones to perform. Artists such as Blackpink member Lisa, Megan Thee Stallion, Camilla Cabello, GloRilla, Shawn Mendes and Teddy Swims all performed. Teddy Swims performed three times in short increments, playing popular songs such as “Lose Control”. He and Shawn Mendes’ “Nobody Knows” portrayed some of the best talent and voice strength.
The Winners
Although the performances serve as fantastic entertainment for the audience and showcase the talent of the competing artists, they weren’t the only highlight of the night. People from all over the country voted this past week for their favorite artists, and on Wednesday night we got to see the results of the best music pieces this year. Listed below are the winners of a few of the most popular categories.
Song of the Year – “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
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Even though I don’t personally think Sabrina Carpenter showcased her best talent during her performance, “Espresso” is deserving of the award by being one of the most iconic and liked songs released this year.
Artist of the Year – Taylor Swift
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This year, Taylor Swift broke the record for the artist with the most individual VMAs. She has fans all over the world who praise her, and there is no other artist who deserves the award more.
Song of the Summer – “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift, feat. Post Malone
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Is it really the VMAs without Taylor Swift dancing and singing to every single song and supporting other artists? Of course not. While I am a huge fan of Taylor Swift, I think “Fortnight” is a weak contender against some of her other songs off of her new album “The Tortured Poets Department.” Another one of her songs could have won this award easily.
Video of the Year – “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift, feat. Post Malone
Taylor Swift comes through again with her incredible directing and filmmaking skills. For the first time in VMA history, Swift became the first artist to win the prize three years in a row. That is incredible… How can she possibly come up with all of these ideas? Her music video, full of symbolism and Easter eggs, undoubtedly deserves a VMA.
Best K-Pop – “Rockstar” by Lisa
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While I know little about K-Pop, I was entertained listening to “Rockstar”. The Blackpink member showcased her talent in her rapping and overall deserved the award.
Iconic Performance – “Roar” by Katy Perry
I stand by the fact that Katy Perry is one of the most iconic artists ever to enter the music industry, and it seems as though she is the type of artist that everyone knows to some degree. While her performance had aspects like choreography that were slightly questionable (definitely PG-13), it is true that “Roar” is one of the most famous songs out there. Presented by none other than her husband Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry won herself a brand new astronaut trophy… But is she the only rightful contender? There are so many other iconic artists out there that could have easily won this award.
New Artist – Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan is one of today’s most beloved new artists, her song “Good Luck, Babe!” being her first top-ten hit peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Her performance, drawing references to Joan of Arc, was quite literally on fire, and she has been an icon for most of the year. She is a deserving winner for the New Artist award.
Honorable Mentions
One of the worst parts of the VMAs is that with every win comes another loss. Gracie Abrams, Stray Kids, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Morgan Wallen and Olivia Rodrigo were all popular nominees for various categories. Unfortunately, none of them won, which is disappointing. Artists like Olivia Rodrigo have been prolific in songwriting and singing, however have had very few successes. Additionally, other winners such as Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Tyla, Dua Lipa and Lenny Kravitz are all worth mentioning.
Final Thoughts
Watching the VMAs was truly an experience. I loved to see all of my favorite artists succeed and perform.
Researching and watching the VMAs really opened my eyes to how powerful the media and trends can be, showcased by the clothing, performance style and type of music that was played at the VMAs. In comparison to decades ago, popular music has completely changed. This year’s VMAs were definitely one for the books!
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