On Monday, one of pop culture’s biggest nights occurred at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The 2019 MTV Video Music Awards had finally arrived and, of course, there were plenty of moments worthy of screen-yelling.
Some were great moments and some were moments that definitely could’ve cut thirty minutes from the overall runtime.
Hit the flip to check out eleven instances that definitely had me talking out loud.
1. When Sebastian Maniscalco gave his opening monologue and I kept wondering when the actual show was going to start
*Yawn*
2. When Taylor Swift took her SWEET time getting up on stage to accept her awards
Tay Tay received two awards last night, Video of the Year and Video for Good, and before she went on stage each time, she had to hug and make eye contact with EVERYONE on the first, second AND third row of her section. Come on Ms. Swift, we got a show to run!
3. When Lizzo took us to church AND made time to hit notes from the deep corners of her diaphragm
Yes lawd!
4. When Lil Nas X gave us beautiful visuals and choreography from the outer realms of Tron, but had little audience interaction
Look…I want Lil Nas to WIN. He’s been doing great so far with a single (“Old Town Road”) that stayed at No. 1 for ages. And I’ll just say it…he’s a social media guru. But his performances have been missing that artist-to-audience connection. Don’t just perform the song as it is, say something to us Lil Nas! We want to feel apart of the movement.
5. Pretty much Missy Elliott’s entire performance. She killed it and the nostalgia was everything.
6. When Miley Cyrus actually gave a decent, meaningful performance and I had to question my feelings about her and whether I forgive her for that terrible“We Can’t Stop” era.
Mhmmmmm. Okay, okay Miley.
7. When Lil Nas X won Song of The Year and he thanked Billy Ray Cyrus but he ain’t thank his fans. Then he pulled out a long list, and I’m thinking “oh he’s going to thank his fans.” Then he didn’t and left the stage, and my face was Lizzo’s face (who was having a REALLY good time btw) when he literally didn’t thank anyone else.
*Sigh* okay Lil Nas.
8. When it literally took FOREVER for one of Normani’s dancer to rip her first outfit off for her ensemble change, but Normani still killed it in the end (starting at the 2:20 mark).
9. When Missy thanked dancers all around the world in her Video Vanguard Award speech because she knows dance is pivotal to music
A true class act.
10. When Queen Latifah pulled up on a motorcycle to perform “U.N.I.T.Y.,” similar to her 1993 music video. It’s safe to say the whole audience was living.
11. When Naughty by Nature performed “O.P.P.” and “Hip Hop Hooray” during the New Jersey tribute performance
Like who doesn’t love these songs? Who? Point them out.
