28 August 2011, Los Angeles, California – The ladies ruled the kingdom at the “2011 MTV Video Music Awards” broadcast live this evening from Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.
Katy Perry and Adele each took home three VMA Moonmen while Lady Gaga two. When Lady Gaga came onto stage with cigarette in hand, I could not recognize her initially, and was expecting a big hair do and possibly with some sort of meat as part of her costume. Personally I felt she “stole” the whole show with her entertaining antics. When she was off stage, she had a glass, ostensibly of whisky, I also had craving for a glass of Cordon Bleu while catching the awards at MTV Asia’s office at Lorong Chuan this morning. Genre and gender-defying Lady Gaga kicked off the night as her alter ego Joe Calderone with a show-stopping performance of “You and I”, and later walked away with two VMAs for “Best Female” and a new category “Best Video with a Message”
Katy Perry won the biggest prize “Video of The Year”, with her pop anthem “Fireworks” as well as “Best Collaboration” and “Best Special Effects” for “E.T.” featuring Kanye West.
Hip-Hop heavyweights Kanye West and Jay-Z brought funk, flare and fireworks to the VMA stage with the worldwide television debut performance of “Otis” from their global number one album Watch The Throne. Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo and Nayer transformed the VMAs into a giant dance party with this summer’s mega hit “Give Me Everything“. The hip-hop trio brought Miami to the stage with 60 dancers and a laser light spectacle that brought down the house.
Adele performed the heart-breaking “Someone Like You” with only a piano by her side and the glow of a single spotlight. Beautiful performance! Introduced by Katy Perry, Adele left the audience breathless as she treated them to one of the most powerful voices of a generation and they responded with a standing ovation.
Chris Brown entertained the crowd with a high-flying aerial performance to his smash dance hit “Yeah 3X”, Wu-tang Clan’s “Protect Ya Neck“, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Beautiful People‘. An ogling Joe Calderone (Yes Lady Gaga) returned to stage to present Britney Spears with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and the both them then introduced the pregnant Beyoncé. Beyoncé performed “Love on Top” and then confirmed pregnancy rumours by saying “I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside of me” and ended her song by rubbing her belly to reveal her baby bump as a proud and expectant father Jay-Z received congratulations from the audience.
This year, the Awards show featured yet another emerging talent Young The Giant who rocked and body surfed the audience with their hit “My Body”.
The legendary Tony Bennett paid tribute to the late British songstress Amy Winehouse with a surprise introduction by actor Russell Brand. Bennett unveiled footage of Winehouse’s final performance – his recent recording session with her of their duet “Body and Soul” for his upcoming Duets II album. Bruno Mar’s also performed Winehouse’s hit “Valerie” commemorating the joyous celebration of Winehouse’s life and music.
Cloris Leachman and the girls from the “Jersey Shore” presented the “Best Female Video Award” to Lady Gaga in an intergenerational twist. Cloris joked that the audience shouldn’t confuse her with Betty White while people her age probably wouldn’t recognize the girls of “Jersey Shore”.
Throughout the telecast, British pop diva Jesse J kept the crowd moving with her signature hits and chart toppers as the VMA House Artist, sitting most of the time while she performed as she nursed her injured left foot.
Young Money Millionaires, Lil Wayne closed the show with “How to Love” before attacking the stage in full force as the band launched into a Black Sabbath riff and before ripping into “John” from his upcoming album, “The Carter IV” to be released digitally at midnight tonight (LA time).
Presenters at the“2011 MTV Video Music Awards” included Katy Perry, Miley Cirus, Paul Rudd, Shaun White, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Zoe Saldana, Kevin Hart and Victoria Justice join Jonah Hill, Rick Ross, Seth Rogen, Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, Odd Future, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Lautner, Drake, Joe Jonas and Jared Leto.
Following are this year’s VMA award winners:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR:
Katy Perry
Title: Firework
Album: Teenage Dream
Director: Dave Meyers
Label: Capitol
Production Company: Radical Media
Producers: Robert Bray, Danny Lockwood
BEST NEW ARTIST
Tyler, The Creator
Title: Yonkers
Album: Goblin
Director: Wolf Haley
Label: XL Recordings
Production Company: Happy Place
Producer: Tara Razavi
BEST MALE VIDEO
Justin Bieber
Title: U Smile
Album: My World 2.0
Director: Colin Tilley
Label: RBMG/Island Records
Production Company: Riveting Entertainment
Producer: Andrew Listermann
- Justin Bieber
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Lady Gaga
Title: Born This Way
Album: Born This Way
Director: Nick Knight, Haus of Gaga
Label: Streamline/Interscope/Konlive
Production Company: Factory Films, Ltd.
Producers: Nicole Ehrlich, Steven Johnson
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
Nicki Minaj
Title: Super Bass
Album: Pink Friday
Director: Sanaa Hamri
Label: Young Money/Cash Money Records
Production Company: Michelle My Belle
Producers: Kimberly S. Stuckwisch, Michelle Larkin & Keith “KB” Brown
BEST POP VIDEO
Britney Spears
Title: Till The World Ends
Album: Femme Fatale
Director: Ray Kay
Label: Jive/Jive Label Group
Production Company: Rockhard Films
Producer: Clark Jackson
BEST ROCK VIDEO
Foo Fighters
Title: Walk
Album: Wasting Light
Director: Sam Jones
Label: RCA
Production Company: Black Dog Films
Producer: Jill Hardin
BEST COLLABORATION
Katy Perry feat. Kanye West
Title: E.T.
Album: Teenage Dream
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Label: Capitol
Production Company: Symphony 19
Producers: Natasha Alexsa-Garcia, Danny Lockwood
BEST VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE
Lady Gaga
Title: Born This Way
Album: Born This Way
Director: Nick Knight, Haus of Gaga
Label: Streamline/Interscope/Konlive
Production Company: Factory Films, Ltd.
Producers: Nicole Ehrlich, Steven Johnson
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES:
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Beyonce
Title: Run The World (Girls)
Album: 4
Director: Francis Lawrence
Label: Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia
Production Company: DNA
Producer: Justin Diener
Choreographer: Frank Gatson, Sheryl Murakami, Jeffrey Page
BEST EDITING
Adele
Title: Rolling In The Deep
Album: 21
Director: Sam Brown
Label: XL/Columbia
Production Company: Flynn
Producers: Hannah Chandler
Editor: Art Jones at Work
BEST SFX (SPECIAL EFFECTS)
Katy Perry feat. Kanye West
Title: E.T.
Album: Teenage Dream
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Label: Capitol
Production Company: Symphony 19
Producers: Natasha Alexsa-Garcia, Danny Lockwood
Special Effects: Jeff Dotson for Dot & Effects
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adele
Title: Rolling In The Deep
Album: 21
Director: Sam Brown
Label: XL/Columbia
Production Company: Flynn
Producers: Hannah Chandler
Cinematographer: Tom Townend
BEST ART DIRECTION
Adele
Title: Rolling In The Deep
Album: 21
Director: Sam Brown
Label: XL/Columbia
Production Company: Flynn
Producers: Hannah Chandler
Art Director: Nathan Parker
BEST DIRECTION
Beastie Boys
Title: Make Some Noise
Album: Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Director: Adam Yauch
Label: Capitol Records
Production Company: Directors Bureau
Producer: Samantha Stor
Photo Credit: MTV
