More than the winners and the performances, to remain impressed by this fortieth edition of the Mtv Video Music Awards, better known as VMAs, they were two legends that the public did not expect to see: Madonna who, at the beginning of the evening, dressed in a black leather suit, told of her first arrival in New York at the age of 19 and of the time the taxi driver had left her at Times Squadre, “at the center of everything” – “We are still here, my dear” said the Queen of Pop before turning and leaving the stage -, and Jennifer Lopez who, regardless of the jet lag for her visit to Venice alongside her boyfriend Ben Affleck, was keen to congratulate MTV – “Tonight is your party” – personally, sporting a fringed and semi-transparent skirt signed by David Koma who made the joy of photographers.
For the rest, the MTV VMAs 2021, held Sunday, September 12 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the conduct of Doja Cat, managed to put last year’s tense climate on standby for a moment, with the Covid threat still at its peak, and to allow a couple of carefree hours of music.
.@JLo is 52 & flawless! 🙌🏾😩 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/f85Q13iUAo
— Miranda J. (@randa_writes) September 13, 2021
The big winner of the evening was Lil Nas X, which brought home numerous statuettes including the coveted trophy Video of the Year, as well as awards for best direction and best visual effects for the single Montero (Call me by your nome). The artist, who dedicated his speech to the “gay agenda”, was, however, in excellent company: in fact, also Olivia Rodrigo, which won the award for best new artist and best song of the year; Justin Bieber, which won both Artist of the Year and Best Pop for the song Peaches made together with Daniel Caesar and Giveon; Billie Eilish, which won Video for Good for the ballad Your Power; i BTS, elected Group of the Year; and Travis Scott, who won the Best Hip-Hop award for Franchise (con Young Thug & M.I.A.).
Among the great returns to the VMAs was undoubtedly that of Bieber, who returned to perform for the first time six years after his emotional breakdown: after joining the Kid Laroi for an unreleased version of their hit single Stay, the singer has, in fact, also sung Ghost, extracted from the album Justice. Among other performances, we also point out that of Chloe Bailey with Have Mercy; Lil Nas X along with rapper Jack Harlow with Industry Baby; Normani con Wild Side and the great Ed Sheeran rushed to present a world premiere Shivers, third single from the album Equals.
The most moving moment, however, was given to us by the Foo Fighters who, when they received the prestigious Global Icon Award, chose to pay homage to the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts by creating a medley of their most extraordinary hits. Applause, emotion and a message printed on Taylor Hawkins’ drums: “Charlie, RIP”.
Here is the full list of winners of the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards:
GROUP OF THE YEAR
BTS
GLOBAL ICON AWARD
Foo Fighters
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Lil Nas X: “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” – Columbia Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber – Def Jam
SONG OF THE YEAR
Olivia Rodrigo: “Drivers License” – Geffen Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
Olivia Rodrigo – Geffen Records
PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Olivia Rodrigo: “Drivers License” – Geffen Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Doja Cat ft. SZA: “Kiss Me More” – Kemosabe Records/RCA Records
BEST POP
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon: “Peaches” – Def Jam
BEST HIP-HOP
Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A.: “Franchise” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
BEST ROCK
John Mayer: “Last Train Home” – Columbia Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Machine Gun Kelly ft. Blackbear: “My Ex’s Best Friend” – Bad Boy/Interscope Records
BEST LATIN
Billie Eilish & Rosalía: “Lo Vas A Olvidar” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
BEST R&B
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic: “Leave the Door Open” – Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic Records
BEST K-POP
BTS – “Butter” – Bighit Music
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Billie Eilish: “Your Power” – Darkroom/Interscope Records
BEST DIRECTION
Lil Nas X: “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” – Columbia Records – Directed by: Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid: “Brown Skin Girl” – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records – Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, Mohammaed Atta Ahmed, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant
BEST ART DIRECTION
Saweetie ft. Doja Cat: “Best Friend” – Warner Records – Art Direction by: Alec Contestabile
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Lil Nas X: “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by: Mathematic
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Harry Styles – “Treat People With Kindness” – Columbia Records
BEST EDITING
Bruno Mars, Anderson, Paak, Silk Sonic: “Leave the Door Open” – Editing by: Troy Charbonnet
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