London Dernis
Online Editor
The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) took place on Sept. 11. The event is an exciting night that celebrates annual musical achievement. The VMAs differ from other musical award shows in that the awards are voted on by the fans. Through MTV’s website, viewers are able to vote and help determine the winner of major categories. For more technical categories, a jury decides.
Before celebrities can walk the stage and accept their award, they must walk the red carpet. Looks were fierce and fabulous with both vintage pieces and fresh looks. Sabrina Carpenter, who received seven nominations, arrived in Madonna’s sparkly 1991 Oscars gown. Chappell Roan, nominated for Best New Artist, walked the carpet in medieval attire with a sword and cape. She opted for using her voice for defense rather than the sword when defending herself from loud paparazzi.
After all the celebrities walked the carpet, they made their way inside of the New York venue at UBS Arena. Nobody wants to attend a music event where there isn’t music, and the VMAs know this, so while anticipation for the winners was building, voices were warming up for performances. Celebrities like Carpenter, Roan, Eminem, Megan Thee Stallion, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, LISA, and more all took to the stage to throw their own concert.
A stand-out of the night’s performance was the ever-iconic Katy Perry. In only ten minutes, she gave the performance of a lifetime. Songs like “Dark Horse, “Firework,” “I Kissed a Girl,” and “Teenage Dream,” got the audience out of their seats, with celebrities in the stands all singing and dancing along.
In her acceptance speech, Perry said, “I’m excited when I look around music today and I see all the amazing young artists who are operating with confidence, agency, vulnerability, and authenticity.”
Perry’s sentiment was especially true for this year’s VMAs, where new faces in the music industry flooded the scene. Rising stars like Roan and Benson Boone all arrived as first time nominees and left as first-time award winners.
Boone performed his hit song, “Beautiful Things,” which went on to receive the award for Best Alternative Video. Roan kept her medieval look as she took the stage as Joan of Arc, setting a castle on fire while performing “Good Luck, Babe!” Roan went on to receive the esteemed award of Best New Artist. Carpenter, another rising star, performed “Please, Please, Please,” “Taste,” and“Espresso,” the latter song going on to win the award for Song of the Year.
Despite many young faces at the VMAs, it was the reigning pop superstar, Taylor Swift, who swept the award ceremony. She was the top nominee with nominations across 12 categories. By the end of the night, she had received seven moon person trophies, giving her a total of 30 total VMA wins, a first-place tie with Beyoncé.
Swift received the most recognition for her song “Fortnight,” which featured Post Malone. The song won Song of the Summer, Best Editing, Best Direction, Best Collaboration, and Video of the Year.
The 2024 MTV VMAs was a memorable night for all in attendance and for viewers watching from home. The event honored talented musicians with stand-out performances and grateful acceptance speeches throughout the night.
dernl3@mail.broward.edu
Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter