For those who missed last week’s Video Music Awards — and consequently, Beyoncé’s performance — you truly missed out.
The VMAs have never been particularly influential — simply another publicity stunt by MTV in which music artists get shiny astronaut trophies for starring in music videos that received a bunch of YouTube views. The only redeeming factor of this otherwise worthless awards show is the musical guest performances.
Throughout the years, the VMAs have proved to be thoroughly entertaining and equally raunchy. In the past, audiences have had the (mis)fortune of seeing Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Madonna kiss; the Kanye West interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech; P!nk performing on a trapeze; Miley Cyrus’ twerking last year and other unspeakably strange performances.
This year, the only scandal was Nicki Minaj’s wardrobe malfunction during her rendition of “Bang Bang.” The performances were solid, but nothing was out of the ordinary. Minaj assured us she has the biggest butt in the business, Ariana Grande proved she’s a singer not a dancer, and Jessie J proved she is still relevant in pop music.
Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora were slightly underwhelming. Maroon 5 sounded good, but their performance was a bit lackluster and over-rehearsed. At one point, Taylor Swift tried to throw some shade on Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda.” It’s a sad day when Swift attempts to be sassy.
Thankfully, MTV sensed audiences were tired of watching these mediocre performances and gave everyone what they really wanted: Beyoncé. Who knew MTV would give her a near 16-minute set? I didn’t think it was possible for Queen Bey to surprise me anymore (after she forced fans to fork up $16 for her last album in December), but she did it again. The star began her set by proclaiming, “MTV, welcome to my world,” proving to viewers everywhere she knows how influential her work is.
Beyoncé did what every other artist failed to do: she enraptured the audience and brought them into a different world. That’s what pop music should be about: an escape. Her flawless choreography and vocals were a sight to behold and she had pop stars like Jason Derulo, Lorde and Swift up on their feet, moving to her music. At the end of her set, Beyoncé brought her husband and daughter on stage to receive her Michael Jackson Vanguard Award.
Did MTV make up an award to give to Beyoncé? Maybe. But I don’t blame them. We can only hope that next year’s VMA awards will feature more performances like hers.
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