The VMAs are coming. They air this Sunday, with the show starting at 9 pm (EST), although I’m sure MTV will be doing at least two hours of red carpet and preshow stuff. Miley Cyrus is hosting this year, her first big MTV appearance since she twerked and tongued her way into infamy during the 2013 VMAs. I’m absolutely sure Miley is going to be a hot mess, but my hope is that she doesn’t distract from what will likely be a night full of interesting gossip, performances and exclusives. Taylor Swift will drop her newest music video just ahead of the VMAs and Swifty is expected to be in attendance (she up for multiple awards). And just because the VMA producers really want this night to be full of great gossip, they’re giving us a special gift: Kanye West will be in attendance. He’s got to pick up his MTV Video Vanguard Award.
Kanye West has created some of the most memorable and spectacular moments in MTV VMAs history, and at the 2015 show, he will be presented with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
Yeezus has more than earned this honor, after years of releasing groundbreaking music and accompanying videos that have always pushed the envelope. From “Through the Wire,” to “Runaway” and “Bound 2,” his creative depths have never ceased to amaze us, and some could argue that his videos are complete masterpieces in their own right.
I think “Runaway” is a great video, and “Gold Digger” is a pretty iconic video too (credit to Hype Williams). Beyond that, I would struggle to really call Kanye a music-video-heavy artist. There was “Touch the Sky” which is that video he did with Pam Anderson. “Bound 2” was a friggin’ mess. I guess “Stronger” got a lot of play, but was it really an amazing video? Not really. Basically, I think MTV is giving Yeezus this award because they want him to show up and cause a commotion, especially with Taylor Swift there and up for so many awards. IMMA LET YOU FINISH!!
Also: The Weeknd will perform at the VMAs! I’m really looking forward to that, he’s one of my obsessions this year. He’ll be performing “Can’t Feel My Face.” I’m disappointed he won’t be doing “The Hills” because OMG, I am OBSESSED with that song.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.
They still make music videos?
my same thought exactly!
I know! And apparently enough of them to warrant an award show? On MTV, which probably hasn’t aired a music video in a decade?
MTV only plays music videos during late night hours. They have like 8 different channels. All of which are devoted to music.
The reason MTV doesnt play videos primarily anymore? Youtube. Record labels dont need MTV anymore to play their videos to promote their albums.
Ever heard of Much Music? It’s a Canadian music channel and they play music videos all the time. They also do interviews with musicians, live shows, etc. It’s wayyyy better than MTV if you’re a true music lover. They still do weekly music video countdowns. I love it !
Looking back, I wonder why everyone felt so sorry for Swift when this happened. She’s just as self obsessed as Kanye yet even less talented. I bet she’ll be bringing her ‘squad’ to the red carpet – mean girling and hating on everyone who isnt tall, blonde and over trained to the hilt. Ergh. Rant over!
It was her first VMA award though, it must have been mortifying for her.
and she was so young…..he was really rude!
I agree jessiebes and MrsBPitt – what was she, 18 or so? Which means he would have been 30 or more. In my book, that’s outright bullying, regardless of what a genius you (think you) are.
Nobody deserves that happening to them – even Kanye who was the one who did it. I don’t care how self obsessed that person is.
I agree with the others. She didn’t deserve a drunk Beyonce stan crashing her acceptance speech.
The Taylor Swift that starred on half of the Kanyegate was just a teenager who wrote cute country songs about her exes, though. She became the Regina George of blind item pop songs a couple years after that.
If Kanye’s ego wasn’t so goddamn big, I’d say he’ll have Shifty Swift perform with him Sunday.
The Hills > I Can’t Feel My Face.
Kaiser, some are gossiping The Hills is about Ariana Grande! The lines “you’re man’s gone he’s doing promo, you said keep our business on the low low” fits with AG and Weeknd promoting their duet during Big Sean’s album promotion tour. Hmm.
That’s interesting! The song – while AMAZING – isn’t really a compliment to the girl though. He’s basically saying that he only loves f–king her and that’s it.
Ariana is also a known cheater. Cheated on Jai with Nathan, Nathan with Jai, Jai with Big Sean. It fits she’d cheat on Sean with The Weeknd.
Will he give his award to B?
LMAO!!!!
Wouldn’t it be great, if TS went up on stage and interrupted HIS speech!!!!!
I can’t feel my face….I hear that song a lot. What on earth does it mean?
It’s about Courtney Cox!!! lol
^^SHRIEK!! LMAO MrsBPitt!!
probably coke
Drugs. He’s kinda known as a coke head. Great freaking singer though! 😉
I’m calling it….Taylor is either bringing Nicki Minaj or Kanye West up for her performance. They advertised it as a shocking performance, and you know Taylor can’t just perform. Heaven forbid she just let her songs be enough.
Good lord, I really hope not. I would at least hope nicki would have more sense than to do that. Cause I can totally see Taylor trying to do that
ohhh maybe she will bring katy perry.
He did favors to himself and her. He got to cement his rep as the big bad wolf stepping on the toes of the golden princess. This single act is still being blogged years after the fact. Can’t quote this one, but I believe she has since thanked him for the free pr. Good job Yeesus.
His best album came from the backlash of that moment. She built her career off of playing victim. So yep, pretty much.
Of course I meant Yeezus but I’m still sleeping, forgive me
That particular moment was when promising country star Taylor Swift became princess Tay Tay the untouchable. She owes her whole PR schtick to Kanye. And Im saying this as someone who doesnt actually dislike Taylor.
I don’t agree. It was a moment in her career yes, but she worked hard for good PR and her records did not sell because of West. I think it showed the world what little class West has. He hasn’t made anything decent for a long time. I hope they play Bound (all versions of it) over and over and over. No one who could make stupid weak video deserves an award. But that is just my little ole opinion.
Oh, she was succesful, Kanye didn’t build her career or anything. But Kanye made her sympathetic. Before that Taylor was a rich, pretty, popular and innocent white girl who didn’t really have any struggles beyond those of a typical girl her age. By being humilliated like that on national TV, her victim schtick became more believable.
I’m not bothered by Taylor like most users here are, I like her, even. But come on. It’s foolish to think she did not take advantage of that situation. This girl’s PR team is very, very smart.
I think you’re forgetting some of the music videos for Jesus Walks, All Falls Down. I’d say the award is deserved given the current landscape of artists and their dumb videos. Who else can they give it to that they haven’t already?
Yeah, I think his videos are pretty good, particularly so when compared to the current crop of stuff that’s out there. Controversial opinion: the Black Skinhead video is rad.
I was going to post this. KAiser…..JESUS WALKS!!!! One of the best music videos ever IMO (all 3).
Monster is a pretty amazing video.
There are about half a dozen artists that deserve this award before Kanye. This is just MTV securing a hot mess of a night.
Because the vanguards buy their own awards.Expect a lot of K trash that night.
Pretty much everything you said. They just want the spectacle and guaranteed attendance of that loser family.
That’s what I was wondering… Will Mrs West attend, do you think? They never seem to be together anymore. It’s gives the impression that he doesn’t like being around her when she’s pregnant. I agree, though, that the Klan will be out in force, so it would look really suss if Kim didn’t attend. It’s the perfect occasion to once again show their kamaraderie and komradeship.
Exclude everyone outside of MTV’s demographic audience, and you’ll notice Kanye is one of their better options. Missy Elliott deserves this award a thousand times more, but the sad truth is kids have no idea of who she is. Remember when Katy Perry was kind enough to give this new female rapper a space in her superbowl performance, even though said rapper had been making music before Perry was capable of speaking?
Yeah it’s sad if you think about it, but that’s how it goes if you want to appeal the teen audience.
Uh-oh. The Wknd is dating Bella Hadid, one of Swifty’s girl squad foot soldiers. The doughnut licker may be in serious danger.
I thought just Gigi was her friend.
That award belongs to missy elliott before anyone else.
Didn’t she already get one? If not, then I correct my previous statement. She deserves it over Kanye.
Oh, thank you for bringing those photos back. I’m horrible, I know, but all of Swift’s facial expressions are cracking me up. I know that the Swift of 2009 didn’t deserve that, but honestly I think having her mic snatched would probably be good for the Swift of 2015. She needs a reality check.
Looks like throwing fits and stealing other people’s thunder finally paid off….
Calvin, is that you?
The execution was horrible but Kanye was right. I have no clue what Taylor won best video for but most remember Single Ladies. I don’t think anybody does consistent, noteworthy videos anymore but Kanye did some unusual ones.
Music video = MJ
I remember some of the scary, vile, racist rants against Kanye after the mic snatch incident. Truly ugly stuff, especially within the country music world that Swift later abandoned. Her team was well aware of the nature of the nasty backlash against Kanye and did nothing to extend an olive branch or distance themselves from the irrational hate. Instead they made her blond ringlets blonder, her blue eyes bluer and her cotton candy image that much sweeter. They catered to the lowest common denominator and, imo, used some supremacist tropes to raise Swift’s profile. Having said that I think the experience of having your big moment ruined must have been horrible for her.
swift and beck should crash that stage together
Bound 2?!? The parody, yes. The original… was an unintentional parody. How could that possibly make that list in the writer’s mind?
Is anyone else looking forward to whatever sausage-tight, long-coated, choker-necked bedazzled goodness that Mrs. West will bring? Nah.
Even the prospect of The Weeknd blowing up the spot and Ye’ award cannot get me to watch That show being hosted by that lot Lizard/Squirrel Hybrid on drugs ( and I’ve been solidly stanning for Abel Tesfaye for the entirety of 3 Years now)
Kaiser, I heard a rumor (which joins with other tidbits of information posted on Twitter, blogs, boards..) that The Weeknd banned black women from a club he was performing in. This excludes mixed women.
I mean it isn’t incredibly surprising, considering he has a history of treating his black female fans like trash.
So shouldn’t the producers and directors of those videos be rewarded instead?
Also, I can’t remember the last time I saw MTV play a music video ! That network is nothing but sh*tty reality shows now.
I hope the VMA’s is trying to troll Kanye. His career is not as hot as it once was…. Can we say, “the Kardashian effect” 🙂 I can’t wait until he can’t push tickets the way he used to and his albums don’t sell.
Those women have an incredible ability to destroy any man
Late Registration and Graduation are both incredible albums that display Kanye’s great talents to the fullest. “Flashing Lights” is, for me, one of the best music videos of the past decade and one of my favorite MVs of all time. “Touch The Sky” and “Gold Digger” are amazing, too.
I think Kanye deserves this award, because he truly has released some iconic and original videos. There are more deserving people – but please keep in mind everyone outside of MTV’s audience demographic is excluded. I only hate he’s getting it because of his ego and his whole “artiste” persona. Much like Lady Gaga, the moment he started trying to be artistic was the moment his art started going to sh*t. And now that he hasnt released an actually good video in years, hes getting the award.
There’s a contingent, albeit small, that thinks the whole Kanye/Swift VMA thing was a set up (ie) PR. I saw a blurb a while back stating that both were at the time clients of the same PR firm.
boo hoo uggie ugh
Swifty is so full of herself these days but when this happened….I felt sorry for her and it made me like her even more out of pity and her music wasn’t bad. But now that she’s a grown woman with a gangsta crew and a douchey bodyguard…..my like meter has gone down a bit.
Love Kanye and his music. His lyrics tell a lot. Can’t stand that trail of gypsies following behind him.