I feel so sorry for her but it’s the truth, I mean, did anybody see her perform? She looks like a trailer park crack junkie slut.
Moving on, graphically speaking, the MTV Awards (notice how I’m leaving the ‘video music’ part out) where very nicely developed in the smallest room ever devised by human kind to throw an awards show. I will give them props however, for making the best out of the small room and making the public a part of the celebration by using the tables set in front of the stage as smaller stages. Very clever, and looked very nice during the Chris Brown and Rihanna performance (Not so good on the Alicia Keys one).
The general production however, sucked. There wasn’t a point of the show that you could focus on because there was so much going on at the same time. I think they tried too hard to re-invent the show (which itself is good, but not when you try too hard) and they either (1) didn’t know what was going on or (2) had no idea how to pull it off.
The parties at the suite are great: For after the show. During the show, what’s important is THE SHOW, the awards, the artists. Or at least that’s why the Europe Music Awards are so good, the keep the edge and the MTV stamp, but they don’t loose the focus on what’s supposed to be going on at the moment.
On the performances, well, they where good. But that’s it. The most “VMA” looking (as in 'amazing and awestruck like other years') was the Chris Brown and Rihanna, where they used all the resources available for the day in those 5 minutes, but that was it. The people at the suites seemed to be having more fun than the ones at the casino, and honestly I don’t blame them. It was good to see Pat Smear join Foo Fighters one more time; it was good to se Ceelo from Gnarles Barkely rockin’!, both in their '3,560th. Hotel party' party; I particularly loved the Rihanna featuring Fall Out Boy version of “Shut up and drive” in the "Friends or Enemies Suite Bash"; Timbalan and Justin had Linkin Park crash their 'Southern Hospitality' themed party with an amazing performance. Think about it, the people at the suite DID HAVE MORE FUN THAN ANYONE ELSE.
Oh, the awards, yeah, with so much going on I almost forgot it was an award show…
• 2007 Video of the Year: “Umbrella” by Rihanna featuring Jay Z.
Directed by Chris Applebaum.
• Best New Artist in a Video: “Cupid’s Shokehold” by Gym Class Heroes.
• Best Group Video: “THNKS FR TH MMRS” by Fall Out Boy.
• Best Male Video: “What Goes Arround… Comes Arround” by Justin Timberlake.
• Best Female Video: “Fergielicious” by Fergie featuring Will.I.Am.
• Single of the Year: “Umbrella” by Rihanna featuring Jay Z.
• Collaboration of the Year: “Beautiful Liar” by Beyonce featuring Shakira.
• Director of the Year: Samuel Bayer for “What goes arround... comes arround” by Justin Timberlake.
For next year MTV, please I beg you, go old school and DO AN AWARD SHOW. We know you can throw parties, but this show is drop dead last in my all-time VMA show favorites. It’s been 20+ years to build prestige into the MTV Awards, just to drop the prestige down the suite balcony when critics start taking you guys seriously? The MTVLA Awards are October 18th. Lets hope those are better than these…
PS. PLEASE follow JT's request, and put the M (as in 'Music') back into MTV.
Photos courtesy of Jordan Strauss and John Shearer for wireimage.com and MTV.
