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What the Hell Happened to the VMAs?

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By: Charbarred | in: Music, TV |

VMAs

The focus of the media is currently aimed at Britney Spears’ embarrassing performance on this year’s VMAs. Granted, it was a career low for the pop princess, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to MTV’s famous award show’s downwards spiral.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W6-vUZLzXE

I grew up on MTV. I sat for hours watching video clips, always expecting the next big thing to unravel before my eyes. While my walkman was playing rock music, visually, there was nothing more fascinating than watching the current pop stars take it to the next level. And the cream of the crop – The MTV Video Music Awards.

Every year, usually on the first week of school, the stars would all gather to collectively give the middle finger to the other tired and established award shows. It was never about the music, it was about MTV’s ability to really put on a huge refreshing show.

MTV

While MTV no longer plays videos and mainly focuses on children’s reality shows nowadays, I still make time to watch the greatest music award show every year. But let’s face it, the past 5 years has produced unfocused, strange and unappealing events that seem to deteriorate with every year passing. I present to you “Charbarred’s VMA bitch-list“

Bring back the podium
There’s a huge pressure to break away from the traditional presenters behind a podium handing awards shtick. The result is anarchy. Every year they try to come up with a new place to stick the presenters which usually ends up a big mess. Why not try and balance it out. Have the podium, but break away from it at times instead of confusing everyone.

Downtown Julie Brown

Where’s Arsenio Hall?
I’m surprised that he lasted for 4 years, but there’s something odd about unprofessional hosts leading the show every year. P Diddy really sucked, and this year’s idea of letting everyone host the show was original, but a complete mess. It would be nice to rehearse some of it, and if not, at least get someone who can do the job. I hear Downtown Julie Brown is looking for a gig.

Put an End to Lip-Synching
Madonna sings out tune, we all know that. She knows it as well but it never stopped her from going on stage and giving it her best. Why do rappers have to lip sync is completely beyond me. If you can’t dance and your music is a monotonous 4 bar beat that repeats endlessly, at least impress us with your rhyming ability. R&B is the same, amazing singers feel compelled to sing over their own voice and merely focus on the dancing. If someone doesn’t think they can sing live, don’t invite them.

Stop Recycling the Stars
There are so many amazing musical acts out there that there is absolutely no need to bring Justin Timberlake back every year. Frankly I’m surprised he has a new album, it sure sounds the same as the last one. Worst is token rock band Linkin Park that has been releasing the same single their entire career. Yeah, I know it seems like fake R&B is the only musical genre in the charts, but look beyond it, Rihanna is not the only new star out there.

Foo Fighters

Focus on the Interesting Things
This year’s genius idea of letting bands perform in hotel rooms was great. The camera kept visiting the rooms, and it was obvious that this is where the action is. At one point The Foo Fighters were up on stage with Serj from System of a Down singing the Dead Kennedys’ Holiday in Cambodia. A moment in to this momentous event, they cut back to the main stage where Chris Brown dances for 20 minutes. Kid Rock and Tommy Lee were fighting in the bathroom. Screw the Alicia Keys performance, send a guy with the camera to the WC and show us real thing.

Retire the Medley
One act on stage, 3 minutes, one song from start to finish. I know it seems hard to believe but it can be done. The fact that Timbaland produced 90% of the albums this year does not mean he should go on stage and perform 20 songs in 4 minutes. Rihanna is the biggest new star of year? At least let her finish the goddamn song. It started as a cool idea to let artists do a medley of songs, but enough is enough.

Is this Still an Award Show?
I counted 5 awards throughout the whole evening. No director came on stage although supposedly this is a video music awards show. It looks like they got an x amount of stars to appear and came up with award categories that will ensure they win. And still Kanye West is pissed off for not getting anything. Where is the alternative music, the rock, the metal, don’t they deserve an award as well? Justin Timberlake won best quadruple threat although it clearly listed only 3 talents he has, one of which was “clothing line”.

vma2.jpg

I would sum up with asking MTV to a) play videos occasionally and b) make more of an effort with the VMAs. But the bottom line is that it reeks off effort, in fact they’re trying too hard. Book a few good acts, give some credible awards and you’ll have an exciting show without having to rent out an entire hotel in Vegas. And really, please don’t invite Justin Timberlake next year…hell, I’d rather see Gwen Stephanie selling out on stage…but that’s a whole different article…

More: Britney Spears and the Sleazing of America


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Posted on September 11, 2007

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