El Recuento De Los Daños: The 2008 VMA’s

Monday, 08 September 2008 08:33

It is no news to anyone that MTV is currently in the dumps.  Once a well respected channel and pop music staple, nowadays it has been reduced to nothing more than a trash reality television exposé.  The Music Television channel hardly ever broadcasts any music related shows, only a measly couple of hours per week with TRL and the new FNMTV show a hint not even close to what MTV used to be. With nothing worth watching, the only thing that many ex MTV junkies tune into comes once a year with the Video Music Awards.  Just like the channel itself, their biggest event of the year has been suffering year by year.

Acid Redux

Last year’s VMA’s where particularly bad, but at least they gave us something to talk about (and laugh) for days- Britney’s meltdown and failed attempt to comeback, Kanye West’s rants and raves about never performing again for MTV because he didn’t win any awards that night, not to mention the seizure inducing editing proper for an A.D.D. culture.  Las Vegas and MTV didn’t go well together and the awards where a total joke, unfortunately for MTV not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

But there was hope for next year once it was announced that the 2008 VMA’s would be taking place in Los Angeles.    

VMA’s Mess Part Deux

With rumors of a newly “remodeled” Britney redeeming herself after last year’s mess, even anti-pop enthusiasts tuned in to witness yet another meltdown.  Unfortunately, the performance never happened and it all went to shite when her grand opening was just and bland skit with Jonah Hill from “Super Bad”, followed by a lethargic introduction of Rihanna’s freaky medley “Disturbia/ Seven Nation Army”. 

Perhaps the only feasible thing from this year’s VMA’s was their MC Russell Brand, rather unknown in the US but quite famous/ infamous in the UK.  His rock star extravagant/ psycho looks helped set the tone to the kind of rubbish that was going to come out of his mouth. 
He started off with an anti-Bush rant, urging America to vote for Obama, blasting against Sarah Palin, teen pregnancy, Republicans, promise rings, among other topics. While many where shocked, his extreme bluntness was greatly appreciated at such tame event. 

Snooze Fest

Even though Rihanna opened the show quite decently with “Disturbia”, her overall performance lacked the wow-factor that is necessary to grab audience’s attention at a first-glance. 

The rest of the performances didn’t get any better.  They were just okay. 

Crotch-grabbing Lil’ Wayne performed in several songs, his highlight performance being a collab between Brit Leona Lewis and rapper of the moment T-Pain. 

There were lackluster performances by Paramore, Jonas Brothers, Kid Rock… and of course it couldn’t be an MTV show without mayor screw-ups: they decided to relegate a couple of performers to a pulp by having them perform at a tiny corner and cutting their air time to a mere couple of seconds. Among the slashed performers were: Katy Perry, LL Cool J, Lupe Fiasco, and The Ting Tings.

Overall, the 2008 VMA’s where a total snooze, nothing new and only a couple of performances worth watching.  P!nk kicked some major ass with her new angsty single “So What”, while T.I. and Rihanna rocked to “Live Your Life” which sampled the “numa numa song”.

Unsurprising surprises

The surprise of the night for many was Christina Aguilera’s comeback from maternity leave, presenting a re-make of “Genie in a Bottle” and a new song “Keeps Getting Better”.  While her performance was ok, she seemed to have raided Lady GaGa’s left over tracks as well as her closet, hair and make-up included. 

Another surprise and long-waited performance was Kanye West’s closing of the 2008 VMA’s, in which he performed a new song.  Even though it was a decent performance, it lacked energy and yet again the wow-factor.  

For a 25-year celebration, a big budget and big names in the industry, MTV failed to deliver a worthy awards show.  Rather than serving as a quarter-of-a-century celebration, the 2008 Video Music Awards provided yet more proof that MTV is slowly but steadily losing significance, appeal, and decorum.

And the winner is…

Perhaps the least important thing in award shows such as this one, are the awards themselves.  This year MTV did the unthinkable and blatantly sold out and tried to kiss and make-up with Britney after last year’s mockery by giving her the three awards that she was nominated for.  Whether she deserved even one of them it’s up to your discretion.  Here’s a list of last night’s big winner’s… who votes for these anyway?!

• Best Female Video: Britney Spears “Piece Of Me”
• Best Male Video: Chris Brown “With You”
• Best Dancing In A Video: Pussycat Dolls “When I Grow Up”
• Best Rock Video: Linkin Park “Shadow Of The Day”
• Best Hip Hop Video: Lil’ Wayne “Lollipop”
• Best New Artist: Tokio Hotel
• Best Pop Video: Britney Spears “Piece Of Me”
• Video Of The Year: Britney Spears “Piece Of Me”
• Best Art Direction: Gnarls Barkley “Run”
• Best Choreography: Gnarls Barkley “Run”
• Best Cinematography: The White Stripes “Conquest”
• Best Direction: Erykah Badu “Honey”
• Best Editing: Death Cab For Cutie “I Will Possess Your Heart”
• Best Special Effects: Kanye West Feat. T-Pain “Good Life”