This year’s 2023 MTV Video Music Awards occurred on Tuesday, September 12th, at Prudential Center in New Jersey. It is essentially one long concert consisting of a handful of awards given out in between performances with shocking shows from many artists along with appearances.
Even with the usual crazy results from this award ceremony, its average guest amount is about a fraction and is most likely an afterthought to most celebrities and artists.
Performances
Let’s start with the many entertaining performances from the up-and-rising artists.
Anitta
She not only delivered a lively performance with killer dance moves, but she also performed her songs, “Used To Be” / “Funk Rave”/”Grip,” with so much flavor. She also debuted her collaboration song with a K-Pop boy band named TOMORROW X TOGETHER called “Back For More.”
Cardi B And Megan Thee Stallion
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato, who we knew as the pop girl of Disney Channel, switched up her whole routine and gave people a taste of her new album named “REVAMPED.” She sang the rock reimaginings of her songs “Heart Attack,” “Sorry Not Sorry,” and “Cool For The Summer.” Instead of a bit of higher vocals, she brought them down, infused with new energy.
Diddy
Doja Cat
Doja Cat has become the queen of double takes on her Scarlet rollout, and she made us do another one when she began her VMA performance in the audience in a preppy outfit, giving Joan Cusack in School of Rock.
Her performance was something that’s never really been seen before. Her mob of backup dancers danced while being soaked in blood, trailing it around the stage while assisting Doja herself. It led to a very entertaining and energetic performance, one of the night’s most riveting.
She sang “Paint the Town Red” and “Demons¨, all of the singles for her upcoming album, Scarlet.
Lil Wayne
The rapper Lil Wayne gave the audience what they needed: instant energy, bounding right into a medley of his Carter V track, “Uproar,” and new track, “Kat Food.”
His energy was needed when he was involved in the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop.
Nicki Minaj
You can never go wrong with the infamous Nicki Minaj, who can emcee the night’s showcase, but she also decided to perform a new single called “Last Time I Saw You.” Once she finished her song, she disrobed to reveal a lace catsuit, and strobe lights flooded the stage as she debuted a new unnamed, more rap-oriented song.
Minaj reveals the run-up to her forthcoming album “Pink Friday 2”, her first album in the past five years.
Olivia Rodrigo
It all began with Olivia Rodrigo starting her set by singing her lead single, “Vampire,” Suddenly, the backdrop of pyrotechnics seemed to be malfunctioning. She quickly rushed off stage in a panic, leaving the crowd confused with camera shots. She came walking back on the stage with her Guts anthem, “Get Him Back,” playing, electrifying the crowd. Ultimately, it was all a part of her plan: disaster.
“When host Nicki Minaj shouted out Rodrigo, the cameras immediately cut to Swift enjoying the show with rapper Ice Spice, likely not a coincidence given much online speculation as to the state of the two singer-songwriters’ friendship.”
Shakira
You could never be disappointed with any performance by Shakira. She started with a combination of her early 2000s hit songs, including “Ojos Así,” “Objection (Tango),” and “Whenever, Wherever.” They transitioned her newer songs, like her collaboration with Rauw Alejandro, “Te Felicito,” and her Karol G feature, “TQG.”
She danced, sang (in multiple languages), played the guitar, crowd-surfed, and belly danced while it all being a 10-minute performance reminder.
