MTV VMA gets ‘super-sized’
Michael honored
LOS ANGELES, Aug 24, (RTRS): With the MTV Video Music Awards only four days away, rehearsals have yet to begin, the run-of-show hasn’t been nailed down, and presenters still don’t know who they’ll be paired with, but producers are confident they’ll be able to pull off the biggest VMAs in the network’s history.
According to set designer Ric Lipson, whose firm Stufish Entertainment Architects has worked on three VMAs shows, the Aug 27 event at the Forum will feature 560 chain motors hanging in the air. “At a normal rock show, you might hang 150 things,” he tells Variety. The set also features five stages — more than ever before, with three major performance areas and two extras.
Also adding to the grandios- ity: the 2017 edition has booked the largest number of performances ever to grace the VMAs stage. Pink, Kendrick Lamar, Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, DNCE, Fifth Harmony, Lorde, 30 Seconds to Mars, Logic, and Katy Perry — who is also hosting — will all perform. Based on early previews, it’s possible Perry may borrow a leaf from Lady Gaga’s book (think her Super Bowl LI performance) and descend from the ceiling to take up her hosting duties — accompanied by a remix of “Also sprach Zarathustra” from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” of course. Perry told Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM morning show that she plans to perform a medley of her songs.
Sheeran
Comprise
The set is in line with the VMAs’ outer space theme — angular, silver panels bordered by neon lights comprise the bulk of the set, with a mirrored tunnel dividing two main stages that face the audience. Shiny, white catwalks lead out to the presenter stage.
Lipson says the artists are mostly free to bring their own creative designs to their performances, but they have to fit within the confines of the main set, which was cemented in March. As a result, Lipson has had to reject some over-the-top ideas. “There’s a lot of things we’ve not been able to do, not just because of time but because there’s a physical limit to what you can load in and out on a show that’s running live,” he said. There will be some large set pieces, however — up to 40 minutes between stage uses does allow for some grand gestures. As for pyrotechnics? “Lots,” he confirmed.
Rod Stewart has new music on the way — a re-imagining of his 1979 hit “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” that’s a collaboration with dance-pop band DNCE. The teaming marks a new partnership with Republic Records, the Universal Music Group label that’s home to The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Lorde.
The song is set for release on Friday (Aug 25) with a performance slated for the Aug 27 MTV Video Music Awards.
The original “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” was released in 1978 on Stewart’s “Blondes Have More Fun” album and spent four weeks at the top of Billboard Hot 100 chart in Feb 1979.
Stewart signed with UMG in 2012 and has released three studio albums since then: a Christmas collection on Verve, and 2013’s “Time” and 2015’s “Another Country” on Capitol. He is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and was recently knighted in his native United Kingdom for his contributions to music and philanthropy. Stewart is managed by Arnold Stiefel.
Also: LOS ANGELES:
Project Angel Food honored the late pop icon George Michael at its Angel Awards Gala on Saturday at the organization’s headquarters in Hollywood. The event featured a tribute performance from “American Idol” contestant Adam Lambert.
Lambert, who currently fronts the legendary British rock band Queen on tour, performed covers of Michael’s hits “Faith” and “One More Try.” He also sang Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” a song Michael also covered.
Michael was a dedicated supporter of the organization, and was honored posthumously with the Elizabeth Taylor Leadership Award. He was integral in keeping the organization afloat as it struggled to keep its doors open while feeding AIDS patients during the height of the epidemic in the ’90s. Michael donated $25,000 to the organization, which he continued to do annually until his death in 2016.
“George Michael was responsible for keeping our doors open and keeping critically ill members of the Los Angeles community fed when we were in dire need of help,” said Project Angel Food executive director Richard Ayoub.