Beyonce dominates MTV Video Music Awards
Beyonce on Sunday dominated the MTV Video Music Awards as she took home top prizes and awed the audience in a fiery dance medley with a subtle political touch.
The pop superstar won Video of theYear for “Formation,” the most outspoken work of her career, as well as Best Female Video for “Hold Up.”
The two tracks appeared on “Lemonade,” Beyonce’s latest album which she released in a surprise tie-in with a film of the same name that paid tribute to African American women.
Beyonce stole the spotlight at the gala party in NewYork’s Madison Square Garden by performing a “Lemonade” medley of more than 16 minutes, managing even to change outfits in a set that culminated in the stage erupting in fire.
In one of the most striking moments, the sound of a single gun-shot rang out as her circle of angelic-clad dancers each collapsed in a fog of red.
“Formation” offered solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality with officers depicted raising their hands as if under arrest.
Beyonce arrived at the show, broadcast to more than 120 countries, with the mothers of four young African American men whose deaths have galvanized the US — Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin.
Martin, 17, was killed in 2012 by a white neighborhood guard, a catalyst moment for Black Lives Matter. Brown, Garner and Grant were all killed by law enforcement.
Alicia Keys offered another of the night’s powerful moments as she recited a poem she said was inspired by civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr.
In a year marred by global conflict and a bitter
US presidential race, Keys, moving seamlessly from spoken word to a cappella, voiced hope that “maybe we can love somebody instead of polishing a bomb.”
“If war is holy and sex is obscene, then we got it twisted in this lucid dream / Baptized in boundaries, schooled in skin, divided by difference, sexuality and skin,” she recited.
Kanye talks Kanye
The Video Music Awards have long been known more for their on-stage antics than the winners, and this year MTV decided to let the artists loose.
In one of the night’s most anticipated moments, rap superstar Kanye West — who last year used the occasion to declare his intention to run for president in 2020 — delivered a nearly stream-ofconsciousness speech about empowerment.
West said that unnamed wealthy white people warned him against comparing himself to Apple founder Steve Jobs and entertainment pioneer Walt Disney.
But West said that the pair were among fewer than 10 true artistic heroes — and that the slim list also includes himself.
“Three keys to keeping people impoverished are taking away their esteem, taking away their resources and taking away their role models,” said West.
He then presented a racy new video for his song “Fade” featuring actress and singer Teyana Taylor, who moved her body sensually in a gym before a steamy shower scene.
The video marked a theme in the evening, if accidental, of sexualized exercise.
Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj received roars of approval for a sensual take on a workout, with the pop star and rapper dancing together in a stage transformed into a gym full of highly physical young men.
Rihanna honored
Drake won in the rap category for “Hotline Bling,” one of the most popular songs of the year.
But he did not appear in time to accept the award. According to the presenter, rap icon Puff Daddy, the star got stuck in New York traffic.
MTV presented its Video Vanguard Award to Rihanna, in recognition to her contributions to pop culture.
Rihanna opened the ceremony with, aptly, “Don’t Stop the Music.” In her acceptance speech, Rihanna pledged never to forget her native Barbados.
(AFP)