VMA Live Blog

Because, who else is gonna cater to people who care about the technical awards?

Doug Stern and myself will be posting commentary here throughout the VMAs. This is our maiden voyage. Be kind. (Refresh for new stuff!)

NOTE: This top section is in reverse chronological order... If you want to read our commentary for the first hour of the show (through Best Male Video Award), it's below...

Part 2 (newest first):

Steve: Will post the Technical Winner list once they're online... Maybe they announced during the Pre-Show? 

Steve: And that's a wrap. Glad Melina won, and not just because my review of it was prescient:

Know the old saying to never ever underestimate a woman scorned?

Rihanna and director Melina Matsoukas collaborate on what will surely be one of the most talked about videos of the year for all the right reasons. Going way beyond what you can normally get away with in a pop video — or any mainstream video, for that matter — Rihanna is trapped in a manic relationship that's punctuated by drugs, sex and lots of highs and lows. Certainly not the kind of the video that's safe for the kiddies, unless her younger fans are already well-versed in such drugssexdebauchery flicks like Trainspotting, Requiem For A Dream or Sid And Nancy, since those are probably the closest examples to what they were going for here. Clearly the internt is to shock, and the fact that RiRi's on-screen beau looks like her ex Chris Brown makes it easy to infer that the video is a meant as a statement on all that drama. But, if you caught any of the controversy about Rihanna and Melina's last video together, it's also easy to view this as a middle finger to everyone who accused and doubted them.  --> watch "We Found Love"

Rihanna "We Found Love" (Island Def Jam)
Melina Matsoukas, director | Juliette Larthe, Ben Sullivan, producer | Prettybird, production co | Paul Laufer, DP | Jeff Selis, editor | Mark Geraghty, production designer | Kroma, vfx | Candice Ouaknine, exec, producer

Steve: I'mma let her finish, but this Taylor Swift song is a smash and I lik how the performance references the one take video by director Declan Whitebloom.

Steve: In the Aaron Sorkin version of this show, Rahm Emanuel is on the phone with Van Toffler yelling that this better end before Obama hits the stage.

Steve: And she thanks Melina. Nice! 

Steve: Video Of The Year is Rihanna "We Found Love" directed by Melina.

Steve: Doug is pre-gaming for the Obama speech. He has a ritual.

Steve: Housekeeping time. Here are some awards that weren't broadcast:

  • Best Video With A Message: Demi Lovato "Skyscraper" (Mark Pellington, dir.)
  • Best EDM Video: Calvin Harris "Feel So Good" (Vince Haycock, dir.)
  • Most Share-worthy Video: One Direction "What Makes You Beautiful" (John Urbano, dir.)

Steve: One Direction wins. Again. Don't underestimate Tween Power.

Steve: Best New Artist. No intro montage, which i guess means they're running late.

Steve: The recent trend of making the rock performances on the VMAs feel intimate continues.

Steve: Wait, the P is silent in PSY?

Steve: Here's why that Gaga ad looks so good: Steven Klein, Jeff Cronenweth, Dave Hussey, Digital Domain. Go Google all those names, if you don't know.  

Steve: Best Female Video is Nicki Minaj "Starships" directed by Anthony Mandler. I'd have gone with Rihanna "We Found Love," but this will be a better speech.

Steve: This One Direction performance is very Casual Thursday.

Steve:  Director X = Lil X = LITTLE x. A man of many names. I think he also went by X for a bit too.

Steve: Director X did that Drake video.

Steve: Drake featuring Lil Wayne "HYFR" wins. Not mad at that.

Steve: Rashida is wearing 3D glasses. Best Hip Hop Video. Let's Go

Doug: Empty seats look awesome in 3D.

Doug: Rich Lee did some, but not those

Steve: Mark Romanek did one or two of them. Not sure of this one.

Doug:  Really?

Steve: These Hamster ads for Kia are directed by a big music video person, right?

Steve: Big look for Frank Ocean. Understated song. 

Doug: Those glowing rocks! Frank Ocean is about to be attacked by Sleestaks!

 

PART 1: Show Opening through Best Male Video

Doug: I can say this with confidence. I am one of the few people torn between watching Obama speech and the VMAs.

Doug: Downtown LA hasn't seen this much excitement in the sun-baked afternoon since the closed down Grand Avenue to shoot that Nissan commercial.

Steve: I already regret this endeavor. 

Steve: OK. Here we go. Rihanna in Princess Of China mode for the opener.

Doug:  Rihanna comes out on her temple, backed by snakes like Thulsa Doom from 'Conan the Barbarian

Steve: I love how Lil Wayne is wearing headphones during the monologue.

Steve: Best Pop video with Katy Perry presenting... Does she have an accent suddenly?

Doug: Katy Perry caught her accent from RBrand.

Steve: One Direction wins best Pop Video. Not a surprise.

Doug: Bieber?

Steve: Odd how debut music videos for pop acts are usually non-events, but still get tons of hits. Think of Bieber's first video, for example.

Doug: 5 Biebers > 1 Bieber

Doug:  First videos are always kind of bland intros. Think Genie in a Bottle. The artist is the star. Not some dopey directors concept.

Steve: Sometimes it's all about the song.

Steve:  Did One Direction thank the director? Should we keep track of that?

Doug: We should. I didn't hear them say anything re: director.

Steve:  Best Pop Video is: One Direction "What Makes You Beautiful" directed by John Urbano.

Steve: Most of these commercials might as well be videos, since each one stars a different pop star. The Lady Gaga ad is awesome. Tho I shudder at what the perfume smells like.

Doug:  The Gaga ad is awesome and I am scared of it.

Doug: Someone sewed the tuxedo stripes onto the wrong part of Kevin Harts' pants. Is that on purpose?

Steve: Not traditional. Also: No cummerbund.

Doug: Dwight Howard is already wearing the official short of Silver Lake - so there's that.

Steve: Pink always steals the show. I feel like she looks like Robyn here

Doug: How mad is Pink that Miley stole her haircut?

Steve: Everyone looks like Robyn this year

Doug: Tom Tom Club Pink

Steve: Not sure how I feel about the Lips gag. Feels like a Stones show. She does sound great tho.

Doug: Don't turn the mouths sideways

Steve: Are you working blue?

Doug: Okay, the Tom Tom Club made me seem super old.  And the Tom Tom Club video actually opens with red lips. Weird!

Steve: Best Male Video is Chris Brown. Turn Up The Music.

Steve: Chris will thank the director. (He directed it himself)

Doug: Everyone freak out over Breezy!

Steve:  I think Usher "Climax" was the best video for the Male category.

Weight: 
0

Comments

dave's picture
You guys need "cover it live" or something similar, so I don't have to keep hitting refresh.
hbomb's picture
At least someone cares about the directors, thanks guys
Rab's picture
What happened to Doug?
Kendrick's picture
Doug...where are ya?
Steven Gottlieb's picture
We lost Doug for a bit... But, no fear. We will do this again.
Kendrick's picture
Melina wins and Doug doesn't return for a comment? He's watching Obama I take it.
Kendrick's picture
Still luv ya Steven, didn't want to watch the awards anyhow