MTV VMA Awards 2020: Lady Gaga’s wild outfits and the full winners list
While Lady Gaga cleaned up at the MTV VMAs and kept fans guessing with her crazy outfit changes, the Black Eyed Peas left viewers speechless with their unique fashion choice.
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In a year that’s been turned upside down, it seems that not even a global pandemic can stop the MTV VMAs from going ahead and giving music lovers what they want.
And despite being markedly different from previous years – no live audience, back up dancers in face masks, satellite performances – the VMAs still managed to offer all the fanfare you’d expect from the music industry’s night of nights, namely a series of wild and outlandish fashion choices, and heartfelt acceptance speeches focused on social justice movements and the current state of the world. Here’s how things went down.
BLACK EYED PEAS SEND BLM MESSAGE
It’s one of the most coveted awards of the night, and this year the MTV VMAs Video of the Year award was bestowed upon a surprise winner.
Nominations came in for Eminem’s Godzilla, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s Rain on Me, The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights, Billie Eilish’s Everything I Wanted, Taylor Swift’s The Man and Future and Drake with Life is Good.
The winner that few saw coming after Lady Gaga swept the floor for the night was The Weeknd.
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, used his acceptance speech to promote “Justice for Jacob Blake and Justice for Breonna Taylor.”
And in another curveball for 2020, the Black Eyed Peas used their closing performance spot to promote their comeback single … while performing with illuminated underwear that shone through their white pants. Very odd. But that’s the VMA’s 2020 – crotch areas that look like the dancefloor in Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean video.
In the closing moments of the awards show, The Peas ditched their new Latin song to end with I Gotta Feeling, complete with new singer who isn’t Fergie.
Will. I.Am then closed the performance shouting, “Black Lives Matter.”
GAGA SWEEPS AWARDS SHOW
Newly-single Kelly Clarkson presented the Artist of the Year award, which celebrates everything an artist does on every platform, apparently.
It was between Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Da Baby, The Weeknd, Megan Thee Stallion and Justin Bieber.
And of course Lady Gaga won … again. This time, the star took to the stage in a long white fluffy Muppet coat and silver lame mask.
“Being an artist is the only thing I ever wanted to be in my whole life,” Gaga said.
The singer also said she’s on a mission to spread joy, and shared that her latest album, Chromatica, documents “a very dark time in my head.”
Following the award, host Keke Palmer introduced a video of Everyday Heroes – showing clips of often exhausted NYC medical staff dancing and singing during the pandemic.
FACE MASKS DOMINATE THE STAGE
When Gaga took to the stage to perform she was all game and no face, literally. She was a cool version of The Masked Singer. Think pandemic, but make it functional fashion.
The pop star and her dancers were masked up to buggery, and it didn’t seem to hinder their high energy moves. Go figure.
Gaga belted out a fraction of the meme-friendly song 911, which quickly morphed into Rain on Me, complete with another mask – this time one with an LED video display that highlighted her vocals in electronic waves.
And yes, Ariana Grande was also in the house – and also masked – and with her own troupe of masked dancers.
In years to come, this is surely going to be the most 2020 VMA clip ever – two masked superstars not letting PPE get in the way of NRG.
There was yet another costume change before Gaga’s solo, playing what seems to be a brain-shaped piano for a stripped back version of her hit Stupid Love to showcase those pipes.
“I want you to love yourself tonight and every night,” Gaga said, adding, “Be kind, mask up, be brave.”
Stupid Love then turned into the version we all know as more masked dancers and live vocals took to the stage.
Early on, it became clear that this was going to be Gaga’s award show, and it really was.
The night’s best R&B award was also taken home by The Weeknd for Blinding Lights, who as with his latter speech, used his acceptance of the award for good, saying, “It’s really hard for me to celebrate right now and enjoy this moment so I’m just gonna say ‘Justice for Jacob Blake and Justice for Breonna Taylor’.”
BLM MOVEMENT WINS AWARD
When it came time for the feel-good Video For Good segment, acknowledging statement videos from sexism to Black Lives Matter, the only elephant in the room was that it was presented by Pepsi, who ballsed up with that awful Kendal Jenner ad a few years back.
The winner is H.E.R. with a Black Lives Matter-themed video for I Can’t Breathe.
Pepsi donated $100,000 to racial justice, at least.
The next performer was breakthrough star Doja Cat, who’s been hustling for a while until she recently broke through with her global hit.
Her space-themed (and unmasked) performance looked a bit Big W Gaga, with Doja Cat wearing a nude body suit and mermaid wig plus a nod to the Tik Tok dance that helped her song become a hit. It’s a medley that also takes in another single, Like That.
But you know you’re really famous when you can wear a mask to sing.
MILEY DEBUTS NEW SINGLE
Miley Cyrus is no stranger to the MTV VMAs – twerking her way into headlines back in the day.
Her performance of new single ‘Midnight Sky’ saw Cyrus borrowing one of Madonna’s 80s crucifixes, one of Stevie Nicks’ 80s tunes and Billy Idol’s 80s mullet.
And she got back on a ball, this time disco not wrecking – and also clothed this time.
Drew Barrymore also popped up, and we learned she’s about to have her own US talk show before she got down to presenting the award for Best Direction in a music video.
Taking things to the next level Billie Eilish (Xanny) and Taylor Swift (The Man) directed their own clips – and Swift picked up the gong ahead of Dua Lipa, The Weeknd and her ex-boyfriend, Harry Styles.
“This is the very first video I directed on my own, I’m so grateful for this,” Swift said of the clip where she was turned into a man, “which was very thrilling.”
Swift, filming herself from home, also thanked her fans for “everything you guys have done with Folklore [her latest album released via lockdown], I’m so blown away and taken aback with your generosity to me. Thank you for everything, I hope I get to see you soon.”
GAGA AND ARIANA WIN BIG
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande won their second award of the night, first for the Best Collaboration Video, and then Song of the Year.
It helped that Gaga’s in the house, and that she delivered another costume change for the acceptance – this time wearing a mask with horns poking out the side. It was exactly what you’d expect from the star.
“Winning for Best Song has to be my favourite, at the end of the day my heart is a songwriter and I sure didn’t ask for a free ride,” she said.
Korean band BTS then performed their brand new single Dynamite, a disco-influenced banger performed with a New York backdrop and their trademark nifty choreography skills, from the safety of South Korea.
For ultra 2020 Best Music Video From Home category for pandemic-clips the winner was not Australia’s 5 Seconds of Summer, but rather Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s ‘Stuck With You’. Both were too busy at home to film a thank you message. 2020 hey?
Earlier, Gaga said “Me and Ariana are truly soul sisters. This is for us, we’ve both been through some shit together but we were willing to share that. We turned our tears into diamonds.”
TRIIBUTES FLOW FOR CHADWICK BOSEMAN
MTV VMAs host Keke Palmer started this year’s show by dedicating the event to the late Chadwick Boseman, noting “his spirit touched so many, his impact lives forever.”
Palmer’s opening monologue was less side-splitting jokes and more poking the conservative orange bear, and highlighting the Black Lives Matter movement.
“We can never tolerate police brutality, we must continue the fight to end systematic racism,” Palmer said. “It’s our time to be the change we want to see.”
When The Weeknd kicked off the show by performing his global hit Blinding Lights, it was a very in a very socially distant affairm with no band, and standing on a glass stage on the top of a skyscraper in New York. And with fireworks. Who needs a studio?
That’s the way this award shows are set to roll in 2020.
Base camp for the awards was the Empire State Building, with a handful of fans watching in person and the rest appearing virtually on screens, with the volume turned to eleven.
BELLA HADID MAKES MTV VMAs APPEARANCE
Bella Hadid (fun fact, her ex-boyfriend is The Weeknd) presented the show’s first ever TRICON award, which celebrates “the multi-dimensional” artist for her work in music, fashion, acting and activism.
Basically, it was a good carrot to make sure celebrities near and far stilled turned up at the VMAs in a pandemic.
With a change of outfit into a silver outfit, Gaga claimed the award, saying, “Even though I had really, really big dreams I truly never could have imagined I’d be given an award like this that honoured me for so many of my passions.
“I failed over and over as an actress and a musician when I was young, philanthropy became a much bigger part of my life as a star,” she said.
She also told fans “a renaissance is coming, the rage of art will inspire as it responds to hardship” and reminded viewers to “stay safe, speak your mind and wear a mask, it’s a sign of respect.”
Best Hip Hop went to rapper Megan Thee Stallion for her No. 1 hit Savage, who popped a bottle at home in celebration.
There was also a quick tribute for the artists we lost this year including Juice WRLD, Pop Smoke, Dick Dale, Eddie Money, Ric Ocasek, Bill Withers, Adam Schlesinger, Kenny Rogers, Florian Schneider, Little Richard, Naya Rivera and Chadwick Boseman.
MALUMA TAKES HOME LATIN VIDEO
After Colombian superstar Maluma performed at a drive-in (which allowed a car sponsor to get a shameless plug in) we had the award for Best Latin Video.
Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Black Eyed Peas, Maluma and Karol G were among the nominees. And of course, because he was there, Maluma won for his clip Que Pena, which featured J Balvin. He dedicated it to God and said “I’m very proud of being Latin.”
DOJA CAT WINS BEST NEW ARTIST
Don’t know CNCO? They’re the Latin boy band formed on La Banda, Latin TV show created by Ricky Martin and Simon Cowell. They got to perform at the mock drive in – another chance to plug the sponsor’s cars – MTV really know how to make lemonade out of a pandemic.
Machine Gun Kelly (now dating Megan Fox – fun fact) presented the Best New Artist award from Lewis Capaldi, Yungblud and Doja Cat.
And surprise surprise Doja Cat won because she was there to accept it.
She did the obligatory thanking all the people behind the scenes no one knows – but no mention of her controversial songwriter Dr Luke, who penned her big hit, but who has been embroiled in scandal for years following claims of abuse by Kesha.
Doja also almost forgot to thank her fans, dropping a few swear words before saying, “I will joke and meme all day but I’m so thankful to have you as supporters.”
In addition to the usual categories — including video of the year, artist of the year, song of the year, best collaboration and more — MTV added two new categories aimed at honouring music created during the pandemic: best music video from home and best quarantine performance.
See the full list of nominees and winners below:
Video of the year
WINNER: The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights”
Billie Eilish: “Everything I Wanted”
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD: “Godzilla”
Future ft. Drake: “Life Is Good”
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain on Me”
Taylor Swift: “The Man”
Artist of the year
WINNER: Lady Gaga
DaBaby
Justin Bieber
Megan Thee Stallion
Post Malone
The Weeknd
Best new artist
WINNER: Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Lewis Capaldi
Roddy Ricch
Tate McRae
Yungblud
Song of the year
WINNER: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain on Me”
Billie Eilish: “Everything I Wanted”
Doja Cat: “Say So”
Megan Thee Stallion: “Savage”
Post Malone: “Circles”
Roddy Ricch: “The Box”
Best collaboration
WINNER: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain on Me”
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber: “Stuck With U”
Black Eyed Peas ft. J Balvin: “RITMO (Bad Boys for Life)”
Ed Sheeran ft. Khalid: “Beautiful People”
Future ft. Drake: “Life Is Good”
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj: “Tusa”
Best pop
WINNER: BTS: “On”
Halsey: “You Should Be Sad”
Jonas Brothers: “What a Man Gotta Do”
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo: “Intentions”
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain on Me”
Taylor Swift: “Lover”
Best hip-hop
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion: “Savage”
DaBaby: “Bop”
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD: “Godzilla”
Future ft. Drake: “Life Is Good”
Roddy Ricch: “The Box”
Travis Scott: “Highest in the Room”
Best r&b
WINNER: The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights”
Alicia Keys: “Underdog”
Chloe x Halle: “Do It”
H.E.R. ft. YG: “Slide”
Khalid ft. Summer Walker: “Eleven”
Lizzo: “Cuz I Love You”
Best K-Pop
WINNER: BTS: “On”
(G)I-DLE: “Oh My God”
Monsta X: “Someone’s Someone”
Red Velvet: “Psycho”
Tomorrow X Together: “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)”
Best Latin
WINNER: Maulma ft. J Balvin: “Qué Pena”
Anuel AA ft. Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G, J Balvin: “China”
Bad Bunny: “Yo Perreo Sola”
Black Eyed Peas ft. Ozuna, J. Rey Soul: “Mamacita”
J Balvin: “Amarillo”
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj: “Tusa”
Best rock
Blink-182: “Happy Days”
Coldplay: “Orphans”
Evanescence: “Wasted on You”
Fall Out Boy ft. Wyclef Jean: “Dear Future Self (Hands Up)”
Green Day: “Oh Yeah!”
The Killers: “Caution”
Best alternative
WINNER: Machine Gun Kelly: “Bloody Valentine”
The 1975: “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)”
All Time Low: “Some Kind of Disaster”
Finneas: “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night”
Lana Del Rey: “Doin’ Time”
Twenty One Pilots: “Level of Concern”
Best music video from home
WINNER: Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber: “Stuck With U”
5 Seconds of Summer: “Wildflower”
Blink-182: “Happy Days”
Drake: “Toosie Slide”
John Legend: “Bigger Love”
Twenty One Pilots: “Level of Concern”
Best quarantine performance
Chloe x Halle: “Do It (from MTV Prom-Athon)”
WINNER: CNCO: MTV Unplugged At Home
DJ D-Nice: Club MTV Presents: #DanceTogether
John Legend: #TogetherAtHome Concert Series
Lady Gaga: “Smile” from One World: Together At Home
Post Malone: Nirvana Tribute
Video for good
WINNER: H.E.R.: “I Can’t Breathe”
Anderson. Paak: “Lockdown”
Billie Eilish: “All the Good Girls Go to Hell”
Demi Lovato: “I Love Me”
Lil Baby: “The Bigger Picture”
Taylor Swift: “The Man”
Best direction
WINNER: Taylor Swift: “The Man” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift
Billie Eilish: “xanny” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Directed by Billie Eilish
Doja Cat: “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA Records – Directed by Hannah Lux Davis
Dua Lipa: “Don’t Start Now” – Warner Records – Directed by Nabil
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Directed by Dave Meyers
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Directed by Anton Tammi
Best cinematography
5 Seconds of Summer: “Old Me” – Interscope Records – Cinematography by Kieran Fowler
Camila Cabello ft. DaBaby: “My Oh My” – Syco Music / Epic Records – Cinematography by Scott Cunningham
Billie Eilish: “all the good girls go to hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Christopher Probst
Katy Perry: “Harleys In Hawaii” – Capitol Records – Cinematography by Arnau Valls
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Thomas Kloss
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Cinematography by Oliver Millar
Best art direction
A$AP Rocky: “Babushka Boi” – Polo Grounds Music / RCA Records – Art Direction by A$AP Rocky & Nadia Lee Cohen
Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Art Direction by Anna Colomé Nogu ́
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Art Direction by Laura Ellis Cricks
Miley Cyrus: “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Art Direction by Christian Stone
Selena Gomez: “Boyfriend” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Tatiana Van Sauter
Taylor Swift: “Lover” – Republic Records – Art Direction by Ethan Tobman
Best visual effects
Billie Eilish: “all the good girls go to hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Drive Studios
Demi Lovato: “I Love Me” – Island Records – Visual Effects by Hoody FX
Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Visual Effects by EIGHTY4
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by Mathematic
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
Travis Scott: “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack – Visual Effects by ARTJAIL, SCISSOR FILMS & FRENDER
Best choreography
WINNER: BTS: “On” – Big Hit Entertainment – Choreography by Son Sung Deuk, Lee Ga Hun, Lee Byung Eun
CNCO & Natti Natasha: “Honey Boo” – Sony Music Latin / RCA Records – Choreography by Kyle Hanagami
DaBaby: “BOP” – SCMG / Interscope Records – Choreography by Dani Leigh and Cherry
Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Choreography by Richy Jackson
Normani: “Motivation” – Keep Cool / RCA Records – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
best editing
Halsey: “Graveyard” – Capitol Records – Edited by Emilie Aubry, Janne Vartia & Tim Montana
James Blake: “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow” – Republic Records – Edited by Frank Lebon
Lizzo: “Good As Hell” – Atlantic Records – Edited by Russell Santos & Sofia Kerpan
Miley Cyrus: “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico
ROSALÍA: “A Palé” – Columbia Records – Edited by Andre Jones
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Edited by Janne Vartia & Tim Montana
Best group
WINNER: BTS
5 Seconds of Summer
The 1975
BLACKPINK
Chloe X Halle
CNCO
Little Mix
Monsta X
Now United
twenty one pilots
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Originally published as MTV VMA Awards 2020: Lady Gaga’s wild outfits and the full winners list