Sunday, Sept. 7 was a great night for fans of all kinds of music. The MTV Video Music Awards is an awards show in which fans’ voices are heard, and the world gets to see the best of the best.
The VMAs can be life-changing for certain artists, introducing them to the wider world or solidifying their place as an artist to pay attention to. Each year has had some sort of show-stopping performance that attracted public attention, and this year was no exception.
Conan Gray
Though he wasn’t nominated for an award this year, Conan Gray stole the show. He showed up to the red carpet in a corseted and boisterous sailor inspired outfit, a tribute to his new album “Wishbone.”
Dressed as Romeo in a baroque-style velvet cape and surrounded by a fairytale-like stage, Gray performed “Vodka Cranberry” from the album. He began the song singing to Corey Fogelmanis, who played a falsely deceased Juliet in the performance; Gray then ascended from the “grave” to sing to the audience.
He looked as if he emerged right from a storybook as he sang to a crowd of thousands. When he belted at the climax of the song, the audience lost it; several celebrities, such as the Grande family, earned viral moments due to their explosive reactions to the moment. The performance ended with Gray, like Romeo, taking a swig of poison and dying with his love.
Sombr
The night was similarly big for other artists like Sombr, who recently bloomed in popularity due to his viral song “Back to Friends.” He won the VMA for Best Alternative for the song, then later performed it alongside “12 to 12” from his new album.
When the 20-year-old breakout star accepted his award, he stated he could not believe it was true. After learning the award was, indeed, being given to him, Sombr enthusiastically thanked his family, team and fans.
Lady Gaga
Is it truly an awards show if one of the biggest pop icons of this century is not there? Lady Gaga showed up at the VMAs to accept the award for Artist of the Year, then immediately left to perform a concert as part of her Mayhem Ball tour. However, her win was not the last the audience saw of her that night.
Though she was at Madison Square Garden, Gaga performed “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance” which was streamed for the VMA audience. The performance was everything one would expect from Gaga: colorful sets, stellar vocals and all-around pure camp.
Sabrina Carpenter
Speaking of stellar performances, Sabrina Carpenter performed as well. She won two of the biggest awards of the night, Best Pop Artist and Best Pop Album, for “Short n’ Sweet.” For her VMAs performance, she sang “Tears” from her new album, “Man’s Best Friend.”
Emerging from a manhole in a set of the New York streets, Sabrina in her jeweled mini dress brought life to the stage. Her performance paid homage to the history of New York’s queer culture, which is a reference to the song’s music video.
Sabrina’s choreography was backed up by drag queens and other queer dancers. The dancers held up signs with slogans like “Protect Trans Rights” and “Dolls, Dolls, Dolls,” making a bold statement about the current political climate.
The VMAs also celebrated some of the greatest artists in the past decades. Mariah Carey was awarded with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. She also sang a medley of some of her greatest hits for the audience.
Ricky Martin also sang “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and other fan-favorite favorite songs for the VMAs. He became the first performer ever to win the Latin Icon award.
Other award winners of the night were Katseye, who won an award for their song “Touch” and performed popular hits “Gnarly” and “Gabriela.” Bruno Mars and Rosé’s song “APT.” won Best Song. Mars also won alongside Lady Gaga for Best Collaboration with “Die With a Smile.”
Well-known and loved throughout the years, the VMAs have had some of the most iconic moments in pop culture history. This year was no exception.
