2016 MTV VMAs Review

Well, welcome to my first award show review! MTV posted videos of Phantogram and Bebe Rexha performing, which were before the pre-show. Since they weren't part of the show, I won't review them.

Performances

Pre-show
Alessia Cara/Troye Sivan - Wild Things/Wild/Scars to Your Beautiful
This was really good. The Wild Things part wasn't awesome but the rest was great.
Rate: 9.5/10

Jidenna - Little Bit More
It was cool.
Rate: 9.5/10

Lukas Graham - Mama Said

Could have been a little better. But hey, at least he didn't perform 7 Years.

Rate: 9/10

Main show

Rihanna/Calvin Harris - Don't Stop the Music/Only Girl (In the World)/We Found Love/Where Have You Been

I really liked this. That's all I'll say.

Rate: 10/10

Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj - Side to Side

I couldn't hear the song too much. And what's with the gym theme?

Rate: 9/10

Future - F*** Up Some Commas

...?

Rate: 6/10

Kanye West - Fade (Music Video Premiere)

The song is fine, and the video is...huh? Is that a cat at the end?

Rate: 8/10

Rihanna - Rude Boy/What's My Name/Work

This was a strange performance. It was fine.

Rate: 8/10

Nick Jonas/Ty Dolla $ign - Bacon

I really liked this performance. I find it interesting how there's a guitar in the song since the artists are pop and rap.

Rate: 9.5/10

Beyoncé - Pray to Catch Me/Hold Up/Countdown/Sorry/Don't Hurt Yourself/Formation

I like the beginning of Pray to Catch Me. And I did really like Sorry, as it peaked at #3 on #40Friday back in May. It was a nice performance.

Rate: 9/10

Britney Spears/G-Eazy - Make Me/Me, Myself and I

Wow. This was really a well done performance, despite me not liking Me, Myself and I for the past month and not hearing Make Me enough.

Rate: 10/10

Rihanna - Needed Me/Pour it Up/B**** Better Have My Money

Good.

Rate: 9/10

The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer

The guy in the Chainsmokers' voice only sounds good in the regular version of the song, not in a concert. The rest was good though.

Rate: 9/10

Rihanna - Stay/Diamonds/Love on the Brain

This was a great ending performance. It was calm and beautiful.

Rate: 9.5/10

Performance Totals: 125/140

Divided: 8.9/10

My top 5 performances

5. Nick Jonas/Ty Dolla $ign - Bacon

4. Rihanna - Stay/Diamonds/Love on the Brain

3. Alessia Cara/Troye Sivan - Wild Things/Wild/Scars to Your Beautiful

2. Britney Spears/G-Eazy - Make Me/Me, Myself and I

1. Rihanna/Calvin Harris - Don't Stop the Music/Only Girl (In the World)/We Found Love/Where Have You Been

Awards

Video of the Year: Beyoncé - Formation

Best Male Video: Calvin Harris/Rihanna - This is What You Came For

Best Female Video: Beyoncé - Hold Up

Best New Artist: DNCE

Best Pop Video: Beyoncé - Formation

Best Rock Video: Twenty One Pilots - Heathens

Best Hip-Hop Video: Drake - Hotline Bling

Best Electronic Video: Calvin Harris/Disciples - How Deep is Your Love

Best Collaboration Video: Fifth Harmony/Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home

Breakthrough Long Form Video: Beyoncé - Lemonade

Best Direction: Beyoncé - Formation (Director: Melina Matsoukas)

Best Choreography: Beyoncé - Formation (Choreographers: Chris Grant, JaQuel Knight, and Dana Foglia)

Best Visual Effects: Coldplay - Up and Up

Best Art Direction: David Bowie - Blackstar

Best Editing: Beyoncé - Formation

Best Cinematography: Beyoncé - Formation

Song of the Summer: Fifth Harmony/Fetty Wap - All in My Head (Flex)

Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award: Rihanna

Beyoncé won 8 awards (6 for Formation).