I was all set to post some thoughts about last night’s Video Music Awards, but I can’t do that until I voice my opinion on Kanye West’s antics of last night.
First off, it’s sad that Kanye is getting exactly what he wanted and everyone is talking about him. I’m glad that it’s all negative towards him though. One person said, “He was just stating his opinion.” That’s great, but hijacking the acceptance speech of a young woman (Taylor Swift) who had just won her first award was not the time or place to do it.
Kanye should have posted it on his blog or Twitter feed so that only the people who give a shit about this arrogant asshole would have cared what his opinion is. I don’t care if Kanye West loves bacon sandwiches, thinks Eminem is fantastic or wants to share his opinion that Beyonce had the best video. This isn’t the Kanye West Awards.
Swift was apparently backstage hysterically crying after the incident. Well done, Mr. West. May your next album and concert be a flop.
Put simply — Kanye West has no class. The question is, for how long are people going to continue to put up with this crap? It should be noted — there are some people defending West and saying he just made a mistake — “it’s not like he killed someone” — but it’s also not the first time he’s hijacked a show. Remember “George Bush doesn’t like black people”?
If only he stood
And kudos for Beyonce for giving her spotlight back to Swift who was allowed to give her acceptance speech.
Anyway — as far as the rest of the awards, here are some brief thoughts:
• The show opened with a heartfelt speech by Madonna that was a little self-centered, but well stated. It was followed by a Michael Jackson tribute. I could have done without the dancing reenactments, but it built up to a performance by Janet Jackson. I’d rather watch her reenact MJ’s dance moves instead of other random people.
• Katy Perry showcased a bit of her vocals as Joe Perry played guitar on “We Will Rock You.”
• Russell Brand did his best not to offend and wasn’t as entertaining as last year.
• Does MTV even play videos anymore? They handed out about 5 or 6 awards all night. Best Female Video went to Swift.
• Best Rock Video to Green Day.
• Lady Gaga. Yeah, I’m not a fan. I don’t like the style, I don’t like her singing and thought she’d be a one-hit wonder. She’s not the ground-breaking artist she thinks she is.
• Best Pop Video to Britney Spears. Isn’t she still crazy? And why give awards to people who lip synch their whole show? I guess because it’s for a video and not live talent.
• Green Day put on a great performance.
• Yeah, I’m tired of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” Get your ring and go home.
• Best Male Video to T.I. The crowd unleashed boos for Kanye when his name was read.
• Muse performs in theatre across the street.
• Best Hip Hop Video to Eminem. More boos for Kanye.
• Best New Artist to Lady Gaga who walks up in her fourth outfit of the night.
• Serena Williams should have gotten more boos for the crap she pulled at the U.S. Open on Saturday night.
• Pink’s performance was impressive. Looked like something from Cirque du Soleil.
• Video of the Year to Beyonce.
• Jay-Z and Alicia Keys sing together to close the show in style.
• Premiere of the Michael Jackson movie. Can anyone else see him on screen and not focus immediately on his nose?
This article appears in Sep 8-15, 2009.
This is a a video music award dumb@ss what does lipsyncing have to do with anything. They all lipsync in the videos.
If you read what I posted – I said, “because it’s for a video and not for live talent.”
good commentary – was a bit confused if people really did boo kanye (considering your strong opinion on the matter). i didn’t see it – could you clarify? (let me say i would be impressed if boos did occur – but did he even win anything?) of course, i could look it up, but i’d prefer your witty remarks 😉
btw, random note, but i’d call the bastard west, but that’s my son’s (first) name, therefore i will avoid…
yes, every time his name was mentioned, the crowd booed.
“• Premiere of the Michael Jackson movie. Can anyone else see him on screen and not focus immediately on his nose?” hahaha right there with ya Jeff!
kanye’s reaction last night was the most ignorant action i have ever seen. people wonder why there are stereotypes of people, my african american brothers and sisters you can thank kanye west. straight ignorant. nigger
Terrible timing. Yes.
Ignorant behavior. Extremely.
Was what he said wrong? No.
Kanye was obviously drunk man, he showed up on the red carpet drinking Henny straight out of the bottle. I feel like some of the blame should be put on MTV (someone let him on stage) and the bogus idea of fan voting for anything.
I’m not going to go into an “the VMAs are culturally biased” speech but Kanye brought up a valid point. How can Beyonce win Video of the Year but not win Best Female Video? Last I checked, she was a woman and “Single Ladies” was a video. “Single Ladies” made people from the Midwest to Malaysia get 2 friends and record themselves doing their rendition of that video. It was a cultural phenomenon. I don’t know anybody recording their rendition of Taylor Swift’s video.
So it begs the question, how did the system get so out of whack. We’ve seen fan voting go wrong in sports for years, when a player who’s having a shitty season or hurt makes an All-Star game.
He’s going to feel the backlash from this but honestly, if he was in Charlotte tomorrow, I’d probably go and if he dropped an album tomorrow, I’d probably buy it. He enjoys playing the villian and if we’re in the business of choosing sides, I’d rock with the bad guy. Talent trumps talk in the end and we all know if it came down to putting on a show, he’s way up there on the list.
We already knew he was passionate about awards, not only when he doesn’t win but even when he does. Remember when he gave Outkast an award he won because felt he didn’t deserve it becase their song was better? He takes it seriously, too seriously but he wants people to appreciate the art and appreciate the craft. I can completely understand that.
Kanye West…Hates white people! Sorry. Just had to be said. I’m really quite sick of this obnoxious, narcistic, @sshole. And what was up with his hair anyway? What was that a map to Brooklyn…from Tuscon? kanye…shut up man. And people stop giving that idiot a microphone! Did ya’ll not learn during the katrina fundraiser?????
I am a proud Chicagoan!!! But this idiot just killed it. He so-called has an education? From where? Where is his class? I just saw his interview on Jay Leno n all I could say is “shut the fuck up”!!!! How times have changed!!!
Just because this reject has some sort of an education and maybe came from a good home … does not mean that you have any MANNERS or COMMON SENSE!
First off– Beyonce Video SUCKED — now of course that is solely my opinion and mine only .. three girls half naked with there butts basically out — dancing.. and Beyonce with a Freddie Kruger hand thingy in my eyes was not an AMAZING VIDEO.. Sorry but um blah
I would like to point out I dont listen to Taylor Swift either.. Nor have I seen or heard anything of her’s until that night ..
No.. her music is not my style
and her video is cute and sweet and she looks like a sweet person..
I thinks its fair that the people are allowed to vote for the Best Video.. Why? cause WE are one’s that matter.. WE are the one’s who pay.. WE are the one’s who make them famous! YES WE DO IT!
Kanye West is a sore loser and also so far up Jay Z and Beyonce’s @ss i am surprised he does and Crap stains on his face… Oh wait .. he has it in hair.. oh so that’s what that was on his head
BOTTOM LINE– Kanye has no manners– and anyone who agrees with that reject is a moron also–
you dont rush up on stage while a teenage girl just won an award (her very first one to boot) and decide um yea let me say your video should not have won because my friend’s video was better then yours… how sad kanye .. how sad
that man makes me cringe
for the people who defend this total loser.. your a bunch of reject’s also..
why would you watch that show anyway?