Transcript
1984
The very first MTV Video Music Awards was in 1984, and was held in New York. Madonna performed her hit "Like A Virgin" wearing a combination bustier/wedding gown, including her trademark "Boy Toy" belt. During her performance, she rolled around on the floor, revealing lacy stockings and a garter.
1987
At the fourth annual MTV Video Music Awards, Peter Gabriel's video "Sledgehammer" won 10 awards, including the Video Vanguard Award and Video of the Year, holding the VMA record for most Moonmen in a single night.
1989When Madonna won the Viewer's Choice Award sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, she thanked Pepsi-Cola in her acceptance speech "for causing so much controversy". Pepsi-Cola had paid Madonna $5 million to appear in a commercial that would predominantly feature the world premiere of "Like a Prayer"; the commercial, titled "Make a Wish", depicted Madonna drinking Pepsi and watching a home video of her eighth birthday. The tone that the commercial sought to convey sharply contrasted with the music video. When Pepsi executives saw the video, they yanked the advertisement after only two airings, in an attempt to dissociate themselves from Madonna.
1991During the award show the MTV Video Vanguard Award was renamed to the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award from then on, due to his incomparable contribution to music video by changing them from a promotional tool featuring musicians playing instruments and singing, to a piece of art with a storyline, or as Jackson liked to put as 'short films'. His video Thriller influenced and changed music videos into what it is like today.
1991
There was also a fight between Bret Matthews and Cisi Leville – both from the same band, Poison.
1994
Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley received a standing ovation as they walked on stage hand-in-hand. After turning to the audience and proclaiming, "And just think, nobody thought this would last," Jackson grabbed Presley and kissed her.
1995
Michael Jackson performed for over fifteen minutes to a medley of his main songs, including "Scream.", and danced his signature moves, including the robot, moonwalk and the relatively unknown "Bankhead Bounce".
1996
Oasis performed 'Champagne Supernova', with lead vocalist Liam Gallagher making rude gestures at brother Noel as he was playing his guitar solo, then spitting beer all over the stage before storming off.
1997Puff Daddy released his debut album No Way Out, featuring the successful tribute single "I'll Be Missing You", dedicated to the recently murdered Notorious B.I.G. The song featured Puff Daddy, Biggie's widow Faith Evans and R&B group 112. The song sampled the melody of The Police's hit song "Every Breath You Take." All these artists performed the song with former Police vocalist Sting.
2001
Britney Spears performed, ‘I’m a Slave’, which caused controversy due to the fact she brought live animals on stage.
2002
The VMAs took place on Michael Jackson's birthday, and as a tribute, Britney Spears introduced him saying she "considered him the artist of the millennium." Jackson said, "When I was a little boy growing up in Indiana if someone told me I'd be getting 'the artist of the millennium award,' I'd have never believed it, causing an extremely painful awkward moment to watch.
2003
Beyoncé made a memorable entrance, descending upside down from the rafters at Radio City Music Hall. Knowles performed "Baby Boy" as she was gently lowered to the stage, dressed in harem pants. She was later joined by Jay-Z as they performed their duet "Crazy in Love." The performance marked Knowles's solo debut.
2004
The MTV Video Music Awards were held at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. This was the first time the awards show was held outside of New York City and Los Angeles. It was the first video music awards to not have a host.
2008
Host Russell Brand commented on Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, begging the audience to vote for him. Brand called President George W. Bush a "retarded cowboy" and claimed Bush "wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors in Britain.
2009Taylor Swift won Best Female video for "You Belong with Me." During her acceptance speech, rapper Kanye West unexpectedly showed up on stage. Taking the microphone from Swift, he announced "Yo Tay, I'm really happy for you, and Imma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time!“ MTV cut away from the stage, showing Beyoncé with an embarrassed look. West was removed for the rest of the show.
2011
During Kanye West and Jay-Z's surprise performance of "Otis", a man ran onto the stage but was quickly taken off by security.
2013For the show's 30th anniversary, MTV redesigned its famous moon-man statue for one year only due to the ceremony's being held in Brooklyn for the first time. Brooklyn artist KAWS used his famous Michelin Man as inspiration to redesign the image of the renowned MTV moon-man.
2013Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" won the Video of The Year, making him the first male solo artist to win this category since Eminem in 2002 with "Without Me". Timberlake also became the second artist to earn the Video Vanguard Award and the award for Video of the Year in the same night since Peter Gabriel in 1987. To celebrate his Video Vanguard Award, Timberlake reunited with his former band, 'N Sync, during his 15-minute medley performance. Their hits "Girlfriend" and "Bye Bye Bye" were part of the setlist.
2013Miley Cyrus' performance of her song "We Can't Stop" featured the former child star entering the stage through a giant teddy bear wearing a one-piece bodice with a teddy bear styled on it. The singer performed with a group of back-up dancers dressed as giant bears before singer Robin Thicke joined Cyrus on stage to perform his song "Blurred Lines". Cyrus then stripped down to a flesh coloured bikini and proceeded to perform her signature twerking dance moves, simulating sex with Thicke and groping his genitals with a giant foam finger.
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