By: Riley Zipper
Finally, it’s that one time of year that music can actually be heard on MTV. Is the music good? That’s for you to decide. But honestly, I enjoy the break from 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom so I’ll take whatever I can get. Let’s break it down.
Leading with the most nominations is Katy Perry with nine. Her videos for “E.T.,” “Firework, ” “Teenage Dream” and “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” were nominated for five, two, one and one awards respectively. This is not an opinion article, so I will keep any opinions I have about any of those nominations to myself…
The out-of-nowhere band Foster the People are nominated for two awards for Best New Artist and Best Rock Video for the song I’ve had in my head all summer, and I’m sure you have too, “Pumped Up Kicks.” Upon hearing said song for the first time, I also immediately rushed to buy the album to see if Foster the People were going to be more than just a one-hit wonder, but to my dismay, “Pumped Up Kicks” and “Helena Beat” were really the only two songs I enjoyed. Nonetheless, the up-and-coming Indie band deserves the recognition.
British superstar, with the annoying/majestic voice that we’ve heard so many times, Adele was nominated for seven awards, including Video of the Year, for the other song that was in your head all summer, “Rolling in the Deep”. Many people are probably extremely sick of hearing “Rolling in the Deep,” (especially if you frequent Applebee’s, that song seems to always be playing there) but you can’t deny that her voice is quite amazing.
The Beastie Boys were resurrected this year with the album Hot Sauce Committee Part II (Part I was delayed indefinitely), much to my elation, and their video for “Make Some Noise” was nominated for two awards. If anyone reading this lived in the 80s, they will know that the Beastie Boys seemed to have a contract with MTV that stated they appear on every single bit of programming on the channel, so it excites me that they are nominated for a couple VMAs once again, for old times’ sake. The video is a nostalgic voyage beginning with the classic from the Boys’ debut Licensed to Ill “Fight for Your Right (To Party), ” and ending with young Beastie Boys, played by Elijah Wood, (a spot-on Ad-Rock) Danny McBride and Seth Rogen, meeting their older selves, played by Will Ferrel, John C. Reilly and Jack Black, as they stumble out of a vintage DeLorean. This video has everything!
This is just a small preview of what to expect from the always entertaining VMAs. The 28th annual bash will be hosted by… Absolutely no one! That’s right, in an odd, questionable twist there will be no host, which surprises and disappoints me because the host is usually the best part (I can still remember Jimmy Fallon’s utterly hilarious hosting job from 2002). The party will begin on MTV this Sunday, August 28, at 9 PM, so flip it over from Palladia (the real music channel) for a couple hours and watch the festivities. I’m praying for Kanye West to do something stupid.
