In the spirit of their trademark astronaut trophy, this year’s MTV Video Music Awards will go where it has never gone before: Las Vegas. The producers are boldly showing they are not afraid to come out of their comfort zones and take risks as they assemble a show full of “first time ever” happenings. The 24th Annual VMAs will be the first to step out of the confines of a four walled traditional venue as they fully utilize the amenities of The Palms Casino Resort with performances taking place in various Fantasy Suites.
Truly keeping the spirit of Vegas, “What happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas”, the show will be broadcast in its original format only once for the live taping on September 9th. In an unprecedented move to incorporate viewer feedback and technology, viewers will cast votes for their favorite segments of the show. Based off the tallies, MTV will rebroadcast the show in a remixed format that features only the chosen segments in the their order of popularity.
Among the first time announcements also came 5 new categories with sensational titles such as: “Monster Single of the Year”, “Most Earthshattering Collaboration”, “Quadruple Threat of the Year”, and “Male Artist of the Year/Female Artist of the Year” which recognizes the artist’s complete body of work throughout the year of 2007.
So as you can see MTV is doing everything it can to hype things up for this year’s show and fans were definitely hype at the press conference this past week, which was took place during the taping of the TRL show on Tuesday August 7th. The audience screamed hollered and applauded for the long list of special surprise visitors which included Rihanna and her stylish gold trimmed cane, Robin Thicke in his traditional cardigan sweater, Chris Brown who got in jokes about not being able to gamble in Vegas, Kanye West, Timbaland, and Lily Allen via sattlelite. All of the invited guests are going to be heavy hitters at the awards this year along with Beyoncé, Amy Winehouse, and Justin Timberlake each racking up a good handful of nominations. Music for the show will be chosen, remixed, and produced by Timbaland and provided live by super DJ/producer Mark Ronson.
And of course no awards show is complete without the parties. The VMAs are invading Vegas for the entire weekend so you already know it will be jam packed with events, parties, and a whole lot of other undisclosed activity that will stay in Vegas. The press conference told of Kanye’s exclusive party, which will take place in The Playboy Sky Villa Suite and judging by Kanye holding it down in NYC with the possible party of the year on his 30th Birthday party in June, I am sure that his party will be one of the hottest in Las Vegas.
However, it was Timbaland who already put out his adult rated warning about his suite party saying, “I hope you are of age. It is going to be uncut and raw.” Does that mean Chris Brown is barred from entering?
So before we get into the nominees, for everybody who missed the TRL show, we just wanted to give you a few hot gossip and quote pieces:
What can you expect from Timbaland as the Maestro?
In his words he is going to “tweek the music and make it funky. I am going to show TV land how to really do an awards show.”
How did Rihanna injure her foot?
According to Rihanna she hit her foot on a chair. She gets the fashion award of the day though for styling and profiling her carefully coordinated cane with complete composure and grace.
Who does Chris Brown think his biggest competition is in the Best Choreagraphy category?
Brown says, “Everybody that does dance has their own unique style but I gotta pick Beyoncé because she shakes it.”
Will Kanye pull a repeat this year and once again make a scene if he loses again to Justice?
(For those of yall who have somehow forgotten, Kanye crashed the stage in Copenhagen at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards when his video for “Touch The Sky” lost to Justice Simian’s “We are Your Friends” for Best Video. According to Kanye at the time, if he didn’t win, the awards show lost credibility)
Well Kanye is definitely not one to bite his tongue. He held his ground about “Jesus Walks” deserving the award and urged all doubters and unbelievers to visit You Tube maintaining, “If you watch what I lost to you will see Touch The Sky was better.”
And what about this year? Kanye showed that he does recognize art and is not just a “sore loser”. He said he would feel much better losing to Justice’s “D.A.N.C.E.” video and he even went so far as to call it “genius”. No word on what he thinks of his other competition in this category, which includes Amy Winhouse (“Rehab”), Beyoncé (“Irreplaceable”), Justin Timberlake (“What Goes around…Comes Around”), and Rihanna feat Jay-Z (“Umbrella”). Hopefully they all have Kanye’s approval as solid competition or else who knows what could happen….
Will Kanye engage in a debate with 50 Cent?
Steering clear of any extra beef, Kanye simply replied “I am not going to debate. I am going to go to the studio and make music.” If I remember correctly that is how old school artists used to face off not at podiums but in the booths and perhaps we will get an old school true battle soon from the two as Kanye lets the music speak for itself.
In case you missed the last update, a recap of the 2007 VMA Nominees.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR:
Amy Winehouse—Rehab
Justice—D.A.N.C.E.
Kanye West—Stronger
Beyonce—Irreplaceable
Justin Timberlake—What Goes Around…Comes Around
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z—Umbrella
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Akon
Kanye West
Justin Timberlake
T.I.
Robin Thicke
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Amy Winehouse
Beyoncé
Fergie
Rihanna
Nelly Furtado
BEST NEW ARTIST:
Amy Winehouse
Carrie Underwood
Gym Class Heroes
Lily Allen
Peter Bjorn & John
BEST GROUP:
Fall Out Boy
Gym Class Heroes
Linkin Park
Maroon 5
White Stripes
MOST EARTHSHATTERING COLLABORATION:
Akon feat. Eminem—Smack That
Beyoncé & Shakira—Beautiful Liar
Gwen Sefani feat. Akon—The Sweet Escape
Justin Timberlake feat. Timbaland—Sexy Back
U2 feat. Green Day—The Saints Are Coming
QUADRUPLE THREAT OF THE YEAR:
Beyoncé
Bono
Jay-Z
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West
MONSTER SINGLE OF THE YEAR:
Avril Lavigne—Girlfriend
Daughtry—Home
Fall Out Boy—THNKS FR TH MMRS
Lil’ Mama—Lip Gloss
MIMS—This Is Why I’m Hot
Plain White T’s—hey There, Delilah
Rihanna—Umbrella
T-Pain feat. Yung Joc—Buy You A Drank
Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson, D.O.E. & Sebastian—The Way I Are
Shop Boyz—Party Like A Rock Star
BEST DIRECTOR:
Beyoncé & Shakira—Beautiful Liar
Christina Aguilera—Candyman
Justin Timberlake—What Goes Around…Comes Around
Kanye West—Stronger
Linkin Park—What I’ve Done
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z—Umbrella
BEST EDITING IN A VIDEO:
Beyoncé & Shakira—Beautiful Liar
Gnarles Barkley—Smiley Faces
Justin Timberlake—What Goes Around…Comes Around
Kanye West—Stronger
Linkin Park— What I’ve Done
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A VIDEO:
Beyoncé & Shakira—Beautiful Liar
Chris Brown—Wall to Wall
Ciara—Like A Boy
Eve—Tambourine
Justin Timberlake feat. Timbaland—Sexy Back
