Live performances highlight of MTVs Video Music Awards

INGLEWOOD—MTV hosted an epic night of music with unforgettable performances, unpredictable moments and heartfelt messages as the 2014 “MTV Video Music Awards” were held live at The Forum in Inglewood, CA.

Beyonce’ welcomed MTV and the audience to her world as she built on her VMA legacy with a medley of songs from her visual album “Beyonce’.” Always the trailblazer, Beyonce’ celebrated where she is as an artist today and pulled back the curtain on her family life with poignant images from home movies showing her as a wife and mother.  The backdrop throughout her performance reinforced messages of female empowerment and sampled a powerful quote and call to feminism from the prominent Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

After Beyonce’ broke Justin Timberlake’s 2013 record for the longest VMA performance ever, Jay Z and Blue Ivy unexpectedly joined her on stage for a highly emotional moment as her family presented her with the “Michael Jackson Video Vanguard” Award.  Humbled and speaking through tears, Beyonce’ thanked God, her daughter, her “beloved,” MTV and her fans. She also won the most awards of the evening, taking home Moonmen in three different categories, including “Best Collaboration” for “Drunk in Love” and “Best Video With a Message” for “Pretty Hurts.”

To accept “Video of the Year,” Miley Cyrus shocked the world. She left her twerking ways to the 2013 VMAs and this year, delivered a heartfelt message.  A former homeless youth in Los Angeles named Jesse took the stage in her place to accept her award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the U.S.  From the side of the stage, Miley teared up watching him make a call to action, directing fans to her Facebook page to join the fight to end youth homelessness.  Jesse ended with an emotional quote, “a dream you dream alone is only a dream.  A dream you dream together is a reality.”

The 2014 “MTV Video Music Awards” opened with the summer’s fiercest female threesome. Ariana Grande kicked it all off by starting an intergalactic dance party with her Zedd-produced hit, “Break Free.” Grande emerged from a spaceship before being joined by the Queen of Hip-hop, Nicki Minaj, who hit the stage to unleash “Anaconda” on the world with an eye-popping, rump-shaking performance. Finally, British singer-songwriter Jessie J joined the titillating trio to bring the house down with their smash-hit, “Bang Bang.” Nicki returned with a wardrobe malfunction that left her clutching her dress.

Rocking to the sounds of an all-female brass section, Taylor Swift literally “shook it off” in her fourth VMA appearance with a fun romp around the stage. Leading a group of tuxedo-clad dancers, she performed her new single “Shake it Off,” from her soon-to-be released pop album, “1989.”  Later when Lorde won for “Best Rock” video, Taylor enthusiastically cheered on her new BFF as Lorde headed for the stage to accept her award.

Before introducing “Best Hip-Hop Video,” Common asked the VMA audience for a moment of silence to mark the events taking place in Ferguson, Missouri, with some members of the in-house audience responding by spontaneously raising their hands overhead.

Introduced by super-fan Kim Kardashian West, British singing sensation and first-time VMA performer Sam Smith mesmerized the audience — and the Kardashian-Jenner sisters — as he and his band orchestrated a soulful rendition of his powerful hit ballad “Stay with Me.”

Several times throughout the evening, Saturday Night Live’s Jay Pharoah had the audience rolling with laughter as he performed several comedic bits including spot on impersonations of Kanye West and Jay Z.

Multi-platinum global R&B star Usher delivered a funk-filled performance of his single “Give it to You,” bringing the audience to their feet and surprising everyone when Nicki Minaj once again returned to join him onstage during their rhythmically charged set.

With high pitched screams welcoming them to the stage, Australian pop punk band 5 Seconds of Summer made young girls swoon with their “Video Music Award” debut and serenaded the audience with their recently released song “Amnesia.”

Before the night was over, this summer’s pop phenomenon, Iggy Azalea and her troop of ninja ballerinas took over the stage with choreographed precision. Joined by the ever-seductive Rita Ora, the duo unleashed a dark and futuristic performance of their hit, “Black Widow.”

For the lone outdoor performance of the evening in front of the “Fabulous Forum” and their majestic “M” logo serving as the backdrop amongst a sea of three thousand fans cheering their hometown musical heroes on, Maroon 5 gave a fiery performance of their smash hit single “Maps.”

2014 “MTV Video Music Award Winners:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball”

BEST HIP HOP:

Drake ft. Majid Jordan – “Hold On (We’re Going Home)”

BEST MALE:

Ed Sheeran – “Sing”

BEST FEMALE:

Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – “Dark Horse”

BEST POP:

Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – “Problem”

BEST ROCK:

Lorde – “Royals”

MTV ARTIST TO WATCH:

Fifth Harmony – “Miss Movin On”

BEST COLLABORATION:

Beyonce’ ft. JAY Z – “Drunk In Love”

MTV CLUBLAND AWARD:

Zedd ft. Hayley Williams – “Stay the Night”

BEST VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE

Beyonce’ – “Pretty Hurts”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Beyonce’ – “Pretty Hurts”

BEST EDITING

Eminem – “Rap God”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Sia – “Chandelier”

BEST DIRECTION

DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down For What”

BEST ART DIRECTION

Arcade Fire – “Reflektor”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

OK Go – “The Writing’s On the Wall”

BEST LYRIC VIDEO

5 Seconds of Summer – “Don’t Stop”