The incomparable career of Missy Elliott, the rapper-singer-songwriter-producer-dancer whose music videos have moved the needle over the last two decades, was honoured at the 2019 MTV B次元官网网址 Music Awards, where Taylor Swift also took centre stage with her gay pride anthem, B次元官网网址淵ou Need to Calm Down.B次元官网网址�
Elliott earned the Michael Jackson B次元官网网址 Vanguard Award, and brought her colorful and eccentric music videos to life, from B次元官网网址淲ork ItB次元官网网址� to B次元官网网址淟ose Control,B次元官网网址� on Monday at the Prudential Center in Newark.
She even sported the inflated trash bag she wore with confidence and charisma in the video for B次元官网网址淭he Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)B次元官网网址� in 1997.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e worked diligently for over two decades and I never thought I would be standing up here receiving this award,B次元官网网址� Elliott said.
The 48-year-old game-changer dedicated her award to the dance community and said her music video inspirations included Janet Jackson, Madonna, Peter Gabriel and Busta Rhymes.
She also honoured the late R&B icon Aaliyah, with whom she was close and collaborated. The 18th anniversary of AaliyahB次元官网网址檚 death was Sunday.
B次元官网网址淎aliyah, I love you. We miss you,B次元官网网址� Elliott said in her acceptance speech.
Other performers Monday included former Fifth Harmony member Normani, who won best R&B video and brought skilled dance moves to B次元官网网址淢otivationB次元官网网址�; Spanish singer Rosalia, who also danced with precision and won best Latin and best choreography awards; and rapper-singer Lizzo, who turned into a gospel singer as she wowed the audience with the upbeat anthem B次元官网网址淕ood As Hell,B次元官网网址� her 2016 song that reached new heights this year. She also sang B次元官网网址淭ruth Hurts,B次元官网网址� which was released in 2017 but became a worldwide hit this year.
The VMAs, which took place in New Jersey for the first time, closed with a superb performance by artists from the Garden State B次元官网网址� including Queen Latifah, Redman, Wyclef Jean, Naughty by Nature and Fetty Wap. Rapper-actor Ice-T, who has loudly represented the West Coast, introduced the performance and reminded the audience that he was born in Newark.
Outside the arena, before the show began, a handful of people were arrested for protesting NewarkB次元官网网址檚 water crisis. Elevated levels of lead have been found in the water, leading city officials to distribute water and water filters to residents.
Inside, Swift kicked off the VMAs, going from eye-popping pop star to guitar-strumming singer-songwriter. She gave a colorful performance of B次元官网网址淵ou Need to Calm DownB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� which won video of the year B次元官网网址� and later grabbed her guitar to sing the ballad B次元官网网址淟over,B次元官网网址� the title track from her album released Friday.
B次元官网网址淚 just want to say that this is a fan-voted award, so I first want to say thank you to the fans, because in this video several points were made, so you voting for this video means that you want a world where weB次元官网网址檒l all treated equally,B次元官网网址� she said.
Swift and a number of cast members from the video appeared onstage to accept the honour. The video for B次元官网网址淵ou Need to Calm Down,B次元官网网址� a song in which Swift calls out homophobes and her own haters, featured a number of famous faces, including Ellen DeGeneres, Laverne Cox, RuPaul and the cast of B次元官网网址淨ueer Eye.B次元官网网址� Before the videoB次元官网网址檚 release, Swift announced that she supported the Equality Act.
B次元官网网址淵ou Need to Calm DownB次元官网网址� also won the video for good honour. Todrick Hall, the multi-faceted entertainer who has appeared in some of SwiftB次元官网网址檚 videos, including B次元官网网址淵ou Need to Calm Down,B次元官网网址� accepted the honour.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e a young child thatB次元官网网址檚 out there watching this show who is different, who feels misunderstood, weB次元官网网址檝e never needed you more than now to share your art, share your stories, share your truth with the world no matter what you identify as, who you identify as, who you love. This is such a beautiful place,B次元官网网址� said Hall, who co-executive-produced the video.
Swift won three honours, tying with Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish for most wins of the night. Grande, named artist of the year, and Eilish, who won best new artist, didnB次元官网网址檛 attend the VMAs. BTS also didnB次元官网网址檛 attend the show, hosted by comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco, but they won two honours: best group and best K-pop.
Other winners included Cardi B, who took home best hip-hop for B次元官网网址淢oneyB次元官网网址�; Jonas BrothersB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淪uckerB次元官网网址� won best pop; B次元官网网址淪enorita,B次元官网网址� which Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello performed during the show, won best collaboration and best cinematography; and the Chainsmokers and Bebe RexhaB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淐all You MineB次元官网网址� won best dance.
Megan the Stallion, who performed during the pre-show, won best power anthem with her new hit, B次元官网网址淗ot Girl Summer,B次元官网网址� featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Nicki Minaj.
Lil Nas X and Billy Ray CyrusB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淥ld Town Road,B次元官网网址� the longest-running No. 1 song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, won song of the year and best direction.
B次元官网网址淭his is my first award ever,B次元官网网址� the 20-year-old newcomer said.
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Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press
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