The home stretch, guys. We’ve now reached the VMAs of the 2000s (click to check out the 80s or 90s.) This is the era where we begin to see the decline of the entertainment and performances at the VMAs. (I’ll say the decline starts around ‘05.)
Let’s appreciate the good parts though in VMA’s Retrospective: The 2000s.
Let’s start with my personal favorite VMA performance ever: Britney’s Oops!…I Did It Again performance. This was the world’s first look at how strong of a perfomer Britney Spears is (or was depending on how you see things). The choreography was impeccable, her stage presence is beyond, the remix of Oops is everything, and the intensity of this performance is great. You can tell she really wanted to slay.
And of course, there’s the whole stripping into the nude outfit thing that caused quite the controversy. Mighty provocative for our little Britney.
Britney Spears - (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction/Oops!…I Did It Again
*NSYNC’s 2000 performance is also one of my favorites just for the part with the TVs alone. How sick was that?
*NSYNC - This I Promise You/Bye Bye Bye/It’s Gonna Be Me
This Eminem performance is memorable cause of the extravagance of it all. He got a army of clones to follow him for his performance. His performance even started outside! Also, note how Eminem completely ignores Fred Durst’s attempt for a dap at 2:05. The shade of it all.
Eminem - The Real Slim Shady/The Way I Am:
Britney continued her streak of excellent VMA performances with her flawless rendition of I’m A Slave 4 U featuring my favorite piece of Britney choreography and my favorite guest feature of an animal in a VMA performance. Like that.
Britney Spears - I’m A Slave 4 U:
My favorite *NSYNC performance ever. The pop art set is extravagant and fun. I find this to be such a quintessential boy band performance: the elaborate set, the choreography, and the ridiculousness of it all. Also, the Michael Jackson cameo at the end is insanity.
*NSYNC - Pop
I’m including this because I love Missy Elliott and any performance that features Trina on a VMA stage deserves a spot here.
Missy Elliott - (Feat. Nelly Furtado, Ludacris, & Trina) - One Minute Man/Get Ur Freak On
I remember everyone giving Justin Timberlake shit for this performance when it first aired - calling him a Michael Jackson wannabe and I remember the song getting a rather lukewarm reaction. But I think people realized how great this performance was in time. The choreography never stopped and he sang live through the performance. The song also is the shit, honestly.
Also, if you take a look, you’ll see Kevin Federline in cornrows dancing right behind JT. (You’ll see him the easiest around 2:11). Small world.
Justin Timberlake - Like I Love You
This Diddy peformance goes the fuck off. And this is coming from someone who hates Diddy. When Busta Rhymes comes in, shit. Just a good time.
P. Diddy (Feat. Busta Rhymes, Pharell, & Usher) - Bad Boy For Life/I Need A Girl (Part One)/I Need a Girl (Part Two)/Pass the Courvoiser, Part II.
I can’t even mention this award show without the Britney/Madonna/Christina kiss, which actually is a pretty solid performance from all 3 ladies. Bet you forgot Missy Elliott took part in the performance as well. Mary J. Blige’s face through the whole performance is pretty hysterical also.
Madonna (Feat. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, & Missy Elliott) - Like A Virgin/Hollywood/Work It.
Beyonce’s first VMA solo performance. Beginning a solo career filled with performances that will snatch her contemporaries wigs right by the root and you will all deal.
Kelly Clarkson performing her monstrous hit Since U Been Gone while water pours all over her and audience. Sickening.
I actually really love this Justin Timberlake performance. The dance solo at the beginning is dope and the stage in general for this VMAs was fantastic. Look at all the screens when SexyBack starts playing.
Justin Timberlake - My Love/SexyBack:
The dance break in this Beyonce performance. Lord.
Beyonce - Ring The Alarm:
2007:
Let’s get this travesty out of the way. Britney Spears’ infamous Gimme More performance…sigh. I always wondered how anyone in her team, having seen her rehearse and knowing how the outcome is going to be, let her go on stage! I’m glad she recovered from this.
Britney Spears - Trouble/Gimme More:
This Chris Brown performance made me a HUGE fan (before…y’know…). He danced his ass off and made the best use of that horrendous stage layout. The Rihanna feature seems nearly tragic now.
Chris Brown (Feat. Rihanna) - Wall to Wall/Umbrella/Billie Jean/Kiss Kiss
The last really good VMA performance in my opinion has to be Lady Gaga’s performance of Paparazzi. The fake blood in the end was so dramatic, yet completely genius. This performance introduced a star.
And with that, we’re complete. I won’t touch on the ‘10 & ‘11 VMAs since they basically just took place. Hope you’re all educated now to watch tonight’s 2012 MTV Video Music Awards and whatever (hopefully) exciting performances they’ll bring.
