VMA Mini-Wrap Up: Watch Performances by Rihanna, TI, Lil Wayne, T-Pain and Kanye West
So I didn’t watch much of the VMAs, mostly because I spent my entire day waiting with about 300 other people to see Kanye perform in less than glamorous settings. I love Kanye and all, but if it weren’t for luring me there under false pretenses of a mini-concert, I would’ve gladly watched his performance from the comfort of my own home. At any rate…since I didn’t see the entire show I’ll spare you too much commentary and just post a few of the performances of interest.
Rihanna opened the show with “Disturbia”. Although this wasn’t a particularly great vocal performance, I gotta give her credit for singing live and for the most part sounding pretty good. She got all Zombie/Thriller-ish and for the VMAs she did what she was supposed to do which is open them with a bang. Thumbs up.
I know that people have been saying the VMAs suck…but did you see that freaking opening monologue by Russell Brand? He was hysterically funny.
Lil Wayne performed with T-Pain a surprise guest of Leona Lewis…hey that was kinda hot! I wish someone would tell Lil Wayne that no matter how much he sags skinny jeans will never be gangsta. Considering that we just saw Lil Wayne and T-Pain perform “Got Money” at the BET Awards and we’ve already seen Lil Wayne perform “A Milli” so many teams, this seems a little redundant. The Leona Lewis part was definitely the highlight.
TI performed two songs, “Whatever You Like” was up first. I was a little underwhelmed by his performance. The movie set theme of the awards show made the performance very disconnected. TI’s voice being barely audible didn’t help things much either and made it seem like filler before getting to the performance with him and Rihanna. Still not bad though. He picked things up a bit after joining Rihanna onstage for “Live Your Life”. I kinda liked this song when I first heard/posted it a few weeks ago, but this performance really made me like it much more. The song came across a lot more Bonnie & Clyde bad ass live. Definitely HOT!
Finally, Kanye West debuted his new song “Love Lockdown” to close the show out. I had the pleasure of being front row in the audience and everyone was hype…it was exciting to be the first to hear this song live. He channeled the Bejing Olympics opening ceremony with the drummer concept and the lighting effects which added an extra layer of artistry and drama to the performance. The song is a like a mix of Hip Hop, Rock, and even Negro Spiritual. Every time Kanye manages to come with something fresh and totally unexpected and this performance was no different. “Stronger” was totally out of the box and it ended up being one of the top songs of 07…so there is a good chance that this will catch on as well.
What do you guys think of the performances? Who had the best performance? Isn’t it wack how the VMAs were pretty much Britney Spears charity for giving her awards she clearly didn’t deserve? Doesn’t it make a mockery of the artists that busted their asses making music and videos?
Posted by Reecie
i’m sorry but that kanye song SUCKS. stronger was instantly recognizable as an awesome song, this, however is some pure shit
@vpell…yeah Kanye was corny. For like the first 2 minutes I’m like is he singing and is he also doing the voicebox thing. Was not feeling him.
Overall the VMA’s SUCKED. They were SUPER WACK. I did like T.I. and Rihanna duet. Her Disturbia performance was better performance wise because usually she finds that one spot on stage and stays there. She moved around alot which really showcased her vocals and not in a good way. She did not sound good.
Wow Lil Wayne…..it was like watching him perform in his boxer briefs…not a good look. T-Pain is so annoying to me….and they both looked dirty.
How did Britney Spears win 3 awards…shall I say FIXED. Oh and I can’t believe Xtina lipsync her entire song.
P.S. I wash shocked to see Leona Lewis performing with Lil Wayne.
im not sure why… but surprisingly the new Kanye song works for me
if you evaluate in a context outside of hip-hop, i dont think its a bad song
i like the different levels and steady cresencdo build— and although i despise that voice box shit– i dont mind it so much on this song, maybe cuz it saves us from hearing actually singing full out
and reecie, a NEGRO SPIRITUAL!?!?!?!?! dont you think thats a tad bit of a stretch lol
The voicebox is a fad. One wants to be the needle in the haystack - not a haystack. Not everyone agrees. Kanye would never give up originality for a foothold on the latest trend, face it when it comes to popular hip-hop trend,he is the trend. With that said I can not remember the last time people were scurrying around looking for a cdq, the song will definitely go to number one.
Reecie, are you tired of blogging, I wasn’t going to write anything I figured you were attempting to hold on to summer, but clearly its gone. Hmm, although one could argue its always summer on the west coast.
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Jermar….if you listen to parts where Kanye is kinda singing in that low voice you will hear the old negro spiritual type tone and sound in it. Lyrically of course it’s not in that pocket.
Mr. O…I’m not tired of blogging at all. I was on vacation in Chicago for Labor Day with only my iphone so that limited my ability to blog. Plus…I’ve been practically obsessed with the election coverage. Every 4 years I turn into a political junkie and cover the news non-stop. So…moral of the story is I just have my attention focused on other things. I’m picking up the pace again…but I will add that not being able to post zshare or supload links is a major pain in the a$$ and does restrain some of the posting I can do.
I gotta say the VMas last year had a lot more energy i feel but they sucked and this year i feel like it was samll or sumthn lol. Russell Brand got on my nerves after a few min he’s jus not that i dunno funny 2 me neway( i luvd how Jordin Sparks snapped on his ass lol) But yea thas some bogus ass shit how Britney Spears won all dat and for real she dont deserve those jus cuz Mtv wantn her 2 comeback dont mean she deserved them, Mtv was pushn 4 that. Danity Kane shuda won sumthn! Piece of Me music vid aint even that good! Wat else: i ithnk Pink lookd good! Wat was up wit Xtina’s performance????She lip sang! I was like HUH??? And as for Kanye’s performance i like the song but i kept waiting for it to u kno be the song lol it sounded like a intro 2 a song on repeat but i mena who knos….It was an aiight VMA i guess….I thought I read DK was suppose 2 perform but i gues not…they shuda of tho
O and Rihanna seemed out of it wen she came out to open dint she? Like she cud not sing 4 nuthn up there….i dunnoooooooooooo
Kanye’s song was blah. Complete with auto tune which people are getting tired of. Kanye is my favorite rapper and he could have hit with something harder than this.
I swear I’ve been like ten days late on everything. I watched the VMAs and was underwhelmed. It wasn’t so much that they sucked, but more my disbelief that I was missing Mad Men to watch Spears win awards. I didnt see the opening cus I was watching Janet Jackson perform for the troops. That was cool.
So I still don’t like Disturbia. Lil Wayne is catchy as hell…but I need a break from him. The T.I. and Rihanna performance was definitely one of the better parts of the show.
Kanye as usual brought something new. I need to hear the song outside of a performance to listen to it and make up my mind. It definitely had potential.
and @GV…yea overall…Jordin Sparks Promise Ring snap was great. Let the Jonas Brothers bel.
Rihanna gave a nice performance. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was a nice performance for the song.
I wasn’t feeling Russel Brand at all. His jokes about the Jonas brother was a bit much.
Lil Wayne had a great performance. He did look ignorant sagging that much, but he gave a great performance.
TI gave a nice cool performance. IT made me like his new song better. Rihanna was looking hot.
Kid Rock had a great performance. Lil Wayne didn’t add much to it. Ludacris or Jay Z could have added something more. I enjoyed Pink and Katy Perry.
Christina Augilera loss points with me for lip lynching, but the performance and song was hot.
I always considered the pieces of me video lacking. I heard that she came late to the filming of hte video and the director did what he could with it. I believe Britney won all her awards for the drama she have been involved in. Britney did look like she had her act together.
Was Kanye West singing?
I just caught like the last 15 or so minutes of the VMA and didn’t enjoy it one bit! That host was SUPER WACK! And “Weezy” and kid Rock performance was kinda boring too. And what the heck was “Weezy” thinking when he stepped out in those horrible red sagging skinny jeans. That was a definite No No No!
He looked like he was wearing a pair of his daughter’s jeans. As for his performance with T-Pain, I didn’t catch it and at this point, have no desire to. Still loving “Weezy” though.
As for Britney winning all those awards, we all know they only did that to try and boost their low ratings. Too bad it back fired though, it still “SUCKED”, well most of it anyways……………….. ..
But I was able to view Rihanna’s performance on her sight and her performance of Disturbia was crazy!!! I loved it! Her dancing, singing and outfit went perfectly with the song. I also watched her performance with TI and I loved this one, even more. Her vocals was perfect on this one. Two thumbs way up for this one. Don’t know if CB performed but he looked adorable as always. On anothernote, they were “SUPER WACK” for not inviting the best RNB artist out their now, “Ne-yo” to perform. And was even more super wack for not giving him an award he so obviously deserved. Saw him on some pics from the red carpet and he looked as Hot as always! Last but certainly not least. I saw “Kanyes” performance and was really shocked by it. I really didn’t like this one at all, probably because this song was so different from what am used to him singing. Maybe in time I’ll start liking this song when I listen to it more. Loved his hot a*ss outfit though.
All and all, I didn’t watch the whole show but have no interest to after all the low ratings it got on every blog site, Media coverage, word of mouth, and newspaper out their!!!!!!!!!
@ Reecie: just a little fact, chris Brown wrote that song “Disturbia” for Rihanna. And he also gave it to her for free. Their saying that he is in love with that young lady and that they have even moved in with each other. I don’t know about the moving in part though.
Love Lockdown, the actual version leaked.
it grows on you just like very kanye song does.
But it’s weird even for a Kanye track.
Suprisingly my favorite performance of the night was TI and Rhianna. His performance started off boring on the backlot and stuff but when he came to the stage with Rhianna she took it up a notch. I didn’t like that song when I first heard it but now I can’t wait to here it in a club>
808’s & Heartbreak: great another loser trying to sing. ceelo or john legend would have killed this. damn i would killed it myself. compared to most of the progressive electro tracks flooding the market, song is very average.
AP is reporting that Kanye West has been arrested in Los Angeles. He’s getting some street cred apparently.
worst song from kanye i have heard in YEARS… I heard alot of the new album was on that t-pain shit… damn kanye and wayne keep actin like they are singers now….. damn shame
Whoa, HM is back in full force. I thought comments were low for a while but BOOM, back! Awesome
that Kayne song is nice
hlot of folks was not no singers
he sharing a song, awesome song
I actually watched a few more performances before the electricity went out in houston and really enjoyed them. I loved “Weezy’s a Milli performance. I also liked Christina Aguilar gene in a bottle re-mix. Christina is most definitely back with that performance!! I also thought that Jordan Sparks looked absolutely beautiful and thought that her comment about promise rings was right on point!
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lil wayne is d best rapper alive,i love T i too……