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Known for her provocative stage outfits and standout performances, Lady Gagato took center stage during the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) show on Sunday, August 30. Nominated for nine awards, she performed alongside Ariana Grande, featuring various costume changes as part of her routine.
Lady Gaga and Grande won two awards together for their collaboration on the song “Rain On Me,” and Lady Gaga herself also received a new lifetime achievement trophy, the Tricon Award.
“This has not been an easy year for a lot of people,” Gaga said. “Stay safe, speak your mind and it may sound like a broken record, but wear a mask.”
Read more: One World concert unites the world amid the coronavirus pandemic
Woman of many faces, Lady Gaga proved that she is also a woman with many masks
Gaga also highlighted the importance of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic through her outfits, proving that the covers are not only life savers, but can also be used as a fashion statement. One of her many masks that night was a muzzle, a perhaps unlikely accessory for the outspoken singer and actress. Another featured an electronic screen.
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande also made sure their message was communicated by their backup dancers, who also wore fancy masks during the BDSM-inspired performance.
Socially distanced ceremony
The VMAs were the first major U.S. awards ceremony to take place since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. They were originally planned to take place at the Barclays Center in the New York borough of Brooklyn. However, the event was filmed without a live audience, using various locations in the city to ensure social distancing.
Most of the performances were prerecorded at various locations in New York City to comply with health and safety guidelines issued under the pandemic. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande starred in their act atop the Empire State Building; Other performances were held at the Skyline Drive-in waterfront theater, where a small audience could watch from their cars.
Although the performers at this year’s VMAs were officially exempt from the mandatory two-week quarantine rules across New York state that apply to people traveling from areas with high rates of coronavirus infections, many celebrities opted for accept your prizes through video calls this year. The 2020 VMAs also paid tribute to essential healthcare workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak, showcasing various doctors or nurses performing spontaneous musical performances over the past few months to lift the spirits of their colleagues.
Several stars also highlighted in their speeches the importance of voting during the show; Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s campaign bought several ads in hopes of reaching young voters for the November 3 presidential election.
By winning in four categories, BTS proved that K-Pop has firmly reached the American market.
Not politics as always
Host Keke Palmer opened the show by dedicating the evening to actor Chadwick Boseman, who died of cancer on Friday at the age of 43. Boseman rose to fame as the star of the 2018 film. Black Panther, which was praised at the time as the first film to portray a person of color as a superhero, inspiring audiences around the world.
The ongoing public debate on systemic racism in the United States was also an important political message that was repeatedly highlighted during the socially estranged awards ceremony. Palmer said, “It’s our time to be the change we want to see. We need to come together, and music has that power.”
“With the Black Lives Matter movement, we have seen our generation step up, take to the streets and make sure our voices are heard. Enough is enough,” added Palmer.
In accepting his Best R&B award, The Weeknd said he was in no mood for a party amid ongoing clashes in the US.
Several artists also expressed their support for the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Singer The Weeknd opened the show saying he wasn’t exactly in the mood to rejoice considering what was happening in other parts of the US:
“It’s really hard for me to celebrate now and enjoy this moment, so I’m just going to say justice for Jacob Blake and justice for Breonna Taylor,” he said, referring to the most recent police shootings in the country.
The Black Eyed Peas who closed the show in a performance with Nicky Jam and Tyga, also addressed the political turmoil in the country, saying “Black Lives Matter” at the end of their set.
Read more: March on Washington 2020: History in the making
Comic relief
Despite so much politics dominating the VMAs, there were also lighthearted moments, comedic references, and some unique firsts. Much to laughter, Miley Cyrus ended her performance by sitting on top of a disco ball, replicating her viral video “Wrecking Ball” from 2013.
Miley Cyrus stole the show with her performance on top of a giant disco ball
With their English song “Dynamite,” K-Pop sensation BTS made their VMA debut. The seven members of the band displayed their intrinsic choreography in front of images of famous New York landmarks like Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge, even though the video was made from South Korea.
The boy band won all four awards for which they had been nominated: best group, pop group, K-pop artist, and choreography.
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