Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Taylor Swift is having another good year. Just months after her lavish wedding to Travis Kelce, the pop superstar made history on Sunday by becoming the most awarded artist at the MTV Video Music Awards. The 36-year-old Swift had previously been tied with Beyonce for the most Moonman statuettes, with 30. However, she broke the tie by receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors, awarded to her for her work behind the camera on visual storytelling.
She also won Video of the Year, which she dedicated to country legend Dolly Parton. In her tribute, Swift praised the recently deceased performer’s music, stating, “Every single song she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid.” She added, “She handled this fame with such grace and love and gratitude.” Swift used the occasion to premiere the video for her new single “Patient Zero,” featuring actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. In the track, Swift warns a woman about her partner, with whom she had a toxic relationship, singing, “If he’s killing you / I got you / I was patient zero.”
Despite her successes, Swift missed out on some of the show’s biggest categories, including Artist of the Year, which went to the queen of pop, Madonna. While accepting the prize, Madonna reminisced about how her manager scolded her backstage at the very first MTV awards show, where she briefly mooned the audience in a performance fumble. “My manager said my career was over,” she recalled, adding that he wasn’t her manager anymore. Known for creating an unforgettable VMAs moment when she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on stage during a 2003 medley, Madonna opened the show with her first performance since that night. Sporting knee-high boots and her platinum tresses loose, the 68-year-old pop queen sang “Bring Your Love” alongside Sabrina Carpenter before medleying with Charli XCX for “Danceteria.”
While accepting the award for “Best Collaboration” after their performance, Madonna and Carpenter joked about how the material girl direct messaged them via social media to get them into the studio for the collaboration. The grunge band Nirvana received the Video Vanguard award, becoming the first group to receive the top honor in over 20 years. Frontman Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994, shortly after studio albums “Nevermind” and “In Utero” skyrocketed to success. “Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity,” bass player Krist Novoselic said after a video retrospective of the band’s videos. “Something real, something uncompromising. Something that tells you it’s just okay to come as you are.”
Thai artist LISA, a member of the girl group Blackpink, won the award for Best Pop for “Dream,” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. The vast majority of awards were doled out offstage during an evening far better known for its performances and stage antics than its prizes. Kacey Musgraves headlined a tribute to the late country legend Dolly Parton, while Teddy Swims, Sombr, and Raye offered a soulful tribute to crooner George Michael, 40 years after the release of his landmark album “Faith.” Rapper Snoop Dogg hosted the ceremony, which aired on CBS and MTV.
© 2024 AFP
