Camila wins big at the MTV Video Music Awards

They say that it was because Ariana Grande dared to sing  God Is A Woman. With a statement like that, it was no wonder that the females decided they had better live up to the tag. Well, they did not really live up to it, as in becoming like gods. But they did come very close to that at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards that was held last Aug. 20 at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. As the new Pinoy slang description of beauty says, “Diyosang diyosa sila talaga.”

Or it might have been because the 2018 recipient of the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award was a female who indeed looks like a goddess, Jennifer Lopez. You know, you have these pretty fierce young things looking like they own the red carpet or the stage. And then along comes the 49-year-old woman who with just a simple but oh-so-lovely smile suddenly lords it over everything.

 Napanga-nga ang lahat at the sight of the gorgeous J.Lo, first on the arm of her boyfriend, star baseball player Alex Rodriguez and later on performing onstage. She sang and danced through her hits live from her first, Waiting For Tonight to Jenny On The Block her latest, the VMA nominee Dinero and then made a heartfelt thank-you speech to MTV and her followers.

J.Lo is the first Latin artist to be conferred the Vanguard Award. For all those who asked “Why J.Lo for the Vanguard? Why not Prince or Missy Elliot?” There was proof abundant that evening of how much she deserves it.

That is not all that the girls did in this year’s MTV VMAs, where Travis Scott singing a strong Stop Trying To Be God did nothing to keep the amazons at bay. Why not even icons like Aerosmith or a young Shawn Mendes, rocking in a wet shirt could hold a candle to the massive show of female force.

Nicki Minaj, who just returned to the hit lists with her album Queen, was a golden goddess singing a medley of Majesty, Barbie Dreams and FEFE. This year’s top nominee Cardi B nursed a Moonman trophy and called herself an empress. Ariana had mother, granny and cousin with her in a Last Supper-inspired tableau for God Is A Woman. 

Of course, the evening’s major awards, the Video and Artist of the Year trophies went to, who else, but a woman, Camila Cabello and her hit Havana. Those were two of the 12 wins by videos that starred or featured female artists out of 20 categories.

I say MTV should really be thankful to these girls and to all the stars who took time to attend the event. Stripped of its relevance by the onslaught of social media and the MTV network’s incredulous program choices, the VMAs has now been reduced to just another awards night that the big stars feel they can conveniently skip. Not much exposure there anyway. 

That is why there was no Adele or Taylor or Bruno or Sheeran or Chainsmokers, etc. etc. last Tuesday. The big hip-hop guys, Drake, Kendrick and J-Z, were nowhere to be found. Even the nominees like Beyoncé and Childish Gambino chose not to be there. Well the 60-year-old Madonna, still looking fantastic, came but did they have to make her do that haphazard tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.  I hope she threw a tantrum backstage.

And now here is the complete list of the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards winners:

Video of the Year: Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug

Artist of the Year: Camila Cabello

Song of the Year: Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, rockstar

Best New Artist: Cardi B

Best Collaboration: Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B, Dinero

Push Artist of the Year: April, Hayley Kiyoko

Pop: Ariana Grande, No Tears Left To Cry

Best Hip-Hop: Nicki Minaj, Chun-Li

Best Latin: J. Balvin ft. Willy William, Mi Gente

Best Dance: Avicii ft. Rita Ora, Lonely Together

Best Rock: Imagine Dragons, Whatever It Takes

Video with a Message:  Childish Gambino, This Is America

Best Cinematography: Benoit Debie, APES**T

Best Direction: Hiro Murai, This Is America

Best Art Direction:  Jan Houlevigue, APES**T

Best Visual Effects: Loris Paillier, All The Stars

Best Choreography: Sherrie Silver, This Is America

Best Editing: Taylor Ward, Lemon by N.E.R.D. ft. Rihanna