The 2017 MTV Video Music Awards opened with a performance by Kendrick Lamar that was literal fire. No seriously there was a man engulfed in flames. Lamar performed “D.N.A” and “Humble” but my personal favorite part of the performance were the cut aways of Ellen Degeneres awkwardly nodding along.

Katy Perry opened the show with a skit about space that just didn’t land. The joke didn’t land the first time, and it continued to miss the mark repeatedly as she tried again and again throughout the show. Perry attempted to make twitter and meme references but it just came off as awkward and cringy.

It wouldn’t be the VMA’s without some controversy and 5th Harmony helped deliver it. At the beginning of 5th Harmony’s performance of “Down”, there were five silhouettes standing and as the beat dropped the middle figure flew backward off the stage, effectively throwing shade towards their ex-member Camila Cabello.

A MIA Taylor Swift released the much-anticipated video for her new song, “ Look What You Made Me Do.” I won't talk much about the video here (as we have a review coming), but the more meta Taylor gets the better.

Lorde, sick with the flu, opted to dance along to her song “Homemade Dynamite” instead of singing. Lorde’s gray sweat pants and tin foil dress made it feel like she put on her Mom’s dress and danced around the house. Twitter was quick to make fun her routine but I thought her half ballerina/half street performer dance was refreshing.

Considering Miley Cyrus’ past VMA performances (teddy bears, twerking and grinding on Robin Thicke in 2013 comes to mind) this year’s performance was rather tame and enjoyable. Miley didn’t give us much to talk about this year other than a line full of the elderly spanking each other at the end of “Younger Now”.

Logic gave a very emotional performance of “1-800-273-8255” along with Alessia Cara, Khalid and hundreds of suicide survivors. At the end of the performance, Logic shouted, “I am here to fight for your equality. Because I believe we are all born equal but we are not treated equally. That is why we must fight for the equality of every man, woman, and child regardless of race, religion, color, creed and sexual orientation. So I say here and now if you believe in my message of peace, love, positivity, and equality for all, I demand that you rise to your feet and applaud. Not only for yourselves but for the foundation we are laying for our children.”

Another powerful moment came shortly after as Reverend Robert Wright (a descendant of Robert E. Lee) and Heather Heyer’s mother joined on stage to speak out against racism and hatred and then to award the Moonman for Best Fight Against the System Video. The new category at the VMA’s works to honor the best video with a message, this year all six nominated videos were awarded the Moonman. Heather Heyer’s mother also announced the launch of the Heather Heyer Foundation (heatherheyerfoundation.com) “to help Heather’s fight against hatred.”

Rod Stewart popped in to help DNCE with their cover of “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” which was a very joyful break from all of the political shade and heaviness of the night.

Katy Perry ended the night with an odd yet entertaining performance of “Swish Swish”. Her performance was aggressively basketball themed but was saved when Nicki Minaj came out dressed as a referee and finished off the song.

You can see a complete list of tonight’s winners below:

 

Song of Summer

"XO Tour Llif3" - Lil Uzi Vert

Video of the Year

"HUMBLE." - Kendrick Lamar

Artist of the Year

Ed Sheeran

Best New Artist

Khalid

Best Collaboration

"I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)" - Zayn & Taylor Swift

Best Pop

"Down" Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane

Best Hip Hop

"HUMBLE." - Kendrick Lamar

Best Dance

“Stay” Zedd and Alessia Cara

Best Rock

"Heavydirtysoul" - Twenty One Pilots

Best Fight Against the System

"Black SpiderMan" Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson

"Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)" The Hamilton Mixtape

"Light" - Big Sean

"Scars To Your Beautiful" - Alessia Cara

"Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL" - Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley

"Surefire" - John Legend

Best Cinematography;

"HUMBLE." - Kendrick Lamar

(Scott Cunningham)

Best Direction

"HUMBLE." - Kendrick Lamar

(Dave Meyers & the little homies)

Best Art Direction

"HUMBLE." - Kendrick Lamar

Best Visual Effects

"HUMBLE." - Kendrick Lamar

Best Choreography

"Fade" - Kanye West

(Teyana Taylor, Guapo, Jae Blaze & Derek ‘Bentley' Watkins)

Best Editing

“Wyclef Jean” - Young Thug