Entertainment

VMAs 2014: No twerking this time

SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Baby A. Gil - The Philippine Star

August 27, 2014 | 12:00am

I admit I am guilty of the sin. I admit to watching the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) not to find out who will take home the Moon- man trophies but to find out if some- body will make an ass of himself just to get noticed. I can always check on the winners later.

Remember Miley Cyrus and her twerking behind with Robin Thicke from last year? What about Madonna kissing Britney Spears from some years ago? And that one where Kanye West tried to snatch the Best Female Video award from the stunned Taylor Swift? These and other similar mo ments have brought both fame and notoriety to the VMAs.

I expected this year to be no different. Well, Kanye, rude as ever, came to introduce the Artist to Watch category. His wife Kim Kardashian, who presented the award, also elicited some atten- tion for her awful, awful dress. Well, Nicki Minaj had some trouble with her dress but she stayed modest throughout her number with Jessie J and Ariana Grande.

And unbelievable as it may seem, that was all. Is this the MTV Video Music Awards? One wondered. But it is and it will be always remembered as the one when the pop stars chose to be nice. More than nice. I must say because for the first-time ever the VMAs brought proud, happy tears out of those present and from the millions watching in their homes, etc.

Not also because Pharrell Williams lost. I thought his Happy video would go home with a Moonman. Also not because 5 Seconds of Summer and Sam Smith, both hot contenders in the Artist to Watch category, lost to the Simon Cowell-discov- ered Fifth Harmony. It is because two of MTV’s fa- vorite ladies made watching the show worthwhile.

There were talks earlier that since it was at the VMAs where Beyoncé made her pregnancy an- nouncement, she might just confirm her rumored separation from Jay-Z before or after receiving her Michael Jackson MTV Vanguard Award. I thought, maybe but not likely. I was really hoping that the rumors are untrue or she will not do it so soon after Mariah Carey separated from her husband Nick Cannon.

I was right. Beyoncé made no announcement. Instead, she showed us a happy family. Queen Bey closed the show with songs from her Beyoncé album. This was sort of disappointing because I was counting on a Destiny’s Child reunion just like Justin Timberlake’s N’Sync number last year. But Beyoncé performed a powerful set alone. And right after that, Jay-Z ascended the steps with their daughter Blue Ivy to present the award. He called her The Greatest Living Performer. She called him My Beloved. I hope they will stay that way forever.

Miley won Video of the Year for Wrecking Ball. She was there, looking all nice and pretty. But when it came to accepting her trophy, she sent to the stage a young man named Jessie on behalf of My Friend’s Place, which provides help to the many homeless youth in America. It was Miley’s way of raising awareness about the problem and of telling people they can come to her through her site if they want to help. It was a touching moment and Miley herself was fighting hard to hold back her tears. Hannah Montana is maturing nicely, after all.

Really nice of Miley to do that but who would have thought that after last year, this girl will not come up with anything shocking or scandalous for MTV. Come to think of it, this must be the most staid of all the VMAs ever. If I am not mistaken, the VMA is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. That might be the reason for all the proper behavior. It must be because the award is now also older and wiser and can cut down on fun. Anyway, congratulations to the winners.