I did not watch the VMAs because I think award shows are mostly a waste of time after the pre-show. Plus, nothing will outshine the enigmatic VMA red-carpet fashion of the 90s and early 2000s. Although Katy Perry and Riff Raff did bring it back a la Justin and Britney, I really cannot stand either Perry or Raff, so it was more of an insult than an homage.
But I did wake up (like) this morning to watch Beyoncé‘s unbelievable medley performance that ended with her receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Killing it on so many levels, Beyoncé powered through pretty much her ENTIRE visual album (but not Superpower or Grown Woman, which are my faves, but I’ll forgive her). Highlights please:
This inhuman head-bobble.
Via perezhilton.com
These fine gilded butt-cheeks and impeccable choreography.
Via vh1.tumblr.com
The time I cried actual human tears during “Blue” and those home videos (gosh, Jay can you just always be smiling with a baby in your arms? That would be okay with me.)
This moment of pure cinematic perfection.
And okay, whatever your feelings are on Beyonce’s newfound feminism, it was really Blue Ivy who totally stole the whole damn show. She. Was. Flawless.
And look at Jay’s face! He’s all, “Did anybody see that?” Yes, we did. We saw that. And it was adorable.
At the end of Bey’s performance, Jay and Blue present her with the Video Vanguard Award and Blue says this:
Ugh somebody please buy me a ticket to On The Run. My Birthday is September 10th. Just sayin’.
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2014 VMA, Artists.MTV, Beyonce, MTV VMA Video Vanguard (Medley), Music, More Music Videos
I think I’ve watched the Vine of Jay Z holding Blue so much that it’s going to make an appearance if my life ever flashes before my eyes.
I did watch the whole awards show and Nicki and Bey were the best parts. Really, it was like, “Oh, thank goodness the Beyonce concert is starting. What was that opening act? The VM-somethings?”
That child is so adorable I can’t even deal.
Legitimately had tears in my eyes when she got to singing Blue, and just…uggghhh, the utter joy watching her proud husband and daughter give her such an achievement.
Keep doin’ your thing, Bey.
A straight celebrity displays her nuclear family for profit on TV. So? I like Beyoncé as much as anyone else but I don’t quite understand why this piece is on Autostraddle.
I don’t know about you, but I know a lot of queer women (particularly queer women of colour) for whom Beyoncé and this album have been really important. Maybe something to do with a Black feminist woman owning her sexuality in a really powerful way. Who dedicated a whole song on her latest album to the glory of eating out pussy. *Shrugs* I see where you’re coming from, but there’s something about this album that has become important to the feminist-identified, queer women in my life. Anyone else?
Thanks for your comment, the way you put it does make sense. :)
Also I appreciate how she sings about love and family and stable relationships and ups and downs in an honest way. I love a party song or Adele heartbreak song as much as the next person, but the honesty and authenticity of Bey’s album made it easy to relate to.