What followed was a spectacular 15 minutes that traced a bulk of the record. Opening with the album’s somber ballad “Pray You Catch,” Beyoncé started her set surrounded by the black women that appeared in the stunning art film. The pop star used her performance - which the network kept under wraps until Sunday - to re-create “Lemonade,” her concept musical drama and album that was the night’s biggest nominee with 11 nods, a personal record for the singer. And now it’s not my own, its my family’s, my fans, women, black women … so many people.”Īt the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, Beyoncé stole the show with an ambitious 16-minute medley that covered snippets of her entire groundbreaking surprise visual. “This is such an amazing moment in my career,” she told the audience after being presented with the award by collaborator Drake.
RIHANNA LOVE ON THE BRAIN VMAS FULL
Wearing a ruffled silver gown and backed by a full orchestra she sang “Stay,” her ethereal smash “Diamonds” and the doo-wop-inspired “Love on the Brain,” the latest single from her most recent album “Anti.” “Needed Me,” “Pour It Up” and “Bitch Better Have My Money,” all got tackled as the singer was dressed in a black leotard, knee-high boots, chain necklaces and even a purple boa flung across her shoulder.įor her finale - her fourth set of the night - Rihanna belted her biggest ballads in an elegant closer befitting pop’s reigning hitmaker. Next, she explored the woody trap records she’s cut on her most recent work. She dusted off “Rude Boy” and the sultry “What’s My Name?” and ripped her smash “Work,” while flanked by dozens of dancers that grinded on her. The Barbadian singer paid tribute to her island roots with a set pulled from her infectious reggae and dance-hall-inspired jams. a Hood by Air T-shirt, pink boots, rose-colored shades and her hair up in ponytail - she effortless channeled her most uptempo cuts in a dizzying, dance-heavy medley.Ĭlub smash “Don’t Stop the Music” gave way to “Only Girl (In the World).” The dance-hall rhythms of her debut single “Pon De Replay” flourished before she tore through rave anthems “We Found Love” and “Where Have You Been.”
There was dance-pop Rihanna, opening the show with a set that focused on her biggest dance hits.Ĭlad in a bubblegum-colored cutout pants.
Instead, Rihanna appeared throughout the show, dedicated five-minute segments to the many different personas that define her chameleon approach to pop hitmaking. To accept the night’s biggest honor, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, the pop singer didn’t showcase her hits in a 15-minute retrospective the way previous winners Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé have. Rihanna turned the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards into her own personal showcase.
Britney Spears was a perfect example of that, she of the eternally bared midriff wore what might have passed for a run-of-the-mill black, one-shouldered, side-zip cocktail dress with an asymmetrical hem - but for the narrow triangle of exposed flesh running diagonally from right shoulder to left hip in the Julien Macdonald number she wore - and Nicki Minaj managed to somehow be both covered up and over-exposed thanks to a cobalt blue fishtail-hemmed Bao Tranchi gown that hugged her curves like a kid on Christmas but left little to the imagination thanks to sheer side panels, cutouts over the hips and decolletage criss-crossed in more straps and ties than a Cirque du Soleil safety harness.
RIHANNA LOVE ON THE BRAIN VMAS SKIN
There were over-the-top fantastical ensembles like the ones worn by early arrivals Beyonce and daughter Blue Ivy, the former as an angel-winged ice queen in a strong-shouldered, see-through pale green and metallic fall 2016 couture gown by Maison Francesco Scognamiglio, the latter in full princess mode complete with a tulle skirt, tiara and pair of peach-colored kicks on her feet.Īs in past years, there was plenty of bared skin to be seen though decidedly not in the familiar configurations. The arrivals at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night seemed to have something for everybody - except the dress-shirt industry.