Camila Cabello Nabs Artist of the Year, Video of the Year
By DONNA BALANCIA
The MTV Video Music Awards brought out some eclectic performances and big wins for Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B., and Childish Gambino’s “This Is America.”
“This Is America,” one of the most symbolic and interpreted videos of the year, needed no interpretation Monday night when it won Best Choreography, Video With a Message, and Best Direction.
In accepting the Video Vanguard award, Lopez gave a heartfelt speech, thanking fans, friends and family, honoring her mother Lupe, her father, David and beau, former New York Yankee, Alex Rodriguez.
“This has been an incredible journey of dreaming my wildest dreams and then watching them come true,” Lopez said.
Camila Cabello Big Winner
Opening the show was Cardi B. holding what people may have thought was a baby swaddled in a blanket, but it was the renowned MTV Moon Man statue. She came back to the stage when she won her own Moon Man for Best New Artist and when she won Song of Summer with Bad Bunny and J Balvin for “I Like It”
Shawn Mendes had the first song of the night opening with a booming theatrical version of his latest song, “In My Blood” released last March.
There were tributes to Aretha Franklin, who passed away last week at the age of 76.
Madonna, garbed in a long grey dress and wearing braids and and a headpiece, recalled that she was inspired by Franklin when she started out in pursuit of her musical career. She presented the Video of The Year to Camila Cabello for “Havana.” Cabello also won the coveted Artist of the Year.
Aretha Franklin ‘Changed’ Madonna’s Life
“Aretha Louise Franklin changed the course of my life,” Madonna said. “I left Detroit when I was 18 with $35 in my pocket.” Madonna recalled she auditioned without sheet music and instead “blurted out” ‘You make me feel like a natural woman.”As a result she was invited to Paris to start her career.
“None of this could have happened without our Lady of Soul,” Madonna said. “She led me to where I am today and I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight … Long live the queen.”
Nicki Minaj won Best Hip Hop video for “Chun Li,” and Ariana Grande won Best Pop Video for “No Tears Left to Cry.” J. Lo took home Best Collaboration award for “Dinero” featuring DJ Khaled and Cardi B., and the Video Vanguard Award.
Avicii, Post Malone and Aerosmith
Best Dance Video went to the late Avicii, for “Lonely Together” featuring Rita Ora. He died last April.
But arguably the highlight of the night was the show finale with Post Malone and Aerosmith, who teamed up on a live version of “Dream On.”
WINNERS
Video of the Year:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
WINNER: Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Artist of the Year:
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
WINNER: Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Post Malone
Song of the Year:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Dua Lipa – “New Rules”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
WINNER: Post Malone – “rockstar” [ft. 21 Savage]
Best New Artist:
Bazzi
WINNER: Cardi B
Chloe x Halle
Hayley Kiyoko
Lil Pump
Lil Uzi Vert
Best Collaboration:
Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Jennifer Lopez – “Dinero” [ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B]
Logic – “1-800-273-8255” [ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid]
N.E.R.D – “Lemon” [ft. Rihanna]
Best Pop Video:
WINNER: Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
P!nk – “What About Us”
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Hip Hop Video:
Cardi B – “Bartier Cardi” [ft. 21 Savage]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
J. Cole – “ATM”
Migos – “Walk It Talk It” [ft. Drake]
WINNER: Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li”
Best Dance Video:
WINNER: Avicii – “Lonely Together” [ft. Rita Ora]
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
The Chainsmokers – “Everybody Hates Me”
David Guetta & Sia – “Flames”
Marshmello – “Silence” [ft. Khalid]
Zedd & Liam Payne – “Get Low (Street Video)”
Best Latin Video:
Daddy Yankee – “Dura”
WINNER: J Balvin – “Mi Gente” [ft. Willy William]
Jennifer Lopez – “Dinero” [ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B]
Luis Fonsi – “Échame La Culpa” [ft. Demi Lovato]
Maluma – “Felices los 4”
Shakira – “Chantaje” [ft. Maluma]
Best Rock Video:
Fall Out Boy – “Champion”
Foo Fighters – “The Sky Is A Neighborhood”
WINNER: Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
Linkin Park – “One More Light”
Panic! at the Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”
Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk On Water”
Video With a Message:
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – “Liberated”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Janelle Monáe – “PYNK”
Jessie Reyez – “Gatekeeper”
Logic – “1-800-273-8255” [ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid]
Best Cinematography:
Alessia Cara – “Growing Pains”
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Eminem – “River” [ft. Ed Sheeran]
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Direction:
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
Justin Timberlake – “Say Something” [ft. Chris Stapleton]
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Art Direction:
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
J. Cole – “ATM”
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
SZA – “The Weekend”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
Best Visual Effects:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together”
Eminem – “Walk On Water” [ft. Beyoncé]
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “All The Stars”
Maroon 5 – “Wait”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
Best Choreography:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dua Lipa – “IDGAF”
Justin Timberlake – “Filthy”
Best Editing:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
WINNER: N.E.R.D – “Lemon” [ft. Rihanna]
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
Push Artist of the Year:
July 2018 – Chloe x Halle
June 2018 – Sigrid
May 2018 – Lil Xan
WINNER: April 2018 – Hayley Kiyoko
March 2018 – Jessie Reyez
February 2018 – Tee Grizzley
January 2018 – Bishop Briggs
December 2017 – Grace VanderWaal
November 2017 – Why Don’t We
October 2017 – PRETTYMUCH
September 2017 – SZA
August 2017 – Kacy Hill
July 2017 – Khalid
June 2017 – Kyle
May 2017 – Noah Cyrus
Song of Summer:
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
WINNER: Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo – “No Brainer”
Drake – “In My Feelings”
Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
Juice WRLD – “Lucid Dreams”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – “Girls Like You”
Post Malone – “Better Now”