Member Since: 8/22/2009
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A decade of MTV "Video of the Year Awards"
In order to win MTV's coveted VMA Video of the Year award, a few things must take place.
•First of all you've got to be famous.
•Second, you've got to have the kind of song that is played on the radio at least five times an hour.
•And last but not least, your music video must make a memorable impact.
Quote:
2000 - Eminem: "The Real Slim Shady"
Who can forget seeing a million blonde haircut-wearing Eminem clones marching into Radio City Music Hall during the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards? "The Real Slim Shady" was one of the most contagious hip-hop ditties of the decade. Eminem has a penchant for commenting on the perceived mediocrity of the pop music industry. His video for "The Real Slim Shady" was no exception to the rule. Eminem is featured in an insane asylum surrounded by Slim Shady wannabes and celebrity look-alikes, pulling more than a few punches at his musical "comrades."
2001 - Christina Aguilera, Mya, Lil Kim, and Pink/ Missy Elliott: "Lady Marmalade"
The original "Lady Marmalade" was already a huge hit in 1974 when LaBelle introduced it to the world. But producer Missy Elliott breathed new life into the classic when she chose the naughtiest women of hip-hop and R&B to give a fresh voice to this quintessential Bad Girl anthem. The video is a virtual burlesque peep show - overloaded with lip-gloss and lace. The only thing that rivaled this music video's eye candy was the powerful combination of these women's voices.
2002 - Eminem: "Without Me"
Yep, Marshall Mathers did it again. The artist also known as Eminem raps so fast that you can barely make out what he's saying. It's a good thing he's got some really great videos to back up all that rapid-fire machismo. Such was the case in the video for "Without Me" - a follow-up to his wildly successful "Slim Shady." "Without Me" is like a five-minute episode of SNL and MadTV wrapped up in one—a politically incorrect Saturday morning cartoon. Don't blink or you'll miss tons of the rapper's not-so-indirect jabs at pop culture.
2003 - Missy Elliott: "Work It"
Missy Elliott was a busy woman in the early 2000s, putting her indelible stamp on pop and R&B music. Her "twirky" video for hit single "Work It' is a prime example of Elliott's clever mish-mash of naughty lyrics and trippy imagery. A throwback to 80s classic hip-hop, Missy flips and reverses the lyrics of the chorus until the hook itself becomes a catchy mish-mash. Few female MCs can blend camp, sex appeal, and "necessary roughness"; Missy's "Work It" video does all three.
2004 - Outkast: "Hey Ya"
This Atlanta duo made a sparkling diversion from their playalistic reputation. For some, this jaunty single took some getting used to. But once the music video hit the airwaves, millions immediately were hooked. It became totally obvious that Outkast had tapped into uncharted territory within the hip-hop world. The video for "Hey Ya" was a playful take on the black-and-white bandstand performances of yesteryear. And besides, who wouldn't want to a full band comprised of multiple Andre 3000's? Pure brilliance...
2005 - Green Day: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
This long-standing punk entity is no stranger to MTV. Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" has one of the catchiest melodies of all time. For this song, they abandoned their traditionally jumpy punk affect in exchange for a desolate mid-tempo groove. Touted the band's most successful song of all time, the video's gloomy lighting and shantytown images highlight the tune's "broken dreams."
2006 - Panic! At the Disco: "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Take just one look at this incredibly festive music video, and you can immediately tell why it won the Video of the Year award in 2006. This self-proclaimed pop/punk band is great at creating visuals both on and off the small screen. Panic! At the Disco is known for its host of creative musical interpretations. But the music video for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is a scary/happy cornucopia of carnival-like images: a feast for the eyes.
2007 - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z: "Umbrella"
This insanely infectious song is probably still ringing in your ears. Pop queen Rihanna ruled the charts with her hit single, "Umbrella." The "good girl gone bad" showcased slinky, yet graceful moves under a shower of illuminated "raindrops". This über-stylized music video (also featuring a nude, silver paint-drenched Rihanna) was the perfect backdrop to what had become an unforgettable pop song.
2008 - Britney Spears: "Piece of Me"
Britney Spears made her comeback after months of living out her sordid life in tabloid headlines. Brit took this opportunity to get back at the press (and millions of Nay Sayers) with "Piece of Me", the single that both highlighted her troubles, but also her professional and personal resilience. Featuring a host of campy paparazzi insults, this music video served as the consummate "get back" vehicle.
2009 - Beyoncé: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
All the single ladies... Alllll the single ladies—put their hands up, every time this song hit the air. Beyoncé gave the term "single ladies" a whole new meaning. And if the melody didn't stick to your brain, the image of Beyoncé and her backup dancers most certainly did. The music video became such a huge craze that it was parodied hundreds of times online, and even on Saturday Night Live - the nation's most popular TV comedy series. Even 7-year olds got in on the act, serving up much controversy amongst those who didn't approve of gyrating grade schoolers. Like it or not, the "Single Ladies" video gave women visual reference to tell their men to "put a ring on it."
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My telephone, my, my, my telephone
