The press is thoroughly covering the Video Music Awards' performers (Britney, Rihanna, etc.), but there's barely any attention being given to the actual nominees for this awards show. Who do you want to win?
Best Group
Fall Out Boy
Gym Class Heroes
Linkin Park
Maroon 5
The White Stripes
My Pick: I think Fall Out Boy succeeded in retaining their fan base two years after their commercial success with their third album, From Under the Cork Tree. But their tourmates Gym Class Heroes are "fresh" artists who've mesmerized lyricist-lovers with their 3rd album As Cruel as School Children with not 1 but 4 singles, and they should be acknowledged for that. And although I can't say much about the White Stripes, I just don't think Maroon 5 and Linkin Park ruled the charts this year like they've done in the past.
Best New Artist
Lilly Allen
Gym Class Heroes
Peter Bjorn & John
Carrie Underwood
Amy Winehouse
My Pick: Again, I think Gym Class Heroes deserves a little more mainstream recognition. But if I had to choose a secondary winner I think it's between Underwood and Winehouse. The Country singer has sold more records than Kelly Clarkson, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment. As for Winehouse, despite her scandalous behavior, Americans wish they could take credit for this UK import's amazing vocals that are so heartbreaking and soulful they'd bring Etta James to tears.
Female Artist of the Year
Beyonce
Fergie
Nelly Furtado
Rihanna
Amy Winehouse
My Pick: This title should go to a person who is not only an amazing singer, but performer. It should go to a woman who was present and topical all year round. And I have to be honest that person is Rihanna. Don't get me wrong. I love all of these female artists. But Beyonce's latest album wasn't the work of a veteran in the music business. Nelly Furtado finally got back into the swing of things after having a baby, but not enough to outdo Winehouse--who isn't much of a performer herself since she skips out on tour dates and barely has a media presence where her fans can get to know her and her passion for music. And although Fergie does manage the media and music well--and had a solo debut that was much more successful than anyone could have ever imagined--she didn't release enough songs that show her range like Rihanna did.
Male Artist of the Year
Akon
Robin Thicke
T.I.
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West
My Pick: The same criteria that I've put for the female artist goes for the male. Although I love Robin Thicke and his single "Lost Without You"--the love-making song of the year--he rode on the coattails of that success without taking it to the next level. I feel like West hasn't quite started his musical campaign this year and that once his album drops it'll be Kanye-palooza. T.I., unlike Akon, has truly evolved as a celebrity personality, as well as an artist--with his dual personality T.I. and T.I.P. But he's no match for Justin Timberlake's mission to bring sexy back not only to his own fans, but Madonna's, Timbaland's, Nelly Furtado's, and the future fans of the artists at his new label Tennman Records.
Monster Single of the Year
"Home" Daughtry
"Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" Fall Out Boy
"Girlfriend" Avril Lavigne
"Lip Gloss" Lil Mama
"This is why I'm Hot" Mims
"Hey There Delilah" Plain White T's
"Umbrella" Rihanna ft. Jay Z
"Buy you a drank" T-Pain feat. Young Joc
"The Way I Are" Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson, D.O.E., & Sebastian
My Pick: I guess we could just look at the charts to figure this out or easily remember what song was on radio replay. Lavigne, Lil Mama, and Mims were summer songs. On my iTunes list, I have Fall Out Boy and Timbaland's singles. But the songs that I took with me on my vacation were Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" and Plain White T's debut single that I just can't get out of my head.
Most Earth-Shattering Collaboration
"Smack That" Akon ft. Eminem
"Beautiful Liar" Beyonce ft. Shakira
"The Sweet Escape" Gwen Stefani ft. Akon
"SexyBack" Justin Timberlake ft. Timbaland
"The Saints are Coming" U2 ft. Green Day
My Pick: Once again, Timberlake and Timbaland ruled the airwaves this year. I barely heard Gwen & Akon and U2 & Green Day's singles. Akon & Eminem's single is way too old for consideration, and I thought Beyonce & Shakira's collabo was crap.
Quadruple Threat of the Year
Beyonce
Bono
Jay-Z
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West
My Pick: I'm assuming to be a quadruple threat you have to corner the market on not only music, but fashion, film, and...a fourth thing. I don't know. It's a lofty award title. I think if I'd have to give this award to someone who I saw everywhere selling their music, their movie, their clothing line, their perfume, their restaurant, their friggin soul it would have to be either Beyonce or Justin Timberlake. But mostly Beyonce.
Video of the Year
"Irreplaceable" Beyonce
"D.A.N.C.E." Justice
"Umbrella" Rihanna ft. Jay Z
"What Goes Around...Comes Around" Justin Timberlake
"Stronger" Kany West
"Rehab" Amy Winehouse
My Pick: Hmmmm Beyonce's song overpowers the video. I don't even understand what's happening in half of Rihanna's video and it would've probably been better if it were a narrative like Timberlake's. But Scarlett Johannsson sort of ruined Justin's video for me because I really didn't understand why such an accomplished actress would demean herself for a music video. I probably would've liked Winehouse's video more if she didn't look so bored in it. The two real competitors here are Justice and West. The direction, graphics, production, and the ideas behind them were very original--for this generation.
Best Choreography
"Beautiful Liar" Beyonce ft. Shakira
"Wall to Wall" Chris Brown
"Like a Boy" Ciara
"Tambourine" Eve
"My Love" Justin Timberlake
My Pick: Although Beyonce and Shakira's mirror-dancing was...well-coordinated and Chris Brown's vampire dance adventure was...amusing and Eve's attempt at choreography was truly noble, Justin and Ciara were the ones with sick moves.
Best Director
"Candyman" Christina Aguilera
"Beautiful" Beyonce ft. Shakira
"Stronger" Kanye West
"What I've Done" Linkin Park
"Umbrella" Rihanna ft. Jay Z
"What Goes Around...Comes Around" Justin Timberlake
My Pick: This category is kind of similar to the best video category, so I would have to say that West's director Hype Williams has the best chance of winning. Samuel Bayer's collaboration with Timberlake was shot very much like a noir, making it seem like an audition tape for bigger productions. And I guess Matthew Rolston, a music video vet of 18 yrs, did an impressive job of bringing Christina Aguilera into an era that would match her old school song. The other two just weren't as impressive.
Best Editing
"Beautiful Liar" Beyonce ft. Shakira
"Smiley Faces" Gnarls Barkley
"What I've done" Linkin Park
"What Goes Around...Comes Around" Justin Timberlake
"Stronger" Kanye West
My Pick: I don't even remember seeing this category last year. I guess now with YouTube hitting it big and kids everywhere learning the art of editing a killer video, they expected MTV viewers to appreciate this category. After watching Gnarls Barkley, I'd have to say the mixture of degraded film and present day footage is much more impressive than West's Japanese cultural revolution.
Tune in tonight at 8pm to watch the performances and see who wins.
Best Group
Fall Out Boy
Gym Class Heroes
Linkin Park
Maroon 5
The White Stripes
My Pick: I think Fall Out Boy succeeded in retaining their fan base two years after their commercial success with their third album, From Under the Cork Tree. But their tourmates Gym Class Heroes are "fresh" artists who've mesmerized lyricist-lovers with their 3rd album As Cruel as School Children with not 1 but 4 singles, and they should be acknowledged for that. And although I can't say much about the White Stripes, I just don't think Maroon 5 and Linkin Park ruled the charts this year like they've done in the past.
Best New ArtistLilly Allen
Gym Class Heroes
Peter Bjorn & John
Carrie Underwood
Amy Winehouse
My Pick: Again, I think Gym Class Heroes deserves a little more mainstream recognition. But if I had to choose a secondary winner I think it's between Underwood and Winehouse. The Country singer has sold more records than Kelly Clarkson, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment. As for Winehouse, despite her scandalous behavior, Americans wish they could take credit for this UK import's amazing vocals that are so heartbreaking and soulful they'd bring Etta James to tears.
Female Artist of the YearBeyonce
Fergie
Nelly Furtado
Rihanna
Amy Winehouse
My Pick: This title should go to a person who is not only an amazing singer, but performer. It should go to a woman who was present and topical all year round. And I have to be honest that person is Rihanna. Don't get me wrong. I love all of these female artists. But Beyonce's latest album wasn't the work of a veteran in the music business. Nelly Furtado finally got back into the swing of things after having a baby, but not enough to outdo Winehouse--who isn't much of a performer herself since she skips out on tour dates and barely has a media presence where her fans can get to know her and her passion for music. And although Fergie does manage the media and music well--and had a solo debut that was much more successful than anyone could have ever imagined--she didn't release enough songs that show her range like Rihanna did.
Male Artist of the YearAkon
Robin Thicke
T.I.
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West
My Pick: The same criteria that I've put for the female artist goes for the male. Although I love Robin Thicke and his single "Lost Without You"--the love-making song of the year--he rode on the coattails of that success without taking it to the next level. I feel like West hasn't quite started his musical campaign this year and that once his album drops it'll be Kanye-palooza. T.I., unlike Akon, has truly evolved as a celebrity personality, as well as an artist--with his dual personality T.I. and T.I.P. But he's no match for Justin Timberlake's mission to bring sexy back not only to his own fans, but Madonna's, Timbaland's, Nelly Furtado's, and the future fans of the artists at his new label Tennman Records.
Monster Single of the Year"Home" Daughtry
"Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" Fall Out Boy
"Girlfriend" Avril Lavigne
"Lip Gloss" Lil Mama
"This is why I'm Hot" Mims
"Hey There Delilah" Plain White T's
"Umbrella" Rihanna ft. Jay Z
"Buy you a drank" T-Pain feat. Young Joc
"The Way I Are" Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson, D.O.E., & Sebastian
My Pick: I guess we could just look at the charts to figure this out or easily remember what song was on radio replay. Lavigne, Lil Mama, and Mims were summer songs. On my iTunes list, I have Fall Out Boy and Timbaland's singles. But the songs that I took with me on my vacation were Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" and Plain White T's debut single that I just can't get out of my head.
Most Earth-Shattering Collaboration"Smack That" Akon ft. Eminem
"Beautiful Liar" Beyonce ft. Shakira
"The Sweet Escape" Gwen Stefani ft. Akon
"SexyBack" Justin Timberlake ft. Timbaland
"The Saints are Coming" U2 ft. Green Day
My Pick: Once again, Timberlake and Timbaland ruled the airwaves this year. I barely heard Gwen & Akon and U2 & Green Day's singles. Akon & Eminem's single is way too old for consideration, and I thought Beyonce & Shakira's collabo was crap.
Quadruple Threat of the Year Beyonce
Bono
Jay-Z
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West
My Pick: I'm assuming to be a quadruple threat you have to corner the market on not only music, but fashion, film, and...a fourth thing. I don't know. It's a lofty award title. I think if I'd have to give this award to someone who I saw everywhere selling their music, their movie, their clothing line, their perfume, their restaurant, their friggin soul it would have to be either Beyonce or Justin Timberlake. But mostly Beyonce.
Video of the Year
"Irreplaceable" Beyonce
"D.A.N.C.E." Justice
"Umbrella" Rihanna ft. Jay Z
"What Goes Around...Comes Around" Justin Timberlake
"Stronger" Kany West
"Rehab" Amy Winehouse
My Pick: Hmmmm Beyonce's song overpowers the video. I don't even understand what's happening in half of Rihanna's video and it would've probably been better if it were a narrative like Timberlake's. But Scarlett Johannsson sort of ruined Justin's video for me because I really didn't understand why such an accomplished actress would demean herself for a music video. I probably would've liked Winehouse's video more if she didn't look so bored in it. The two real competitors here are Justice and West. The direction, graphics, production, and the ideas behind them were very original--for this generation.
Best Choreography"Beautiful Liar" Beyonce ft. Shakira
"Wall to Wall" Chris Brown
"Like a Boy" Ciara
"Tambourine" Eve
"My Love" Justin Timberlake
My Pick: Although Beyonce and Shakira's mirror-dancing was...well-coordinated and Chris Brown's vampire dance adventure was...amusing and Eve's attempt at choreography was truly noble, Justin and Ciara were the ones with sick moves.
Best Director"Candyman" Christina Aguilera
"Beautiful" Beyonce ft. Shakira
"Stronger" Kanye West
"What I've Done" Linkin Park
"Umbrella" Rihanna ft. Jay Z
"What Goes Around...Comes Around" Justin Timberlake
My Pick: This category is kind of similar to the best video category, so I would have to say that West's director Hype Williams has the best chance of winning. Samuel Bayer's collaboration with Timberlake was shot very much like a noir, making it seem like an audition tape for bigger productions. And I guess Matthew Rolston, a music video vet of 18 yrs, did an impressive job of bringing Christina Aguilera into an era that would match her old school song. The other two just weren't as impressive.
Best Editing"Beautiful Liar" Beyonce ft. Shakira
"Smiley Faces" Gnarls Barkley
"What I've done" Linkin Park
"What Goes Around...Comes Around" Justin Timberlake
"Stronger" Kanye West
My Pick: I don't even remember seeing this category last year. I guess now with YouTube hitting it big and kids everywhere learning the art of editing a killer video, they expected MTV viewers to appreciate this category. After watching Gnarls Barkley, I'd have to say the mixture of degraded film and present day footage is much more impressive than West's Japanese cultural revolution.
Tune in tonight at 8pm to watch the performances and see who wins.
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