The 34th annual MTV Video Music Awards show is finally here, and the battle to win the first ever “Video of the Year” Moonperson has never been hotter. Earlier this month, MTV made the monumental move to remove gender-specific categories and replace the original Moonman, with a more inclusive Moonperson trophy. Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars, Alessia Cara, DJ Khaled, and The Weeknd will go head-to-head to see who will join the historical list of previous winners that include everyone from Madonna to Pearl Jam to Beyoncé. As the competition heats up, we would love to see who you think will win. We have broken down each video and created a poll for you to cast your vote. Check it out:
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE”
Kendrick Lamar’s heavy-hitting “Humble” video leads the pack and is up for a whopping eight awards, including Video of the Year. Released this past March, “Humble” has already accumulated over 286 million views on Vevo alone. The video itself brings to life Lamar’s edgy lyrics and illustrates just how far removed our society has become from reality. The scenes are filled with irony and jump from Lamar dressed as the Pope to him dressed in all black lying on a table covered in money. He even poses as Jesus in a re-enactment of Leonardo da Vinci’s, The Last Supper, to further drive his point home. Lamar’s powerful lyrics, heavy allusions, and striking imagery packs “Humble” with the most punch that may knock out his competitors in this category.
Bruno Mars “24K Magic”
Bruno Mars invites viewers to the party of the year in his video “24K Magic”, in hopes to add even more bling to his award collection. It may not pack the same powerful message “Humble”, however, “24K Magic” is filled with all of the flash you would find in Vegas –– cars, cash, girls, gold, and jewels. The playful video delves deep into the concept of extravagance and even has Mars jet skiing through the famous Bellagio fountain. Viewers clearly like what they see because the video has generated over 814 million views on YouTube. This is the fourth time, Mars has been nominated for this award, but he has yet to win it. Is the fourth time a charm?
Alessia Cara “Scars To Your Beautiful”
Alessia Cara’s “Scars To Your Beautiful” video is a shoutout to self-love and acceptance and maybe the dark horse in this category. The video is very simple in nature, featuring Cara singing her message alone in a white room, however, there is one major twist that might take her to the top. Cara is not the star of the video, “Scars To Your Beautiful” incorporates short testimonials from a diverse group of individuals, sharing their personal stories on how they were able to embrace their beauty. From transgender models to cancer survivors and more, the overall authenticity of this video makes it stand out amongst the competition. Being the newest in the industry, Alessia Cara is the clear underdog, with only a total of 56 million views. However, her honest and impactful video could win out over the other nominees.
Vote for “Scars To Your Beautiful”.
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller “Wild Thoughts”
There is no shortage of celebrities in DJ Khaled’s “Wild Thoughts”, featuring Rihanna, Bryson Miller, and Carlos Santana. “Wild Thoughts” is reminiscent of Santana’s hit “Maria Maria” and even samples music from the classic hit. Khaled and Rihanna set the tone of the video, strutting through the streets of a tropical and sensual Miami while Tiller drops his verse comfortably from his window. Khaled saves the best for last by having the video ends with his own fancy footwork. The sexy collab has made “Wild Thoughts” one to the top songs of the summer, attracting more the 312 million views on YouTube, but is star power enough to leave the VMAs a winner?
The Weeknd- “Reminder”
Using a similar strategy to DJ Khaled, the stars aligned in The Weeknd’s video “Reminder” that featured brief appearances from Drake, Travis Scott, A$ASP Rocky, YG, French Montana, and more. Throughout the video The Weeknd jets between Los Angeles and his native city Toronto in a flashy red Lamborghini. The video concludes with The Weeknd and his squad causally burning down Los Angeles. While the “Reminder” video is a step away from The Weeknd’s typically intricate style, it has positively resonated with fans, attracting over 118 million views. With 12 total VMA nominations throughout his career, The Weeknd has never been able to take home the gold. Will “Reminder” be the video to end his VMA drought?
Regardless which video reigns supreme this weekend, each nomination was well-deserved due to the artist’s craftsmanship and creativity. Since there can only be one winner, we would love to hear what you think, so don’t forget to cast your vote in our VMA poll! If your favorite video didn’t make the list, let us know by sending a tweet to @VydiaOffical.