2011 MTV Video Music Awards

In 2009, Kanye West made his infamous interruption while Taylor Swift collected her moonman for Best Female Video, that same year Lil’ Mama crashed Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performance. In 2010, Lady Gaga dressed up in a meat dress and Chelsea Handler delivered a less than stellar hosting performance. Now in 2011, Lady Gaga dressed up as a man, Beyonce announced a pregnancy and a fan tried to crash Jay-Z and Kanye Wests performance, so without a doubt I think we can say that MTV is no stranger to controversial and memorable moments that transcend into positive TV ratings.

The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards had no host this year which was probably a good idea after the terrifying performance of its host last year. Though I am still furious over the fact that Bruno Mars and Adele were snubbed for performance awards, it was still an impressive and enjoyable show nonetheless especially when compared to the tragedy that was broadcasted last year. Lady Gaga opened the show as her alter-ego Joe Calderone performing a rock and roll influenced version of her new single You and I, which was a perfect way to kick off the show. Chris Brown brought down the house with an acrobatic themed performance of a medley of songs, Beyonce brought the funk and soul performing a vocally charged song off her new album called Love On Top, while Pitbull and Ne-Yo tried to keep the energy up with Give Me Everything. Tribute performances were done for the late Amy Winehouse (Bruno Mars performed Valerie) and Britney Spears, however, the performance of the night belonged to Adele who brought down the house with a powerful rendition of Someone Like You, a performance similar to the way she performed the song at the Brit Awards.

With regards to awards, Katy Perry won Video of the Year and a number of others, Justin Bieber won Best Male Video and unexpectedly, Tyler the Creator of Odd Future took home the award for Best New Artist. For the full list of winners, see below;

BEST NEW ARTIST
Tyler, The Creator, “Yonkers”

BEST MALE VIDEO
Justin Bieber, “U Smile”

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”

BEST COLLABORATION
Katy Perry featuring Kanye West, “E.T.”

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO
Nicki Minaj, “Super Bass”

BEST ROCK VIDEO
Foo Fighters, “Walk”

BEST POP VIDEO
Britney Spears, “Till the World Ends”

BEST VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE
Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Beyoncé, “Run the World (Girls)”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Katy Perry featuring Kanye West, “E.T.”

BEST ART DIRECTION
Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

BEST EDITING
Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Katy Perry, “Firework”

MICHAEL JACKSON VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD
Britney Spears