The annual Video Music Awards show on MTV seems to be the one night a year the network actually celebrates music. It’s a show also known for the outlandish antics of the performers, presenters and attendees. You can read all about that sort of thing elsewhere. Or don’t.
Let’s focus on the music here. As usual, winning a Moon Man trophy isn’t so much an artistic accomplishment as a symbol of pop culture popularity. Every awards show has its politics, and many consider them all meaningless. I won’t debate either side of the argument. But I do think it is fair to say that the MTV Video Music Awards is at least a good representation of what music is at the pinnacle of youth culture in America.
If you’re in your 30s or 40s, there’s a strong chance you haven’t heard of many of these artists. But the same may have been true of the VMA show ten or twenty years ago. It’s MTV. It’s not for “grownups.”
I will admit, though, that I actually did enjoy the team up performance of DNCE and Rod Stewart on “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?”
Here is the complete list of the 2017 MTV Video Music Award winners:
Video of the Year
Kendrick Lamar – “Humble” – WINNER
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”
Song of Summer
Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi, Feat. Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back”
Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
DJ Khaled Feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
Camila Cabello Feat. Quavo – “OMG”
Fifth Harmony Feat. Gucci Mane – “Down”
Lil Uzi Vert – “XO Tour Llif3” – WINNER
Artist of the Year
Bruno Mars
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran – WINNER
Ariana Grande
The Weeknd
Lorde
Best New Artist
Khalid – WINNER
Kodak Black
SZA
Young M.A.
Julia Michaels
Noah Cyrus
Best Collaboration
Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez – “We Don’t Talk Anymore”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli”
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean – “Feels”
Zayn & Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)” – WINNER
Best Pop
Shawn Mendes – “Treat You Better”
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times”
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” – WINNER
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm”
Miley Cyrus – “Malibu”
Best Hip Hop
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” – WINNER
Big Sean – “Bounce Back”
Chance the Rapper – “Same Drugs”
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli”
Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad & Boujee”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne – “I’m The One”
Best Dance
Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay” – WINNER
Kygo x Selena Gomez – “It Ain’t Me”
Calvin Harris – “My Way”
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ – “Cold Water”
Afrojack ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Gone”
Best Rock
Coldplay – “A Head Full of Dreams”
Fall Out Boy – “Young And Menace”
Twenty One Pilots – “Heavydirtysoul” – WINNER
Green Day – “Bang Bang”
Foo Fighters – “Run”
Best Fight Against the System
Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson – “Black SpiderMan” – WINNER
The Hamilton Mixtape – “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” – WINNER
Big Sean – “Light” (Race) (Def Jam) – WINNER
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” – WINNER
Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley – “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL” – WINNER
John Legend – “Surefire” – WINNER
Best Cinematography
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” – WINNER
Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran – “Castle On The Hill”
DJ Shadow ft. Run The Jewels – “Nobody Speak”
Halsey – “Now or Never”
Best Direction
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” – WINNER
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm”
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”
Best Art Direction
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” – WINNER
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
Katy Perry ft. Migos – “Bon Appetit”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”
Best Visual Effects
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” – WINNER
A Tribe Called Quest – “Dis Generation”
KYLE ft. Lil Yachty – “iSpy”
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm”
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times”
Best Choreography
Kanye West – “Fade” – WINNER
Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj – “Side To Side”
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.”
Sia – “The Greatest”
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down”
Best Editing
Future – “Mask Off”
Young Thug – “Wyclef Jean” – WINNER
Lorde – “Green Light”
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”
