It was an intense and exciting Sunday evening as the “2009 Video Music Awards” took over New York City, causing quite a stir with Kanye West‘s outburst, Madonna‘s surprise appearance, Janet Jackson‘s tribute performance to her brother Michael and the cast of ‘Twilight”s big reveal of their extended ‘New Moon’ trailer.
Madonna opened the awards show, paying tribute to the late Michael Jackson.
Madonna called Michael Jackson a “hero,” a “king” and a “human being” as she paid tribute to the King of Pop at MTV’s “2009 Video Music Awards,” prior to Janet Jackson‘s anticipated performance.
“When I was six, my mother died. I think he got the shorter end of the sick,” she says of the music legend. “I never had a mother but he never had a childhood.”
Madonna said when she learned of Michael’s death while preparing for her tour, she felt as if she had “abandoned him.”
“I know his pain,” she said, referring to the constant media attention the King of Pop received.
Madonna said his legacy lives on, starting with her two sons who are big fans of the late singer. “There’s a whole lot of crotch grabbing and moon-walking in my house,” Madonna joked.
She concluded her tribute saying, “He was a king, but he was also a human being. … Long live the king.”
Following her words, dancers made their way to the stage to perform to Michael‘s acclaimed song “Thriller.” Janet Jackson followed that performance up with her own tribute, singing the song “Scream,” a duet she recorded with her brother.
Taylor Swift then went up onstage to accept the award for Best Female Music Video from Taylor Lautner and Shakira, but her speech was cut short when Kanye West grabbed the microphone from her, declaring that Beyonce’ Knowles had the best music video of the year.
Swift was also amongst the performers of the night, in addition to Green Day, Pink, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys and Kid Cudi. Cudi dedicated his performance to the late Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein, while Pink performed high in the sky with a trapeze artist.
The show concluded with a preview of Michael Jackson‘s anticipated documentary ‘This Is It.’
Here is the list of Moon Men winners at the 2009 VMA’s:
Breakthrough Video- Matt and Kim, “Lessons Learned”
Female Video- Taylor Swift, “You Belong with Me”
Rock Video- Green Day, “21 Guns”
Pop Video- Britney Spears, “Womanizer”
Male Video- T.I. featuring Rihanna, “Live Your Life”
Hip-Hop Video- Eminem, “We Made You”
Best New Artist- Lady Gaga
Video of the Year- Beyonce’ Knowles, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”
Check out more photos below from last night’s VMAs.
Source: theInsider/MTV
JNEL & J. Magazine 