Music
10 Memorable Performances At The MTV Video Music Awards
1. Madonna, “Like A Virgin,” 1984
At the very first Video Music Awards ceremony, a young Madonna performs her single, “Like a Virgin,” dressed in a wedding gown. The performance was scandalous by 1984’s standards.
2. Madonna, “Vogue,” 1990
Madonna makes history (again) with an over-the-top rendition of her hit, “Vogue,” set in an 18th-century French salon. Madonna and her dancers are all dressed like courtiers of Marie Antoinette.
3. Nirvana, “Lithium,” 1992
Nirvana’s performance of their single “Lithium” began controversially with the opening chords of their 1993 song “Rape Me.” Towards the end of the performance, bassist Krist Noveselic threw his bass in the air out of frustration, and it landed on his head.
4. Michael Jackson, Medley, 1995
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, performed an incredible 15- minute medley of his greatest hits, “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” and “The Way You Make Me Feel,” with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash joining him on stage.
5. Eminem, “The Real Slim Shady”/ “The Way I Am,” 2000
Rapper Eminem recreated his “The Real Slim Shady” music video at the VMAs by leading a huge crowd of fake Slim Shadys off of 6th Avenue and into New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.
6. Britney Spears, “I’m a Slave 4 U,” 2001
Dubbed as possible her most iconic VMA performance, Britney Spears donned a large yellow snake while singing her provocative Neptunes-produced single “I’m a Slave 4 U.”
7. Madonna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Eliot, “Like A Virgin”/ “Hollywood,” 2003
Madonna’s VMA performance of “Like a Virgin” and “Hollywood” is definitely most memorable for the moment when she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
8. Beyoncé, “Love On Top,” 2011
9. Justin Timberlake/ ‘N Sync, Medley, 2013
After receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for career achievement, Justin Timberlake performed a 15-minute medley of his solo hits, and ended with a reunion with his ‘N SYNC band mates for “Bye Bye Bye” and “Girlfriend” – a pretty huge moment in pop music history.
10. Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, “We Can’t Stop”/ “Blurred Lines,” 2013
Miley Cyrus shocked the viewers with a bizarre performance – filled with teddy-bears, foam fingers and lots of twerking – of her latest single “We Can’t Stop.” She was later joined onstage by Robin Thicke who sang his hit, “Blurred Lines.”