The 2023 Video Music Awards (VMAs) brought together a mix of famous and new artists, promising an exciting night of music and fun. This year’s event had some great performances, like Olivia Rodrigo and Doja Cat, but it also had some problems. The show was too long, it went on for almost four hours, and it didn’t keep a good pace. It also didn’t do a good job representing hip-hop music.
Standout Performances
Olivia Rodrigo amazed everyone with a great performance that went smoothly from “Vampire” to “Get Him Back.” Doja Cat’s three songs during the Scarlet era were really well done. Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez added star power to the show. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion did good performances too. Shakira’s Video Vanguard show was really impressive, reminding everyone why she’s a music legend.
Show Length and Pacing Issues
But, sadly, the VMAs had one big problem. It was too long, almost four hours, and that made it hard to keep people interested. They put all the big performers at the start, and by the end, it was dragging. Some performances, like Fall Out Boy and Måneskin, didn’t help the pacing. Kelsea Ballerini’s “Penthouse” performance was overshadowed because it was so late.
Representation of Hip-Hop
The VMAs tried to show hip-hop, but it didn’t work well. Doja Cat’s performance was good, but the overall hip-hop part didn’t have the right energy. Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne’s new songs didn’t convince people. Rising MCs Ice Spice and GloRilla didn’t get enough time on stage, which was a missed opportunity.
Closing Hip-Hop Tribute
The closing hip-hop tribute was a mess. It didn’t celebrate hip-hop’s history well. It had six performers, but they didn’t introduce them properly, and it felt disconnected. MTV wanted to celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, but they didn’t do it right, and it left many people disappointed.
Early Highlights and Taylor Swift’s Dominance
The VMAs started well with Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, and international artists Peso Pluma and Karol G. Taylor Swift being there made it better, especially when she was with *NSYNC, which made fans happy. But as the night went on, Taylor Swift getting so many awards started to feel like too much and might have overshadowed other deserving artists.
Impact of Show Length and Pacing Issues
Looking back, the VMAs had good moments with great performances and famous acts. But the show is too long and not keeping a good pace took away from its overall quality. The way it was organized could have been better, and that left people with mixed feelings. Music is changing, and events like the VMAs need to change too to give everyone a more fun and balanced experience.
