2024 VMAs recap
By: Kira Ivarsdottir
October 2, 2024
On Sept. 11, MTV hosted the 2024 VMAs and audiences around the world, including students and faculty on the University of Maryland campus, went wild.
Despite award shows losing more and more viewers every year due to most opting to watch recap clips on social media instead, with Megan Thee Stallion as the host, a stunning performance by Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift being the winner of the night, people were shocked and amazed by the 40th VMAs.
One of the viewers of the VMAs was Alexander James Hess, a graduate student studying English Literature, who viewed the VMAs from their TV after finishing their last class.
“I agree with the consensus that award shows aren't as exciting or full of iconic moments as in the past, but as someone who was purely there to be entertained, I think [the VMAs] achieved that goal,” Hess said.
Rachel Lawrence, a freshman journalism major, was satisfied with the VMAs this year and found herself particularly stunned by Sabrina Carpenter’s performance.
“Sabrina Carpenter making out with an alien… I just can’t say I was expecting to see that on my screen,” Lawrence said. “But I think it’s a good comment on our time, just like crazy stuff is cool.”
Hess, however, was less than impressed by the seemingly predictable lack of professional consideration of the winners of the night.
“My major difficulty with the VMAs is that it is primarily fan-voted which means that it becomes more of a popularity contest than an actual reflection of quality,” Hess said.
However, even people such as Isabelle Rivera, a freshman aerospace engineering student, who opted out for clips and articles on social media regarding the VMAs, could not miss Chappell Roan’s presence at the awards.
“I did think that Chappell Roan's performance was really cool, [it was] very cinematic…I kind of just liked her outfits,” Rivera said.
Arguably one of the most surprising successes of the VMAs was Megan Thee Stallion’s performance. Not only did she host the show but she also performed three of her hit songs including “Mamushi,” “BOA,” and “HISS.”
“I think that Megan Thee Stallion was a lovely host… I especially enjoyed her Britney Spears throwback moment with the live snake, and resonated with her reaction of ‘get this snake off of me immediately!’” Hess said.
Not surprisingly, Taylor Swift was the largest winner of the night– leaving the VMAs with a total of seven awards including best collaboration with Post Malone, video of the year for “Fortnight,” and artist of the year. Sporting a yellow flannel corset with a cape and statement black boots, she left quite the impression.
Along with Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan astonished fans and viewers on social media, taking home the win for Best New Artist. Wearing a medieval-chic ensemble, Chappell Roan delivered a shocking performance.
“Unsurprisingly, my favorite performance of the evening was Chappell's ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ One of the things I appreciate about Chappell as an artist is her ability to play with her art and take risks,” Hess said. “Before the VMAs, I didn't know that I needed a Chappell as Joan of Arc moment, but now I can't unsee it.”
Lawrence shared similar appreciation to Roan. “I remember my really good friend was like, I'm gonna put on Chappell Roan. And I'm like, oh my gosh, who is that? And now I’m like kicking myself, because she's one of, like, the biggest pop artists of our time,” Lawrence said.
Regarding the future of the VMAs, Hess hopes to see more of an appreciation for artists that deserve to be celebrated less in the way of popularity but overall craftsmanship.
“My hope for the future of the VMAs is that it will improve upon uplifting overlooked artists who are the movers and shakers in the music industry…I just think that the VMAs, [can do] better about recognizing and celebrating the artists, often people of color and/or queer, who are making a difference and changing what pop music looks like,” Hess said.
Despite award shows losing more and more viewers every year due to most opting to watch recap clips on social media instead, with Megan Thee Stallion as the host, a stunning performance by Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift being the winner of the night, people were shocked and amazed by the 40th VMAs.
One of the viewers of the VMAs was Alexander James Hess, a graduate student studying English Literature, who viewed the VMAs from their TV after finishing their last class.
“I agree with the consensus that award shows aren't as exciting or full of iconic moments as in the past, but as someone who was purely there to be entertained, I think [the VMAs] achieved that goal,” Hess said.
Rachel Lawrence, a freshman journalism major, was satisfied with the VMAs this year and found herself particularly stunned by Sabrina Carpenter’s performance.
“Sabrina Carpenter making out with an alien… I just can’t say I was expecting to see that on my screen,” Lawrence said. “But I think it’s a good comment on our time, just like crazy stuff is cool.”
Hess, however, was less than impressed by the seemingly predictable lack of professional consideration of the winners of the night.
“My major difficulty with the VMAs is that it is primarily fan-voted which means that it becomes more of a popularity contest than an actual reflection of quality,” Hess said.
However, even people such as Isabelle Rivera, a freshman aerospace engineering student, who opted out for clips and articles on social media regarding the VMAs, could not miss Chappell Roan’s presence at the awards.
“I did think that Chappell Roan's performance was really cool, [it was] very cinematic…I kind of just liked her outfits,” Rivera said.
Arguably one of the most surprising successes of the VMAs was Megan Thee Stallion’s performance. Not only did she host the show but she also performed three of her hit songs including “Mamushi,” “BOA,” and “HISS.”
“I think that Megan Thee Stallion was a lovely host… I especially enjoyed her Britney Spears throwback moment with the live snake, and resonated with her reaction of ‘get this snake off of me immediately!’” Hess said.
Not surprisingly, Taylor Swift was the largest winner of the night– leaving the VMAs with a total of seven awards including best collaboration with Post Malone, video of the year for “Fortnight,” and artist of the year. Sporting a yellow flannel corset with a cape and statement black boots, she left quite the impression.
Along with Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan astonished fans and viewers on social media, taking home the win for Best New Artist. Wearing a medieval-chic ensemble, Chappell Roan delivered a shocking performance.
“Unsurprisingly, my favorite performance of the evening was Chappell's ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ One of the things I appreciate about Chappell as an artist is her ability to play with her art and take risks,” Hess said. “Before the VMAs, I didn't know that I needed a Chappell as Joan of Arc moment, but now I can't unsee it.”
Lawrence shared similar appreciation to Roan. “I remember my really good friend was like, I'm gonna put on Chappell Roan. And I'm like, oh my gosh, who is that? And now I’m like kicking myself, because she's one of, like, the biggest pop artists of our time,” Lawrence said.
Regarding the future of the VMAs, Hess hopes to see more of an appreciation for artists that deserve to be celebrated less in the way of popularity but overall craftsmanship.
“My hope for the future of the VMAs is that it will improve upon uplifting overlooked artists who are the movers and shakers in the music industry…I just think that the VMAs, [can do] better about recognizing and celebrating the artists, often people of color and/or queer, who are making a difference and changing what pop music looks like,” Hess said.