MTV Video Music Awards – Miley Shocked, JT Rocked

The biggest highlight of the MTV VMAs came when Justin Timberlake’s former boy-band buddies joined him onstage for an NSync reunion. JT himself had already, up until then, put on a fantastic and passionate performance that made me forget there was a time when, as an actor, he wouldn’t talk about his return to music. But it’s telling that a 90’s flashback became the star attraction. Nostalgia for the good ol’ days?

For the first time the MTV VMAs were held in Brooklyn which meant I got to have my first MTV VMA experience. Being inside the Barclay’s Center also meant I got to see – albeit from a distance – little moments that happen in the ad-breaks, like Lady Gaga, still in her sea-shell bikini getup jump up, hug John Legend and twirl him around, and Will Smith and son Jaden jam along to Justin Timberlake.

As far as the show goes, as mentioned, Timberlake rocked, before that, Miley Cyrus shocked. Twitter has you covered with reaction and GIFs of that. Kanye was short but twisted heart-felt, as were Macklemore + Ryan Lewis, who performed their LGBT-rights anthem Same Love, with Jennifer Hudson joining Mary Lambert on vocals.

But I pined for the rock element of music. The DJ played plenty of Nirvana and Aerosmith during the ad-breaks, but it was missing from the stage show. Never mind that best rock category wasn’t even announced during the show.

The winners then…

Best Pop – Selena Gomez, Come and Get It

Best Hip Hop – Macklemore + Ryan Lewis, Can’t Hold Us

Best Female Video – Taylor Swift, I Knew You Were Trouble

Best Male Video – Bruno Mars, Locked Out of Heaven

Michael Jackson Video Vanguard – Justin Timberlake

Video of the Year – Justin Timberlake, Mirrors

Song of the Summer (public vote) – One Direction, Best Song Ever

New Artist to Watch – Austin Mahone

Best Collaboration: Pink & Nate Reuss, Just Give Me a Reason

Best Rock Video: 30 Seconds to Mars, Up in the Air

Best Direction: Justin Timberlake, Suit & Tie (Director: David Fincher)

Best Editing: Justin Timberlake, Mirrors

Best Visual Effects: Capital Cities, Safe & Sound

Best Choreography: Bruno Mars, Treasure

Best Art Direction: Janelle Monae & Erykah Badu, Q.U.E.E.N.

Best Cinematography: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Can’t Hold Us

South Africa, the MTV VMAs re-broadcast on DSTV Channel 130 at 8:30pm Monday night.