“Ladies and Gentlemen please take your seats. We go on air in 30 seconds,” said the announcer as the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards was about to begin. Looking down from my seat I can see celebrities rushing to their seats as the lights go down and the countdown for Lady Gaga begins. As she awaits her first ever performance of her new single “Applause,” the jumbotron in the middle of the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn begins to count down and the energy in the room is high. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Lady Gaga is on stage in a white robe with a white square on her head. As she performed the song she changed her outfits multiple times and ended in a seashell bikini. As the jumbotron goes to the introduction screen introducing all the celebrities that are there, the audience has the opportunity to view the stage crew disassemble Lady Gaga’s stage in a matter of minutes. Soon after, screams erupt and One Direction presents the award for Best Pop Video, won by Selena Gomez, for her song “Come and Get It.” Next, Ed Sheeran presents the award for Best Video with a Social Message, won by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert, for their song “Same Love.”
After numerous commercials it is time for Miley Cyrus to take the stage. As the stage the crew began to set up her performance, my sister and I looked at each other and knew we were in for something we had never seen before. They brought out a giant bear and many small ones and we knew something crazy was about to happen. As Miley started to perform my sister and I were in shock at what we were witnessing. There was so much twerking in so little time. Miley then finished singing “We Can’t Stop” and Robin Thicke then came out to sing “Blurred Lines” with her. Miley was now in a nude bra and underwear. It resembled the outfits worn in Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” video, but it caused much controversy. But that’s not all. Next Miley then proceeded to grind on Thicke and dance very provocatively on him, which also caused much controversy. Next, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar came out to sing “Give it 2 U.”
As the night went on, more awards were given out, and the stage had been changed multiple times. During the commercial breaks stages are being changed, celebrities are mingling, and there is a DJ to keep the crowd entertained. It was so cool to know that I was in the same room as so many famous people!
After many more awards and performances, it is FINALLY time for Justin Timberlake to perform and receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. As Jimmy Fallon introduces Timberlake, the energy in the room is electrifying. Timberlake performed a medley of his most popular songs while making his way to the other end of the arena. About nine minutes into the performance, my sister and I can see another stage had been placed on the floor. We saw four open spaces in the stage and knew what was about to happen. The much anticipated *NSYNC reunion! You can’t hear it that well on TV, but the whole crowd was going crazy. The reunion was amazing and J.T’s performance was phenomenal. It makes me angry that Miley Cyrus got so much attention after the VMA’s when it really should’ve been Justin Timberlake. Weeks later people are still talking about her and nobody has really said anything about Justin Timberlake or the NSYNC reunion. Many more awards and performances later, it’s time for the last performance of the night. Katy Perry performed her hit single “Roar” from the Brooklyn Bridge.
I have been to many concerts in my life but I have never seen anything like this. It was such an amazing experience to see what happens behind the scenes. Every year, as you watch the awards on TV, you never realize how much it takes to run the show. The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards was definitely one that I will never forget.