The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards were kicked off by Lady Gaga in drag, dressed up like a ’50s greaser complete with pompadour wig. Smoking a cigarette, ‘Jo Calderone’ delivered a rambling monologue all about Lady Gaga before performing “You and I” with an assist from Queen’s Brian May on guitar.
The performance wasn’t exactly well received by the audience (the camera couldn’t seem to find anyone really into it to focus on, and at one point, settled on Justin Bieber, who looked bored and/or confused). Jo even fell off the piano after coating it with some sort of liquid. Above all, it just seemed…well…awkward.
The VMAs went downhill fast from there, with only a few performances living up to their pre-show hype.
The show’s few standout moments included Beyonce’s confirmation that she’s pregnant (she announced it on the red carpet and then took off her jacket after performing “Love on Top” during the show and rubbed her belly) and Adele’s very classy performance of “Someone Like You.” The moving tribute to the late Amy Winehouse by Tony Bennett, Bruno Mars and Russell Brand had many in the audience in tears, with the touching memorial salute featuring never before seen footage of Winehouse’s final performance (the Winehouse/Bennett duet on “Body and Soul”) and Bruno Mars performing Winehouse’s hit, “Valerie.”
Ultimately, the night was all about the ladies with Katy Perry and Adele taking home three Moonmen each.
2011 MTV VMA Award Winners:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR:
Katy Perry
Title: Firework
Album: Teenage Dream
Director: Dave Meyers
Label: Capitol
Production Company: Radical Media
Producers: Robert Bray, Danny Lockwood
BEST NEW ARTIST
Tyler, The Creator
Title: Yonkers
Album: Goblin
Director: Wolf Haley
Label: XL Recordings
Production Company: Happy Place
Producer: Tara Razavi
BEST MALE VIDEO
Justin Bieber
Title: U Smile
Album: My World 2.0
Director: Colin Tilley
Label: RBMG/Island Records
Production Company: Riveting Entertainment
Producer: Andrew Listermann
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Lady Gaga
Title: Born This Way
Album: Born This Way
Director: Nick Knight, Haus of Gaga
Label: Streamline/Interscope/Konlive
Production Company: Factory Films, Ltd.
Producers: Nicole Ehrlich, Steven Johnson
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
Nicki Minaj
Title: Super Bass
Album: Pink Friday
Director: Sanaa Hamri
Label: Young Money/Cash Money Records
Production Company: Michelle My Belle
Producers: Kimberly S. Stuckwisch, Michelle Larkin & Keith “KB” Brown
BEST POP VIDEO
Britney Spears
Title: Till The World Ends
Album: Femme Fatale
Director: Ray Kay
Label: Jive/Jive Label Group
Production Company: Rockhard Films
Producer: Clark Jackson
BEST ROCK VIDEO
Foo Fighters
Title: Walk
Album: Wasting Light
Director: Sam Jones
Label: RCA
Production Company: Black Dog Films
Producer: Jill Hardin
BEST COLLABORATION
Katy Perry feat. Kanye West
Title: E.T.
Album: Teenage Dream
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Label: Capitol
Production Company: Symphony 19
Producers: Natasha Alexsa-Garcia, Danny Lockwood
BEST VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE
Lady Gaga
Title: Born This Way
Album: Born This Way
Director: Nick Knight, Haus of Gaga
Label: Streamline/Interscope/Konlive
Production Company: Factory Films, Ltd.
Producers: Nicole Ehrlich, Steven Johnson
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES:
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Beyonce
Title: Run The World (Girls)
Album: 4
Director: Francis Lawrence
Label: Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia
Production Company: DNA
Producer: Justin Diener
Choreographer: Frank Gatson, Sheryl Murakami, Jeffrey Page
BEST EDITING
Adele
Title: Rolling In The Deep
Album: 21
Director: Sam Brown
Label: XL/Columbia
Production Company: Flynn
Producers: Hannah Chandler
Editor: Art Jones at Work
BEST SFX (SPECIAL EFFECTS)
Katy Perry feat. Kanye West
Title: E.T.
Album: Teenage Dream
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Label: Capitol
Production Company: Symphony 19
Producers: Natasha Alexsa-Garcia, Danny Lockwood
Special Effects: Jeff Dotson for Dot & Effects
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adele
Title: Rolling In The Deep
Album: 21
Director: Sam Brown
Label: XL/Columbia
Production Company: Flynn
Producers: Hannah Chandler
Cinematographer: Tom Townend
BEST ART DIRECTION
Adele
Title: Rolling In The Deep
Album: 21
Director: Sam Brown
Label: XL/Columbia
Production Company: Flynn
Producers: Hannah Chandler
Art Director: Nathan Parker
2011 MTV Video Music Awards Photo Gallery
