Madonna’s rambling Aretha Franklin tribute earns backlash

NEW YORK — The backlash was swift for Madonna’s rambling, egocentric tribute to Aretha Franklin at the MTV Video Music Awards, with media and Queen-of-Soul fans wondering why she got the gig in the first place.

Dressed in flowing black with grandiose flourishes of African jewelry, Madonna’s send-off came before she presented the video of the year award to Camila Cabello on Monday night. She spoke at length about her own start in the business and her own career before thanking Franklin for “empowering all of us. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”

Cabello then collected the biggest award of the night for her “Havana” video with a bow to Madonna, dedicating the trophy to, you guessed it, Madonna.


There was a short video of early Franklin that played before Madonna said that the icon who died Thursday “changed the course of my life,” and Franklin’s “Respect” played as the night’s closing credits rolled. But there was no live musical performance honoring the legend.

Some accused Madonna, in her spiky silver headpiece, heavy necklaces and beaded bracelets, of cultural appropriation. Far more accused her of making the show’s only tribute to Franklin all about herself.

“I’m so lost,” radio host Charlamagne Tha God tweeted. “I thought Madonna was supposed to be paying homage to Aretha but all I heard was her paying homage to herself.”

After describing her teen exit from Detroit to make her name in show business, Madonna said at one point, “So, you are probably all wondering why I am telling you this story.”

Why, yes. Before she got to the point (she sang “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman” acapella at an audition of yore), Madonna meandered through references to Paris, poverty, guitar lessons and finally her backside hanging out at a VMAs show after breaking a stiletto.

“Does Madonna know Madonna didn’t die?” ESPN’s Katie Nolan tweeted.

Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly described the speech on Twitter as “Madonna presents an Aretha Franklin tribute by Madonna featuring Madonna with Madonna and Madonna as ‘Madonna’.”

The response was not unlike that from some fans of Prince when Madonna donned a “Purple Rain” suit to honor him soon after his death, at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.

The Madonna Twitter roasting included this from one angry Franklin fan: “Only madonna would tell her life story while honoring a dead Black Woman lmaooo.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Kanye West rambles onstage at MTV VMAs, Calvin Harris wins

NEW YORK, United States—In typical and true Kanye West fashion, the rapper ranted at the MTV Video Music Awards, touching on subjects from music to his beef with Taylor Swift to violence in his hometown Chicago.

Before he debuted his music video for “Fade” on Sunday, West rambled onstage as the audience at Madison Square Garden in New York City cheered him on.

“Now later tonight ‘Famous’ might lose to Beyonce but I can’t be mad, I’m always wishing for Beyonce to win,” said West, who will compete with Beyonce for video of the year, and also referring to the 2009 VMAs when he jumped onstage, stole Swift’s microphone and said Beyonce should have won over the then-country singer.

He talked about his “Famous” video, which features what appears to be naked images of West, Swift, Kim Kardashian, Donald Trump and more. He even pointed to former girlfriend Amber Rose, who was in the audience and is also in the video.

“It was an expression of our now, our fame right now, us on the inside of the TV, you know, the audacity to put Anna Wintour right next to Donald Trump,” he said.

“I put Ray J in it bro,” he said, referring to Kardashian’s ex with whom she did a sex tape.

“But if you think about last week it was 22 people murdered in Chicago,” he continued. “You know, people come up to me like, ‘Man, that’s right! Take, tell Taylor this. Bro, like I love all y’all.”

“That’s why I called her,” he said with a laugh.

West could have another memorable moment Sunday if he wins video of the year later in the show. Aside from Beyonce’s “Formation,” his competition includes Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and Adele’s “Hello.”

But Beyonce could own the night, too, when she performs. The top nominee with 11 was angel-winged and green-feathered with daughter Blue Ivy in tow, she arrived on the white carpet along with Sybrina Fulton, Lezley McSpadden and Gwen Carr, the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, among others. They appeared in videos for Beyonce’s “Lemonade” visual album and also make up the Mothers of the Movement, women of color who lost children to violence.

Rihanna kicked off the show, performing a medley of her hit songs in a bright pink ensemble that matched her background dancers and the stage. She sang songs like “We Found Love” and “Where Have You Been”—sometimes letting the backing track do most of the work. She sang “Work” and other songs during a second performance, and will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award.

Ariana Grande brought spin class to the VMA stage when she sang the reggae-tinged “Side to Side” with Nick Minaj. Grande cycled while singing and was backed by female dancers imitating her. Male dancers lifted dumbbells and did other exercises, and at the end of their performance, Grande and Minaj put their male dancers’ faces in front their crotches.

Michael Phelps said he’s been inspired by hip-hop music before introducing Future, who Phelps said he listened to before swimming. The rapper-singer-producer performed his hit “(Expletive) Up Some Commas.”

Drake won the first award for the night—best hip hop video for “Hotline Bling.” Puff Daddy, who presented the award, said Drake was stuck in traffic. Calvin Harris won best male video—beating West’s “Famous”—for “This is What You Came For,” which featured Rihanna and was co-written with former girlfriend Swift. Harris accepted the award in a video message.

Britney Spears, Nick Jonas and The Chainsmokers are set to perform. Nominees for best female video include Beyonce, Adele, Rihanna, Sia and Grande.

Coldplay, Desiigner, Fergie and Alessia Cara earned multiple nominations, while David Bowie—who died from cancer earlier this year—is nominated for best direction, cinematography, art direction and editing for “Lazarus.” The music video, which shows him looking frail in bed with bandaged eyes, was released just days before the icon’s Jan. 10 death.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Miley Cyrus aimed to 'make history' with performance at VMAs

NEW YORK - Former Disney star Miley Cyrus says she was out to shock and "make history" and is unapologetic for her raunchy performance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards.

In a documentary, "Miley: The Movement," airing on MTV on Oct. 2, the 20-year-old singer and actress comes across as a shrewd, ambitious performer determined to see her single, "We Can't Stop," hit No. 1 and put her roots as the wholesome Disney Channel star of "Hannah Montana" far behind her.

Cyrus refers to her performance during the August awards show with singer Robin Thicke and an oversized foam finger as a "strategic, hot mess."

The VMA show was "meant to push the boundaries," she says, adding she wanted the act to be memorable along the lines of pop star Britney Spears' kiss with Madonna at the same award show a decade ago.

"That's what you're looking to do, make history."

Spears, who begins a two-year stint in Las Vegas in December at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, and other child stars faced personal struggles transitioning to adult careers. But Cyrus sees it as starting as a new artist.

"I felt like I could finally be the bad bitch I really am," she says in the documentary.

Cyrus' appearance—gold fingernails, tattoos and short, platinum hair—is a far cry from her days as the teenage star in "Hannah Montana," which ran from 2006-11.

Reinforcing her image, she posed topless for the cover of the Oct. 12 issue of Rolling Stone magazine and for one of various covers for her album "Bangerz," out Oct. 8. Cyrus also shed her clothes in the music video track of the song "Wrecking Ball."

'Something that nobody was ready for'

The hour-long documentary was shot over about three months before and shortly after the VMAs. It follows Cyrus at home in Los Angeles with her dogs, during appearances to promote "We Can't Stop," and in rehearsals.

The film touches on her childhood with her country singer father, Billy Ray Cyrus, and her mother, Tish. It also includes clips with her idol, Spears, and music collaborators, producer Mike WiLL and rapper and record producer Pharrell Williams, who was featured in Thicke's summer hit, the multimillion-selling single "Blurred Lines."

Notably absent is Cyrus' former fiance, "Hunger Games" actor Liam Hemsworth. Hemsworth, 23, and Cyrus called off their engagement this month, ending a four-year relationship.

"We decided to focus on the music and the professional side," is all that Dave Sirulnick, an executive vice president at MTV and the executive producer of the film, would say about Hemsworth's absence.

At a preview of the film, Sirulnick said the extent of the media reaction to Cyrus' VMA performance surprised everyone.

"As she said, people had this image of her as one thing and then here she came with something that nobody was ready for or expecting," he said. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com