Presenting: The 3 best 2024 VMAs performances, ranked
How we kept it to 3 is truly a mystery. 😮💨
I cover music for a living, which means on VMA Day each year, I touch down at the venue, set up shop, and speak with some of your fave artists like Flo Milli, French Montana, and LE SSERAFIM. This year while on-site, as I marvelled at Chappell Roan's majestic medieval-inspired look across the carpet and joined the crowd in yelling "STREAM 'DIET PEPSI'" as pop's newest it-girl Addison Rae strutted by, I knew I was in for an incredible night of performances.
But you don't have to be in the industry to know there is always something outrageous going on at the VMAs. Images of Lady Gaga in fake blood and Britney Spears with a python perched on her shoulders made waves the moment they went down and stayed in our collective minds long enough to become some of the most iconic moments in VMAs history. And with this storied pop culture history in mind and another VMA Day under my belt, I'm here to present you with the best three performances at this year's show.
But first, a necessary disclaimer: Katy Perry's Video Vanguard performance is notably absent in this ranking as it isn't exactly a level playing field to compare 2024 numbers to a 10-minute, career-spanning honour (and we already knew Katy would be major, tysm). With that out of the way, find my picks for the best 2024 VMAs performances ahead.
Karol G
As a Latina, I love me some Karol G, so I knew I was in for something special with her return to the VMAs stage. The Colombian powerhouse brought merengue to Long Island with her latest track, 'Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,' which details a desire to get with someone who's unavailable. Not only is the song relatable, but it's incredibly catchy and will get anyone out of their seat — just ask Taylor Swift. The best part? Karol repped all Latin countries, not just her home country of Colombia, and she had people from all walks of life celebrate her as she held it down on stage.
LISA
Okay, so LISA has won Best K-Pop at the VMAs twice now and I know *damn* well her epic performance at this year's ceremony could convince anyone to get into the genre. With the release of new solo material, her charisma effortlessly oozes on bombastic tracks like 'Rockstar.' While her 'New Woman' collaborator Rosalía didn't appear with her on stage, LISA still created a moment surrounded by a dominatrix dance crew and a massive star-shaped arch behind her — and somehow, her star shined brighter than ever as she strutted on a moving catwalk all. by. herself.
Sabrina Carpenter
Let's pretend to be shocked here, okay? I've been a Carpenter since her Singular era, and I'm thrilled the rest of the world finally caught up and noticed Sabrina's undeniable star power thanks to some "me espresso." Of course, Sab's VMAs performance look was on point from head-to-toe with her glowing tan skin and blonde tresses, but her signature flirty stage presence took the cake as she made her entrance on a massive hanging diamond. While I've seen Sabrina perform her Short n' Sweet hits 'Please, Please, Please' and 'Espresso,' she made her live debut of "Taste" with a cheeky nod to MTV's infamous moon person in the form of astronaut dancers... and making out with a chic blue alien. Mark my words: This is *definitely* one of the VMAs' most iconic moments of the decade.
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