Top 10 Memorable Performances from the MTV VMAs

We all remember the glory days of the boy band. Heartache-y love songs, corny dance moves, and of course, frosted tips - and there was no question that within that category, NSYNC was one of the few that reigned supreme. So when Justin Timberlake stepped up onto the stage to wow the crowd with some of his greatest hits in 2013, the highlight of the show was his former bandmates joining him for a reunion we’d been waiting over a decade for. For a few sweet moments, Justin and the boys brought back an era that might have passed, but had certainly left its mark in music.

Back when Taylor was still rocking cowboy boots, the nowadays pop icon wasn’t known for her big city appearances. So when she boarded the New York F Train for her live performance of “You Belong With Me”, it was quite the culture shock. With some crafty camerawork and a more than enthusiastic audience, Taylor took the ballad from the underground subway tunnels to the roof of a taxi parked in front of the New York music hall, surrounded by screaming fans. The creativity of the performance, along with the Swiftie phenomenon that was already underway, made this interesting intro one nobody would forget.

As a rapper, sometimes you just gotta lay down the law. In his 2000 performance of one of his greatest hits, Eminem spit bars while surrounded by crowds of Marshall Mathers clones, all walking, talking, and acting like him. With the song itself a reminder that there’s no Slim Shady like the real Slim Shady, the rap star cemented his title on the VMA stage. It might have given audiences a case of double, er centuple? vision, but it kept them talking for over a decade after the show was aired.

When it comes to Kanye, you’d be disappointed if one of his performances wasn’t memorable. Standing out against a colourful contrast of a bright red suit against a monochrome stage, he certainly kept the audience's attention while performing his 2010 single. Toasting the not-so-nice great members of the music scene, with himself at the top, Kayne stayed classic Kanye with his “all eyes on me” performance. We’ll leave his infamous VMA rants out of this one, and – for once – just focus on the music.

Just when you think a classic love song can’t get any better, Queen Bey shows up and proves you wrong. Slaying “Love on Top”, Bey was looking classy as ever in her bow-tie and faux tuxedo outfit, but it was her subtle hints within the lyrics that really had viewers buzzing. With rumours already flying that she and Jay Z were expecting, Beyoncé blew the roof off the awards and the rumours when she finished the song, unbuttoned her shirt, and rubbed her belly. Safe to say it was an awards show like no other.

She’s the queen of the wild, eccentric, and downright jaw-dropping. With a beautifully intricate set behind her and some crazy talented dancers beside her, Lady Gaga kept audiences on the edge of their seats with her performance of “Paparazzi”. Like an old film, Gaga’s performance told a story through the song and slowly ramped up the intensity as she sang. With all white costumes, her dramatic bloody chest at the climax was all the more intense, but even that couldn’t top her hanging from the ceiling as the lights went dark. Though Gaga’s given her share of unforgettable performances, this one stays near the top of the list.