Top 20 Memorable MTV VMA Performances

In 2016, Rihanna received the Video Vanguard Award, presented for "outstanding contributions" and "profound impact" within the industry. Members of the Rihanna navy were treated to not just one, but several renditions during the ceremony — suitable for an artist with as many hits as RiRi. And with the songs performed spanning her various eras, including “Rude Boy,” “Work,” “Pour It Up,” and “Don’t Stop the Music”, there’s a decent chance you got to hear your favorite! Rihanna delivered again at the 2023 Super Bowl — but the lack of material between the two performances can’t help but make us feel disappointed as stans! Please, Rihanna, don’t stop the music.

“Oops! ... I Did It Again” (2000)

At the turn of the millennium, Britney Spears was the epitome of a teen pop superstar. This incredible performance not only marked a turning point into a more grown-up stage of her career but also elevated her sex symbol status. Before performing her own hit song in a sparkly, skin-toned, and very eye-catching outfit, Spears opened with a rendition of “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones. With this show, she signaled that she was more than just a passing fad — her career was just getting started, and she would continue to show just what a force she was. In other words, oops…she’d do it again.

“Livin’ On a Prayer”/ “Wanted Dead or Alive” (1989)

Bon Jovi traded in their hard rock stylings for a stripped-down acoustic performance of two of their best-known tracks. Band members Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were on point as they strummed alongside each other during a performance that plays another significant role in MTV history. It is widely believed to have inspired the channel’s well-known “Unplugged” concert series — which, as the title suggests, featured artists performing acoustic versions of their songs. It’s fitting then that the band itself was the first performance when the series was revived in 2007!

“Chromatica” Medley (2020)

If you’ve ever been to a Lady Gaga concert, you know she puts on one extravagant show. So it’s a treat whenever we can get a taste of that at home, be it with her 2017 Super Bowl halftime show or this VMAs performance where she brought fellow pop legend Ariana Grande along for the ride. What’s even better is that this show arrived right when we sorely needed it, during the peak of COVID-19, providing perfect pandemic-era entertainment. And of course Gaga’s electric face mask brought us a hint of the fashionable eccentricity she’s infamous for.

*NSYNC Medley (2013)

The recipient of the 2013 Video Vanguard award, Justin Timberlake, has reached true superstar status with a remarkably successful solo music career — not to mention his forays into acting. But his origins are of course during the golden era of the boy band, when he and his group *NSYNC were on top of the world. At the ceremony, Timberlake blessed fans and viewers with a 15-minute set that brought the house down with many of his biggest songs. But the highlight by far was when he was joined on stage by his former *NSYNC band members in a reunion that had us yearning for the days when frosted tips were still in.

"Like A Virgin" / "Hollywood" (2003)

Madonna's performance of “Like a Virgin” at the very first VMAs in 1984 was so iconic that Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera paid tribute to it in 2003, wedding gowns included. The performance from the two pop princesses was already sure to be legendary before the queen herself popped out a cake and joined them onstage. And if that wasn’t conversation-causing enough, how about the moment when Madonna kissed her two fellow performers (or her brides) on the lips? Add Missy “Misdemeanour” Elliot to the mix and you truly have a once-in-a-lifetime wedding. No objections from us!

“You Belong With Me” (2009)

There’s no doubt that Taylor Swift was a household name even in 2009, with hits like “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story” inescapable on the radio. But somehow, since then, Swift has inexplicably managed to get so much bigger that it’s difficult to remember her roots as a country star. This performance marks a significant moment in the early days of the Taylor Swift craze before we all knew the heights she would reach. Of course, the ceremony marked another memorable event involving Swift and a certain rapper…but we won’t talk about that. If you didn’t manage to snag tickets to the Eras tour, we recommend giving this one a watch as a consolation prize. At the very least, it’ll cost you a lot less!

“Gett Off” (1991)

When people discuss artists that they wish they could have seen when they were alive and in their prime, Prince is a name that’s often brought up. So for fans who got a chance to see Prince give a seven-minute performance of “Gett Off” live at the ‘91 VMAs, we’re certain it's a memory they’ll bring up for the rest of their lives. We’re also sure the experience was made all the more memorable by the…unexpected moment when he turned around and bared his rear end to the audience before continuing to perform. Not many can say they were mooned by Prince himself — so we certainly can’t say for sure that we wouldn’t brag about it.

“Vogue” (1990)

Madonna is one of the most influential figures to ever grace the music industry. Not only can her impact be felt in the music trends of today, but she’s left her mark in various other ways as well. Case in point, you likely know Madonna’s song “Vogue”, given that it's one of the most notable pop songs ever released, making a mark on the culture of both music and fashion. But did you know it played a part in the popularization of “vogueing”, a style of performance that gained prominence in LGBTQ dance clubs in the 80s? The queen of pop paid homage at the 1990 VMAs in memorable fashion, with an 18th-century Marie Antoinette-inspired aesthetic. And who could forget that pantsless dancer?

“Lemonade”
(2016)

Beyoncé is an artist who always knows how to create a moment, whether it’s with her album releases, her tours, or this 16-minute tribute to the “Lemonade” album that had everyone talking. Could we have tolerated a shorter performance for an album so full of bangers? As dedicated members of the Beyhive, we’re glad we didn’t need to and got to see performances of so many of our favorites, including “Formation” and “Hold Up”. As we watched, we couldn’t help but ask ourselves one question though: how did Jay-Z almost let this woman get away from him?

“The Real Slim Shady”/“The Way I Am” (2000)

Would the real Slim Shady please stand up? You might think this is a question we’d be asking during this VMAs performance, where the rapper brought 100 lookalikes to tag along with him. But no. After marching his clones from outside Radio City to inside the venue, Eminem left little doubt in anyone that there’s only one real Slim Shady — and it’s obvious who it is. With that settled, Em brought it home with an encore performance of “The Way I Am”. We couldn’t help but lose ourselves in both the music and the moment.

Medley (2019)

There’s a reason we were freaking out at Missy Elliott’s incredible VMAs performance — and it’s not just because she told us to “get [our] freak on”. Missy “Misdemeanour” Elliott isn’t just one of the greatest female emcees to ever grace the mic, but one of the best to ever do it, period. So, we had good reason to be excited! The recipient of the 2019 Video Vanguard award celebrated her career in typically unexpected fashion — including a giant CGI UFO that “abducted” an audience member! Alyson Stoner, who had originally appeared in Elliott’s “Work It” video 17 years earlier, also returned to delight fans with their dancing performance.

“Runaway” (2010)

Say what you will about Kanye West—at his peak, the man was capable of delivering a performance that few others could rival. Even still, in 2010, he had a lot to prove. His interruption of Taylor Swift at the previous year’s show still stands today as one of the biggest award show controversies of all time. A lot of the world didn’t care for West during this period — even more so than usual! The rapper ensured all eyes were on him as he donned a bright red suit and went on to give a performance that more than delivered.

“DNA.” / “Humble.” (2017)

Talk about a damn fine performance. In 2017, Kendrick Lamar brought his DNA to the VMAs for a performance where not only was the music fire but there was also literally a swordsman caught ablaze onstage. Not to mention the ninjas climbing a wall of flames! There was a message behind the fiery theatrics though, as Lamar used his platform to speak up against police brutality. King Kendrick won big that night with six wins including video of the year. In our humble opinion, we’d love to see him bring the heat to the VMAs again!

“We Can’t Stop / Blurred Lines” (2013)

After Miley Cyrus emerged from a gigantic robot bear, this duet just got stranger — some might even say uncomfortably so. Cyrus’s suggestive dancing with both a foam finger and an at-the-time married and notably older Robin Thicke is one reason this is a performance that’s memorable in how much we’d like to erase from our brains. But in the end, your opinion on this performance may depend on how you feel about the mass popularization of twerking. If you’re all for it, great news! This is twerking’s big moment. If you’re against it, you’re probably not the biggest fan.

“Love on Top” (2011)

Beyoncé came out on top again at the 2011 VMAs, classing up the joint in a faux tuxedo and bowtie to slay another performance. Amidst pregnancy rumors, eyebrows were raised while she belted out lyrics like “I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside me”. But the most talked about moment came at the end when Queen Bey unbuttoned her shirt to show her belly and confirm that she was in fact expecting. Kind of makes your cousin’s staged photoshoot for Instagram look rather quaint in comparison, doesn’t it?

“Paparazzi” (2009)

It’s no wonder the paparazzi is always showing up — when Lady Gaga is in front of a camera, incredible things tend to happen. Especially during this era, both Gaga’s Little Monsters and the general public had come to expect the unexpected from the artist. But that didn’t stop our jaws from dropping when Gaga, dressed in all white, smeared fake blood all over herself as she was strung from the ceiling. As the lights faded to black while camera shutters could be heard in the background, audiences everywhere couldn’t help but try to decipher the statement Gaga was making about the nature of celebrity. There’s a good reason she has an album titled “The Fame Monster”!

“Like a Virgin” (1984)

Not only is Madonna the queen of pop, but she’s also been the reigning queen of the VMAs. After all, at the inaugural ceremony, she set the foundation for what was to come. Everything we’ve come to expect from an unforgettable VMAs performance is here. An eye-catching outfit? Madonna showed up in a flowing white wedding dress and a “Boy Toy” belt. An oversized centerpiece? The singer emerging from a giant cake? Prior to this performance, Madonna was a star. After it, she was an icon, one who would always have our eyes on her..

“I’m a Slave 4 U” (2001)

Over the years, many artists have used the VMAs to make a unique fashion statement, from wedding gowns to LED masks. In 2001, Britney Spears turned heads the previous year with her sparkly ensemble, so she had a lot to live up to. And what better way to top yourself than being the first one ever to wear a living creature to the VMAs as an accessory? When Britney strutted onstage with an albino Burmese python draped around her shoulders, audiences were shocked. But Britney appeared completely unfazed, going on to give one of the most unforgettably sizzling performances in VMA history.

Medley (1995)

At the end of the day, the VMAs are a celebration of everything that’s iconic about popular music. And there may be no more iconic figure in pop music than Michael Jackson. The King of Pop delivers everything he’s so famous for with this legendary performance — moonwalking and crotch grabbing included. Doing justice to his career in just 15 minutes is a Herculean task. But MJ makes the most of it, with multiple on-stage costume changes and even a special appearance from Slash shredding on the guitar! If you’ll excuse the pun, we consider it the most thrilling VMAs performance of all time.