The 2016 MTV VMAs went down last night with some speeches, commercials, awards and mainly just performances over the nearly four hour broadcast. Some of the highlights came from Beyoncé, Rihanna, Drake and Kanye West, who all too advantage of the stage to do something special or have an internet moment. There were a lot of performances, but we rounded out the top five for you here.
1. Beyoncé - Lemonade Medley
Everyone knew Beyoncé was going to perform, but no one knew just how much she was going to be involved. She was able to single songs, but during this medley MTV widely gave her the time to do what felt like half of the entire Lemonade visual album live on TV. The production, costumes and choreography made this an instant classic.
2. Rihanna - "Stay" / "Diamonds" / "Love On the Brain" Medley
The night was a party, but Rihanna decided to slow things down with this performance. Received the Vanguard Award, she was a mainstay at the show with several other medley performances, but this time she went three of her slower songs, "Diamonds," "Stay" and "Love on the Brain." With some backup singers, a band and a pianist, she took center stage to stay still and just sing from the heart on her night of celebration.
3. Nick Jonas & Ty Dolla $ign - Bacon
Taking over the iconic Tick Tock Diner a few blocks north of Madison Square Garden on 34th street and 8th Avenue, Nick Jonas and Ty Dolla $ign sang their collaboration bacon, which celebrates amazing food and love. Moving around the diner, Jonas mingles with various patrons, who included his brother Joe and his band DNCE, who took home the award for Best New Artist. It went outside onto the closed down streets where Ty Dolla $ign was joined by some dancers and old school American cars bouncing on hydraulics, which gave Jonas time to get to the big stage with a large crowd awaiting him.
4. Kanye West & Pusha T - Runaway
Kanye was one of the very big names on the night and it wouldn't have been complete without a performance from him. He went back into the discography to perform "Runaway" with Pusha T from his brilliant My Dark Twisted Fantasy. As one might expect, Kanye starts out alone in the middle of the stage working on a controller to craft the song's beat. Once he has it under control he out around the stage to rap his lines. About three minutes in, Pusha T joins Yeezy in an orange suit while Kanye heads back to his controller and gets some autotune going.
5. Nicki Minaj & Ariana Grande - Side To Side
The duo made the most of the grand Madison Square Garden televised stage. With loads of specialized props, they turned the arena into a gym like it was getting ready for a Knicks or Rangers game. Ariana starts out by singing on stationary bikes with some other women in workout clothes. Keeping pace, she eventually gets off and walks by giving some admiring looks at buff men lifting weights. Minaj eventually joins to rap her verse before they close it out together surrounded by the most athletic looking group of the night.
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