VMA 2020 Predictions

8.3.20

VMA 2020 August 30th

The VMA’s are coming up on August 30th. Many award shows this year have altered from in person to digital executions. The VMA’s however, took this a step further by embracing the pandemic. For the first time, there are several new categories that adhere to what has been going on since the pandemic and consumers being stuck at home. These include “Best Quarantine Performance,” “Best Music Video From Home,” and “Video For Good” which a lot of artists created in reactions to the protests and police brutalities occurring over the past few months.

Of course, there are still plenty of your typical Best New Artist, Song of the Year, etc. Here are my predictions and stances on this year’s VMAs. Can’t wait to see!

Video Of The Year

Billie Eilish Everything I Wanted

Eminem FT Juice WRLD Godzilla

Future FT Drake Life Is Good

Lady Gaga W/ Ariana Grande Rain On Me

Taylor Swift The Man

The Weekend Blinding Lights

Not only is this an Eminem and Juice WRLD video, but it was produced by Cole Bennett. This has the young kids all over it, and the Eminem heads and Stans as well. This music video was so visually creative, graphically insane, and their were many subtle messages that just make you want to watch it over and over to find new things. This is one of my favorite videos in a very long time, I think the three of these guys deserve this win.

Artist Of The Year

DaBaby

Justin Bieber

Laday Gaga

Post Malone

The Weeknd

Megan Thee Stallion

Not that I am a pitty voter, but how are you going to vote for anyone else after Megan got shot? Megan has been topping charts and headlines for the past year and a half. I just think she takes this one. Weeknd’s album is not enough to make him artist of the year. Post is not diverse or appealing enough. Lady Gaga just does not fit in at all. Justin Bieber has been too busy getting married to randomly put out a song with Ariana Grande and think he is going to win a VMA. DaBaby is debatable, but I think they split some wins on this night.

Best New Artist

Doja Cat

Jack Harlow

Lewis Capaldi

Roddy Ricch

Tate McRae

YungBlud

Roddy Ricch has been best new artist all year. The only competition I see in this category is Jack Harlow. However, Jack has one gigantic record, and Roddy has dozens. Jack may be more fresh our minds right this second, but I think Roddy has hip-hop on his side, and will take the win on this one.

Song Of The Year

Billie Eilish Everything I wanted

Doja Cat Say So

Lady Gaga W/ Ariana Grande Rain On Me

Megan Thee Stallion Savage

Post Malone Circles

Roddy Ricch The Box

The Box and it’s funky music intro has been the hit song of the entire year. It trends consistently, there are memes made out of it, one time a fan said to DaBaby “You made The Box, right?” This song is the anthem for sure. The others in this category are almost laughable, other than Meg.

Best Collaboration

Justin Bieber & Ariana Grande Stuck With U

Black Eyed Peas FT J. Balvin RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)

Ed Sheehan FT Khalid Beautiful People

Future FT Drake Life Is Good

Karlo G FT Nicki Minaj Tusa

Lady Gaga W/ Ariana Grande Rain On Me

This is where I give Future and Drake their W. If you can continue to get people excited after doing dozens of hits and dropping mixtapes, it’s basically a legendary collab already. None of these others excite me whatsoever. It has got to be the WATTBA duo.

Best Hip Hop

DaBaby Bop

Eminem FT Juice WRLD Godzilla

Future FT Drake Life Is Good

Travis Scott Highest In The Room

Megan Thee Stallion Savage

Roddy Ricch The Box

There is a lot of heat in this category, one that made me think about the most. Obviously I love Eminem, but I do not think he is sitting strong with the hip-hop heads right now. Travis Scott fans are crazy, but to me, his autotune does not categorize itself as a leading hip-hop song. Future and Drake, this is just old news. Roddy takes song of the year with The Box, I’d say. DaBaby is the leading male artist in hip-hop right now, dropping nothing but hits. Yes, it is a close one. But I give it to DaBaby here.

Best R&B

Alicia Keys Underdog

Chloe x Hallee Do It

H.E.R FT YG Slide

Khalid FT Summer Walker Eleven

Lizzo Cuz I Love You

The Weeknd Blinding Lights

Personally I would love to see H.E.R take home the win for this category. A musical goddess, and I do love myself a YG feature. Though, I am not quite sure she is there yet. The queen of R&B, the most talented women I’ve ever watched on my screen, Alicia Keys. There is nothing she cannot do; she needs to take home this win.

Video For Good

Anderson .Paak Lockdown

Billie Eilish All the Good Girls Go To Hell

Demi Lovato I Love Me

H.E.R I Can’t Breathe

Lil Baby The Bigger Picture

Taylor Swift The Man

During these times of quarantine and protests, so many artist have used their platform for good. Lil Baby’s The Bigger Picture showcases Lil Baby’s experience first hand with police brutality and racism. Not only does he paint an image and teach those listening, this song has topped charts for months since being released. Meaning, it is actually a good song, on top of telling a story. If Lil Baby does not win this, the voters are wrong.

Best Music Video From Home

5 Seconds of Summer Wildflower

Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber Stuck With U

Blink-182 Happy Days

Drake Toosie Slide

John Legend Bigger Love

twenty one pilots Level Of Concern

I personally wish Moana was on here, because it was just so fun. Jack Harlow and G-Eazy mashed together dozens of FaceTime videos with their friends over quarantine. It does seem like Blink-182 did something similar for their video, however, I do not think anyone beats Drake’s Toosie Slide, in any category really. Definitely the song of the beginning of quarantine, Tik Tok extravaganza. Drake knew exactly what he was doing when he created this song, and this music video, and it hit.

Best Performance From Home

Chloe x Hallee Do It (MTV Prom-Athon)

CNCO (MTV Unplugged At Home)

DJ D-Nice (MTV Presents #DanceTogether)

John Legend (#TogetherAtHome Concert Series)

Lady Gaga Smile From One World (#TogetherAtHome Concert Series)

Post Malone (Nirvana Tribute)

Performances from home have been such a positive thing to look forward to during quarantine. Multiple brands have put on shows for charity and sanity of consumers. While these were all incredible, the Post Malone Nirvana Tribute was really something else. He is an artist in hip-hop, but a love for rock. His fans feel that and they feel his emotions. This entire set was super emotional. He played Nirvana songs, his own songs, and brand new songs. Travis Barker even made a surprise appearance to hit up the drums for a bit. I watched this show with my father, my mother and both of my siblings. There was definitely something for everyone, a truly remarkable performance.

Best Latin

Anuel AA FT Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G & J Balvin China

Bad Bunny Yo Perreo Sola

Black Eyed Peas FT Ozuna & J. Rey Soul Mamaita

J. Balvin Amarillo

Karlo G FT Nicki Minaj Tusa

Maluma FT J Balvin Que Pena

Overall, this list is really great, but you cannot beat this collaboration. The new wave and the legends of Latin music, really has to take this for the culture. Interestingly enough, a lot of the list has multiple entries, so the Latin boys have been doing work. Funny to see the Black Eyed Peas on the list, but the now trio has been making waves to reenter the today’s relevant music industry.

Best Pop

BTS On

Halsey You Should Be Sad

Jonas Brothers What A Man Gotta Do

Justin Bieber FT Quavo Intensions

Lady Gaga W/ Ariana Grande Rain On Me

Taylor Swift Love

This is not really my category to be judging, but when I think of Pop music, I think of what the play on Kiss 108. Not that I listen to Kiss 108 anymore, but I just Justin Bieber and Quavo on repeat all summer long. This has got to appeal to multiple consumers and is really the only fun song on the list.

Best K Pop

BTS On

Exo Obsession

(G)I-DLE Oh My God

Monsta X Someone’s Someone

Red Velvet Psyco

Tomorrow x Together 9 And Three Quarters (Run Away)

K Pop is beginning to make waves in the US. BTS has done a few ambassador sponsorships in the US, and I just think they are the most recognizable act in this category, today.

Best Rock

Blink-182 Happy Days

Coldplay Orphans

Evanescence Wasted On You

Fall Out Boy FT Wyclef Jean Dear Future Self (Hands Up)

Green Day Oh Yeah!

The Killers Caution

I love this this because it is all the rock music I listened to as a kid. I anticipated this category being filled with people like My Chemical Romance or Mayday Parade. No offense, just not really rock music. Anyways, I like the Fall Out Boy and Wyclef collaboration. Wyclef is not one you would think of as a rock artist, but the fun rock sound mixed with the good vibe hip-hop is a great pairing, and something that stands out to bring multiple genres together.

Best Alternative

The 1975 If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)

All Time Low Some Kind of a Disaster

Finneas Let’s Fall In Love for the Night

Lana Del Rey Doin’ Time

Machine Gun Kelly Bloody Valentine

twenty one pilots Level Of Concern

To me, alternative is hardcore metallic rock and roll. However, today, I think alternative is anything that is a little different, edgy and emotional. Typically we would see Machine Gun Kelly in hip-hop, but he has been making music for a broken heart. Lana Del Rey is also for the ladies. I think Finneas has a way of getting to people, no matter who you are or how tough you are. He hits you right in the feels and I feel like this is the music that people will choose to listen to when they’re not getting hyped.