Real or contrived and do you care?
September 14, 2009
St. Charles County, MO
by Kris Kolk
Even if you didn’t watch the MTV Video Music Awards last night, you would have to be asleep under a rock to miss the hubbub about Kanye West’s outburst towards Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech.
As much hype as this event generates, there are expectations of over-the-topness. P!nk rolled up to the red carpet in a fire truck, Lady Gaga and Kermit the Frog alluded to intimacies and cameras tracked en route celebrity motorcades. But, West seems to have claimed the rights to this year’s VMA moment.
I thought West’s statement was actually kind of polite--for an attack. He began by stating his happiness for Swift’s winning. He also said, “Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.” He did not say that Beyoncé should have won the award or that country artists should go back to CMT.
The rest of the evening the audience booed whenever West’s name was mentioned and emcee’s tossed warm fuzzies all over Swift. When Beyoncé received an award later, she invited the teenage country singer alongside her.
The whole thing put me in mind of another incident--the MTV Movie Awards earlier this year when Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) flew over the audience attached to a wire and landed suggestively on top of Eminem; and hooo, baby, was Eminem ever angry. Those claiming insider knowledge said the stunt was even included in dress rehearsal.
What a shame when artists feel their work cannot stand on its own. I suppose it’s like audience members standing at a concert. Once someone in front does it, everyone else must do so just to keep up. It seems if a celebrity doesn’t attempt a show-stopping moment at the VMA’s, they are lost in the dust of those who do.
It’s too bad this tiff has overshadowed artists who actually applied themselves. P!nk performed awesome, athletic trapeze stunts, for instance. We should applaud the performers who respect their audience.
In an article I read this morning, the writer was upset with West and expressed paternal feelings toward Swift. Yet, I couldn’t help but notice he linked to West’s website more than once in the piece. Negative publicity is still publicity. In the opposite corner, a #TeamTaylor trend has begun on Twitter.
Yep, West and Swift are all the buzz this morning. Intentional? Maybe West’s actions were truly spontaneous. Perhaps Swift was sincerely surprised.
I just can’t shake this feeling of being played.
Copyright 2009 Neighbors About Town
