The Video Music Awards are one of my favorite award shows because of the simple, yet complex fact that is one of the few ones that I still watch in its entirety live. Depending on what I have going on, sometimes I just watch the highlight on awards show the next day, or passively watch a show while I’m doing other things. However, with just how unpredictable celebrities are at the VMA’s, its a show I make sure to watch live. 

The VMA are voted on my fans, and below are my picks. For a lot of the categories, I could have picked multiple winner. But here are my initial, gut choices that just based off what I liked this year.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Adele – “Hello”

Beyoncé – “Formation”

Drake – “Hotline Bling”

Justin Bieber – “Sorry”

Kanye West – “Famous”

This was a hard, and a bit controversial choice for me to pick “Hotline Bling.”  I feel like “Formation” made such a statement about black lives. “Famous” was intersting artisically  because of how detailed the wax figures were. However, “Hotline Bling” as a music video was the best of the year to me. It was so meme-able and the colors were so vibrant, just judging as a music video this year, I would consider it the best.

BEST FEMALE VIDEO

Adele – “Hello”

Beyoncé – “Hold Up”

Sia – “Cheap Thrills”

Ariana Grande – “Into You”

Rihanna ft. Drake – “Work” (short version)

When judging a music video, a lot of the times I’m judging how visually appealing it is.  And that yellow dress  in “Hold Up” is just a feast for the eyes man. I love vibrancy and great cinematography in a video, and while I thought “Into You” is a very pretty video, I think “Hold Up” is a better pick.

BEST MALE VIDEO

Drake – “Hotline Bling”

Bryson Tiller – “Don’t”

Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna – “This Is What You Came For”

Kanye West – “Famous”

The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face”

You might wonder why picked “Famous” over “Hotline Bling,” since I already choose “Hotline Bling” as Video of The Year.  Just because you are selected Video of the Year doens’t mean you have to win all categories.  I choose “Famous” for best male video just because of the attention to detail on the wax figure, and the overall commentary on fame, which I felt matched well with the song.

BEST COLLABORATION

Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Freedom”

Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Work From Home”

Ariana Grande ft. Lil Wayne – “Let Me Love You”

Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna – “This Is What You Came For”

Rihanna ft. Drake – “Work” (short version)

I liked that this dance song was set at a dance party. I think the environment of a hot, sweaty party defintely matched the song.

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO

Drake – “Hotline Bling”

Desiigner – “Panda”

Bryson Tiller – “Don’t”

Chance The Rapper ft. Saba – “Angels”

2 Chainz – “Watch Out”

I love Chance. I love the positive song. I love how this is the celebration of the video and is based on a mural in Chicago. Simple as that.

BEST POP VIDEO

Adele – “Hello”

Beyoncé – “Formation”

Justin Bieber – “Sorry”

Alessia Cara – “Wild Things”

Ariana Grande – “Into You”

Is “Formation” a pop song? No. But with the choreography and the various settings I would consider this the best pop video out of the choices.

BEST ROCK VIDEO

All Time Low – “Missing You”

Coldplay – “Adventure Of A Lifetime”

Fall Out Boy ft. Demi Lovato – “Irresistible”

twenty one pilots – “Heathens”

Panic! At The Disco – “Victorious

I liked how the video was a nod to NSYNC’s “It’s Gonna Be Me.”  Also, the makeup is incredible.

BEST ELECTRONIC VIDEO

Calvin Harris & Disciples – “How Deep Is Your Love”

99 Souls ft. Destiny’s Child & Brandy – “The Girl Is Mine”

Mike Posner – “I Took A Pill In Ibiza”

Afrojack – “SummerThing!”

The Chainsmokers ft. Daya – “Don’t Let Me Down”

I just love the song. I think its cool in the video how she wakes up in different scenarios.  I feel like being caught up in the music is something that definitely happens with dance and electronic music, so I think its a good fit.

BREAKTHROUGH LONG FORM VIDEO

Florence + The Machine – The Odyssey

Beyoncé – Lemonade

Justin Bieber – PURPOSE: The Movement

Chris Brown – Royalty

Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy

There is obviously no question about it. Although she did a visual album before with “Beyonce” I fee like I enjoyed that this long form video told a cohesive story from beginning to end.

BEST NEW ARTIST

Presented by Taco Bell®

Bryson Tiller

Desiigner

Zara Larsson

Lukas Graham

DNCE

I love “TRAP SOUL” and the visuals that he put out for the album. If his wins at the BET awards are any indication, he will be taking this one home.