2007 VMAs... my thoughts

You can pretty much count this as my last post on MTV for a while. Warning, it's a long one ahead.

As mentioned before, I make it a point to watch the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) every year. I try to catch their Movie Awards in the Spring as well.

Why?

• To catch what is the current cultural youth trends. Like it or not, MTV has a pretty big influence on what is cool. Maybe even a bigger influence on "cool" are the artists highlighted on the show.
• To catchthe "next big thing" in presentation. MTV tends to be dead-on in effectiveness in how they present their awards show. This may be a chicken or egg issue, where they may be creating the next big thing in presentation, they may be reflecting it, or a little of both.
• To see what gospels are being preached to our students. There are plenty of messages being presented loudly, clearly and persuasively through our popular culture. This is an opportunity to see what is being presented that can be redemptive, what is neutral, and what is downright damaging.

So here are my random impressions and thoughts from this year's VMAs, most are observation, some is commentary...

1. Buffet is the name of the game. The show took place in Vegas, so I guess they decided a buffet of activities was the way to go. You had their main room performances, performances at "Rain Nightclub", or the 4 "side suite" perfromance areas that were set in the luxury room suites of the palms. The end product was very few full main stage perfomrances and a ton of glimpses into the side performances.
   
   
2. Follow it up on the net. In my websurfing this morning, I've realized that the what was shown on the Telly last night was only the tip of the Iceberg that is the VMAs. By going to the VMA page at MTV.com you can view the show in it's entirety as well as many performances that did not air. It looks like MTV has found a way to make a multiply their advertising dollars as you have to sit through an ad before watching your desired video on the web.
   Also, this is the way to keep the buzz going. For those who want to take it to the next step beyond the initial awards show, they can hop on the net.
   **Sidenote to Youth Leader... how can we learn from this one? Maybe the old interweb is a great path to continue discussion and discipleship that is started in meeting times???
   
   
3. Timberlake, Timberland, Rhiannasourus?? Dude, I am ridiculously out of touch with the music that was highlighted. I had to watch the show and google lyrics I was hearing to figure out who I was watching perform.
   
   
4. If you can really dance, it's okay to lip synch. It was interesting reading through reviews today as people were bashing Britney Spears lip synching her performance, but praising Chris Brown (who can dance like you wouldn't believe, but was clearly lip synching) for the performance of the night.
   
   
5. Play more music videos. It was very ironic as three MTV reality show gals handed Justin Timberlake an award, and for the second time he made a plea to the MTV execs to start showing music videos again. As I watched the ads for the shows to come on MTV, I'm thinking a I agree. One ad was for a reality show featuring 16 lesbians and 16 straight men vying for a date with Tila Tequila, a myspace starlett...
   
   
6. Quadruple Threat... There was a special award for the most versatile artist. Nominees included:
   Beyonce (actress, singer, mother, clothing design)
   Bono (singer, social activist, businessman, eco-freak)
   Justin Timberlake (singer, dancer, actor, clothing line)
   JayZ (producer, rapper, club owner, clothing design)
   Kanye West (rapper, writer, clothing line, social activist)
   So Timberlake wins the VMA. Interestingly, the guy who qualifies in the shallowist and most self-promoting categories wins. This category, along with Fall Out Boy's brief reference to Invisible Children were the only social justice issues brought up in an awards show targeting a generation researches say has a significant level of concern about Social Issues.
   
   
7. Where are the Christians? More than ever, there are some great bands getting significant press and airtime who are seeking to make an impact on for Christ through the entertainment world... Switchfoot, UnderOath, Family Force 5, MxPx, POD, Lifehouse, to name a few. These bands just don't get face time on this awards show.
   
   
8. Let's Fight. I guess Kid Rock and Tommy Lee got in a fight. It became the joke of the night... winning the award for "This is the part of the show that looks and sounds most like High School."
   
   
9. Why must we insist on sex and drugs going with rock and roll? There was plenty of drunk people, plenty of skin, and plenty of pushing that happiness is found in a bottle or a body.
   
   
10. My heart breaks for Britney. I actually missed the first 30 minutes of the show, but was able to see it as they immediately repeated it at 11:00 pm. As I watched Britney Spears "comback performance," I was in pain. It was awful. Here is a25 year old... 25 YEAR OLD!!! who has been through the ringer and faced more scrutiny and press than most of the population combined. The past year of her life has crashed and burned on many levels.
    As I was watching her perform with a complete lack of confidence, all I could see was a little girl crying to go back to the way it was before everything crashed down on her. My heart broke. I wanted to reach through the screen, and place my hands on her shoulders. I wanted to look her in the face and say, "Britney, you are a treasured possession of God. You are loved. You don't need this. I'm sorry you've had to go through what you've gone through. Don't set yourself up to go through it again."
    This served as my reminder that celebrities are human. They are hurting. Last Spring, I made it a point whenever I read or heard Britney's name, I would stop and pray for her and her two kids. I'm all the more resolved to keep doing this as I watched her.
    

All in all, it wasn't the best produced VMAs I've seen... yet, as always it was a glimpse into what's being pushed and preached and where we're heading in youth culture.

It was also a great reminder that there is plenty battling for the souls of the next generation, and much of it will end in emptiness if sought after.

What I do is worth it, and I can't imagine spending my life on something more important!