Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ we’re going to talk about something a little different. Today, July 19th, is the 7 year anniversary of Rebecca Black’s second single ‘My Moment’ (which followed her viral internet hit ‘Friday’). Why am I talking about this you ask? Well because Rebecca Black honestly has a very interesting story that is a HUGE part of YouTube history as a whole (also we did previously discuss the ‘Rebecca Black Effect’ that was a trend for a little while a few years ago, you can check out that post here: http://celindareyesblog.com/2014/06/youtube-wednesday-the-rebecca-black-effect/). Just like TV or film teen stars, Rebecca spent her entire teen years in the spotlight. Now being a teenager can either be the best or worst time of your life, but it’s definitely harder when your attempt at making your dreams come true get turned into a giant worldwide joke. Honestly I never (and still don’t) understand why everyone gave her such a hard time. However what I’ve always liked about this story is how Rebecca was able to use this ridicule & turn it into a career doing exactly what she wanted to do. So today we’re going to talk about how Rebecca Black’s song ‘My Moment’ actually predicted her future. Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
Now as we know it all began when Rebecca’s parents paid Clarence Jey & Patrice Wilson of Ark Music Factory $4,000 to write & produce a song for Rebecca, & record a music video for her. I couldn’t find an exact number in regards to how much money Rebecca has made from ‘Friday’ (although I’m sure we can all guess). What we do know is that this song led to A LOT of opportunities for her. Katy Perry (who was honestly having the best year of her career, at least at the time this post is being written) immediately came to Rebecca’s defense by not only inviting her to perform ‘Friday’ at various upcoming shows she had, but also giving Rebecca a lead role in her ‘T.G.I.F’ music video which premiered in June 2011. Other high profiled celebrities such as: Miley Cyrus, Chris Brown, Simon Cowell, & Lady Gaga also came to Rebecca’s defense, and the song was covered on the 2nd season of the hit Fox show ‘Glee’. Rebecca continued to ride this fame by uploading more original music, as well as beauty/fashion videos on her YouTube channel. Throughout the rest of her teen years, Rebecca hosted the 2011 ‘YouTube Rewind’ as well as the 1st MTV ‘O Music Awards’ Fan Army Party’, has appeared at VidCon (one of the biggest annual YouTube conventions), had her own Go90 (an online streaming site) show called ‘Life After Friday’, as appeared on the reality show ‘The Four’, is an ambassador for anti-bullying campaigns, and so much more!
So now back to your original question, why are we talking about ‘My Moment’? Well although ‘Friday’ is what made Rebecca Black famous, ‘My Moment’ is what showed that she had staying power. Most of us have dealt with some sort of bullying in our lives, but nothing compares to the worldwide ridicule that Rebecca faced. To go through that throughout your teen years & still pursue in a career in the entertainment industry is not only admirable, but also very brave. However, personal strength & determination alone don’t make a successful career. Rebecca could’ve easily become just a forgettable part of internet history, but instead has been able to hold our attention all these years later. If you think about it, there have been other “internet sensations” that have quickly burned out, and now are never mentioned. Even though internet fame can come quickly, it can also disappear even more quickly. In the opening lines of ‘My Moment’, Rebecca says, “Weren’t you the one who said that I would be nothing, well I’m about to prove you wrong”, and it looks like she was right.
Check out Rebecca here:
Website: https://www.rebeccablackonline.com/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/rebecca/featured?disable_polymer=1
Twitter:https://twitter.com/msrebeccablack
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msrebeccablack/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAmRebeccaBlack
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we are going to talk about some new jeans that iPhone owners are going to love. These jeans come equipped with super cool technology that allows you to charge your phone with special cords connected to the jeans. Since our phones are basically the center of our worlds (I mean how else would we watch YouTube or Netflix, or go on social media…wow makes you wonder what people did before smart phones? Scary isn’t it?). So now let’s talk a little bit about the technology that is about to change our lives (but remember to read any and all safety instructions included with these jeans so you can stay safe). Ready? Ok, lets go!!!
A company called Joe’s Jeans have developed jeans called the #Hello jeans, that have “a patent pending pocket that perfectly holds your iPhone so you can charge your phone on-the-go,”. So basically this means that there is a small (but deep) pocket that perfectly holds the iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, and 6, and charges them through a small cord found on the waistband of the jeans, and a batter back that you can detach when you need to wash the jeans. The battery can charge an iPhone 5/5s/5c up to 80-85% and an iPhone 6 up to 70%, but the jeans are $189 plus $49 extra for the battery. Even thought this is pricey, you do get the convenience of never missing the perfect selfie opportunity so I guess we better add these jeans to our Christmas lists. These jeans definitely make you wonder what technology will bring us next. Check out the video below to see how the jeans work.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ we’re going to discuss an awesome singer/songwriter whose smooth vocals will make you hit the replay button again and again. Remember the name Travis Atreo because this artist is about to make a big splash in the main stream music industry. According to Travis’ official Facebook page, he’s currently working on his debut solo EP which should drop in 2015 (so get excited!!!). So let’s move on to the part y’all really want to see…THE MUSIC! Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
The first video that we’re going to talk about is Travis’ rendition of ‘Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran, which was uploaded on October 12th, 2014 (I couldn’t embed the video into this post, but you can check out the cover here: Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran (Cover by Travis-Atreo). Now this is a song that is difficult to cover because it not only requires vocal skill, but also the ability to really portray the emotions behind the lyrics. Travis does a great job of really pulling at your heartstrings and immersing you into the song. Trust me once you hear his version, you’ll want to replay it again and again. Next up we have Travis’ cover of ‘Sledgehammer’ by Fifth Harmony, which was uploaded on January 14th, 2015. What I really like about this choice, is that Travis is able to show that he not only has the ability to make us cry, but can also perform a fun song that you’ll want to get up and dance to. These covers will only get you more excited for his original songs because of the amazing artist range Travis has already shown us.
Now we’re going to talk about Travis’ version of the hit song ‘See You Again’ by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, which was uploaded on April 15th, 2015. This is another cover that will have you crying, but also constantly pushing the replay button (this cover is multi-talented like that). With a unique sound and the ability to hold his audience’s attention, from the very first note, Travis has proven that he’s ready to be a competitive main stream artist that you instantly recognize on your radio. The last song that we’re going to talk about is Travis’ original song ‘Baby It’s Christmas’ which features former ‘Teen Wolf’ & ‘Arrow’ actor Colton Haynes, and was uploaded on December 3rd, 2014 (by this I mean the piano version of this song, I couldn’t embed the video in this post, but you can check out the link here: ORIGINAL Baby It’s Christmas (Piano Version) feat Colton Haynes). This is a really cool song that you will want to listen to all year long. The lyrics tell a beautiful story, and the interesting mix between Colton’s strong country vocals & Travis’ smooth R&B vibe is the best present of all.
Keep up with everything Travis is doing:
YouTube: Travis Atreo
Website: www.travisatreo.com
Twitter: travis_atreo
Instagram: travisatreo
Facebook:TravisAtreo
Tumblr:travisatreo
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ we are going to discuss the 2015 ‘MTV Movie Awards’. The show was hosted this year by comedian/actress Amy Schumer, who definitely made this year’s award show a memorable one. The show began with a hilarious series of skits which showed Amy as a character in some of the biggest movies of the year. These skits included the movies: ‘Pitch Perfect’, ‘Divergent’, ‘The Fault In Our Stars’, and ‘The Hunger Games’. There were a few more hilarious jokes about the shows on MTV, and the fact that MTV has TV shows now instead of just playing music videos all day. Amy also made some really funny jokes about actor/comedian Kevin Hart’s release of non-stop movies lately, and Hillary Clinton finally giving the announcement we’ve all been waiting for…she’s the newest member of One Direction (just kidding, but wouldn’t that be awesome?!?). So now that we’ve discussed the opening of the show, then let’s move on to the awards. Ready? Ok, let’s go!
Awards (I only choose a few awards to talk about because I didn’t want y’all to be here all day, so y’all can check out the complete list of winners here MTV Movie Award Winners):
Best Action Hero (this award was announced before the show began):
Dylan O’Brien ‘The Maze Runner’
Now even though we don’t really need to explain why ‘The Maze Runner’ deserves this award (even though the competition was VERY stiff) but one reason would definitely be that the film grossed over $340 million worldwide, since its’ release in September of 2014 (not bad for a movie that had a budget of $34 million). With the success that this film would already have because of the success of the book series (which the movies are based off of), and Dylan’s popularity because if his role on Teen Wolf, there was never a doubt that this movie would do extremely well.
Best Female Performance:
Shailene Woodley ‘The Fault in Our Stars’
Ok we all know why Shailene won this one! I mean Hazel and Gus are still playing with our emotions, and wow that movie is such so amazing and intense. This was the first in a LONG line of awards Shailene would win last night, and honestly she definitely deserved this one.
Trailblazer Award:
Shailene Woodley
Honestly right now it’s a good time to be Shailene Woodley. In the past few years she’s been an action hero in the Divergent series, a teenager who’s world gets turned upside down when her mom “leaves” her and secrets start coming out, a love struck teenager battling cancer (thanks again John Green for giving us an ending we’ll never recover from), and so many other memorable characters. It’s obvious that this is just the beginning of Shailene Woodley’s Hollywood takeover, and I don’t know about y’all, but I am SOOOO excited to see what her next project will be.
Generation Award:
Robert Downey Jr.
I think we can all agree that Robert Downey Jr. has such an interesting story due to his tremendous film success in the 80s & early 90s, followed by his comeback in 2003. Most of us probably know him for his work in Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, The Avengers, and so much more! Now of course we also know about his past with drug and alcohol addiction, but I think that the fact that he was able to bounce back and become such a respected actor (because honestly that’s not an easy task to pull off), is a real testament to his talent.
Best Kiss:
Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort ‘The Fault In Our Stars’
Ok honestly I think we would’ve all been mad if anyone else won this award because Gus and Hazel are #relationshipgoals, they just are. This couple made us laugh, cry, question our place in the universe, and learn a lot of really big words, so of course they would win best kiss. I mean they were just too cute, I just can’t y’all…you just gotta love Hazel and Gus.
Best Male Performance:
Bradley Cooper ‘American Sniper’
I think that it’s definitely so much harder for an actor when they have to portray a real person verses a fictional character, so Bradley Cooper certainly showed us his acting chops with this film. In American Sniper Bradley Cooper portrayed U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, and the fact that this film grossed over $540 million worldwide with a $58.8 million budget (which made it the highest-grossing film of 2014 in the United States), shows that audiences just fell in love with Bradley Cooper’s work in this movie. When this film came out EVERYONE wanted to see it, so I don’t think we were surprised that he walked away with this win.
Comedic Genius:
Kevin Hart
With movies like: ‘Think Like A Man’, ‘Ride Along’, ‘About Last Night’, his stand-up act (and honestly so much work that I would have y’all here all day), we are all very familiar with how funny Kevin Hart is. All amazing comics have their moments when they just rule comedy, and right now is definitely the era of Kevin Hart. So prepare because apparently “if he sees his shadow then we get 6 more months of Kevin Hart movies”, thanks for the tip Amy Schumer.
Movie of The Year:
‘The Fault In Our Stars’
Ok if Hazel and Gus are #relationshipgoals, then ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ is definitely #moviegoals, because this film is just so utterly perfect. I mean like I said before, this movie made us feel all of our emotions at once, and then made us question everything about life. I mean I read the book so I knew what was going to happen and this movie still made me cry at the end (I’m still not ready to talk about that ending y’all, it’s just too soon). I think that this movie is definitely the movie of the year, and now we just have to wait and see how John Green’s latest book turned film ‘Paper Towns’ does (I know, I know, we’re all super excited!).
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ we are going to talk about an AMAZING vocalist who y’all are gonna be playing on repeat all year! If you haven’t heard of Ebony Day, then please read on and meet your fav new artist. Ebony Day is a 21 year old rising YouTube music star, who (as of February 7th, 2015) has 33,028,043 total views and 314,806 subscribers on YouTube. In 2013, she was also the first unsigned artist to be voted the MTV Artist of the Year (yeah, that’s incredibly impressive!). Ebony’s channel has a cool mix of songs from various different genres, so you’re almost guaranteed to find a cover that you love. So if y’all are ready, let’s dive into the blog post and talk more about Ebony’s covers and original music.
The first cover that we’re going to talk about, is Ebony’s rendition of ‘Whatcha Say’ by Jason Derulo, which was uploaded on December 14, 2009 (here’s the link to the video if you wanna check it out: Jason Derulo – whatcha say acoustic cover ebony day). I really like this cover because it’s a really cool, acoustic take on the original song (which is more of an upbeat song). This video is a really good introduction to Ebony’s music, because it really shows off her style as an artist. The next video that we’re going to talk about is Ebony’s version of ‘Good Life’ by One Republic, which was uploaded on October 19th, 2011 (check out the video here: Good Life – OneRepublic (Ebony Day cover) ). I like this cover because we get to see the fun side of Ebony. Most of her videos have a very chilled out acoustic vibe, so it’s fun to see a different side of Ebony in this one. Even though she does come off as a bit shy in the video, it’s fun to see an artist travel outside their comfort zone because it proves that they’re not afraid to grow as entertainers. The last cover that we’re going to talk about is Ebony’s take on ‘Rather Be’ by Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne, which was uploaded on February 12th, 2014 (here’s a link to that video: Rather Be – Clean Bandit (Ebony Day & Shaun Reynolds Cover) ). This is one of my all time favorite Ebony covers, because this video perfectly shows just how far she has grown as an artist. In this video we are able to fully see that Ebony is an entertaining performer, who has an incredibly unique and captivating voice. In this video Ebony no longer looks shy performing in front of the camera, and truly looks like a seasoned performer. This cover definitely proves that Ebony only gets better with time, and I am really looking forward to what covers she releases next.
Ok, now that we’ve talked about Ebony’s cover videos; let’s talk about her original music. She released her debut EP ‘The Beginning’, on September 29th, 2013. The EP (which you should DEFINITELY pick up in iTunes after you finishing reading this blog post) is a 4 song album which has songs all about love and heartbreak. I picks two of my favorite songs to talk to y’all about (which was hard because I love all of the songs). The first song that we’re going to discuss is called ‘Good Thing Gone Wrong’ (here’s a live acoustic version of the song EBONY DAY – Good Thing Gone Wrong – The Beginning EP (Live Acoustic Sessions) , which was uploaded to Ebony’s channel on September 13th, 2013). This is a sassy song about a relationship gone wrong, that will definitely having you thinking that maybe it’s not so bad if you’re single this Valentine’s Day. I really love a good breakup song that you can cry too (I mean who doesn’t right?), but it’s also cool whenever artists can release a fun breakup song that doesn’t have to be depressing to be good. The last song that we’re going to talk about is Ebony’s song ‘Crazy Over You’ (here’s a live acoustic version of the song EBONY DAY – Crazy Over You – The Beginning EP (Live Acoustic Sessions) , which was uploaded to Ebony’s channel on September 6th, 2013). This is definitely my FAVORITE song on the EP, because it’s so different from anything that Ebony has previously released. This song breaks away from Ebony’s usual singer/songwriter meets pop vibe, and incorporates more of a Latin music feel (sorta like an early JLo kinda vibe, think of songs like ‘If You Had My Love’). This is such a fun song that’s about what it feels like to really be into somebody (so basically the way we all fangirl over every cute celebrity…you know you do). I loved that Ebony showed that she’s not afraid to take risks with her music, and that she can actually be awesome in a variety of genres. This EP definitely made me excited to see what Ebony releases next!
Keep up with everything Ebony is doing:
YouTube: ebonyday1
Twitter: Ebony Day (@ebonyday1) | Twitter
Instagram: Ebony Day (@ebonyday1)
Facebook: Ebony Day | Facebook
Hello people of the internet!!! For today’s ‘Monday Memos’, I thought that it would be fun to discuss some of the new shows that we will become addicted to this season. I wanted to create a list that would cover just about everyone, so you’ll be able to find something you like no matter what your personal tastes are. So if you’re ready, let’s countdown the top 4 must-see shows of 2015!
4) Marvel Agent Carter (ABC, premieres January 6th at 8/7c ):
First off we have a new series for all of the Marvel comics fans. The series centers around Peggy Carter, an officer with the Strategic Scientific Reserve, and Captain America’s love interest. According to press releases about the show, her character will be seen balancing work, going on secret missions for Howard Stark (the father of Iron Man, and head of a technological company that focuses manufactures advanced weapon and defense technology), and balancing the adventure of living life as a single woman in the 1940s (because Captain America is presumed to be dead at this point). Whether or not you’re a fan of the comics and superheroes (be it as a big fan of all the DC vs. Marvel analysis or just aware that they exist), I think that everyone will find something that they like about Agent Carter. This show will have romance, suspense, and action, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
3) K.C. Undercover (Disney Channel, premieres January 18th at 8:30/7:30c):
Now this show is the perfect new addition for the young and young at heart! K.C. Undercover centers around a teenage girl named KC, who gets recruited by her parents, to join their spy organization. K.C. and her family soon have to learn how to balance spy work and everyday life. This show stars Disney Channel veteran and Dancing With The Stars runner-up Zendaya Coleman (who previously co-starred on another successful Disney show called Shake It Up). This show sounds like a cool combination of Spy Kids meets Kim Possible, so it’s definitely a show that could quickly become a hit for the network.
2) iZombie (CW, premieres sometime during the network’s midseason lineup):
If you love the supernatural, then you will definitely get into this show. The CW has already proven that it can deliver highly successful shows within this genre (I mean seriously everyone loves The Vampire Diaries). iZombie is about a medical student named Olivia Moore who goes to a party and gets attacked by a zombie, thus turning her into a half-zombie. She then gets a job at the morgue in order to get access to brains that she can eat. When she eats the brains, she begins to receive memories from the person that the brain belonged to, and ends up helping her boss and a police detective figure out how the person died. The show is going to be executive produced by Rob Thomas of Veronica Mars fame (which was a hit and is definitely a plus for the future of iZombie). If you’re a fan of shows like Cold Case then you will definitely love this one.
1) Eye Candy (MTV, premieres January 12th at 10 /9c):
Wrapping up our list is MTV’s newest scripted drama, which stars Victoria Justice as Lindy Sampson, a 21 year old computer hacker who beings to think that one of her online dates is a serial killer. She begins to work with the New York cyber-crimes department to solve murders. Lindy is a street-smart girl who dropped out of college and moved to New York after her younger sister Sara was abducted. She then began using her hacking skills to find her sister and help other people solve their missing persons cases. Things get even more complicated for Lindy when she has to work with Ben, a detective in the cyber-crimes department who previously fell in love and arrested Lindy due to her “unlawful” ways of solving crimes. If you love drama, romance, and suspense then I think that this will be the PERFECT show for you. MTV has been on a roll in the past 3 shows with releasing hits, so that is definitely a plus for this show’s future.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we are going to discuss all of the memorable moments from last night’s 2014 VMAs. The show was jam packed with breathtaking performances, awards presented to amazing acts, and other memorable and tear-jerking moments. So if y’all are ready, let’s not waste any more time and dive right in!
VMA Pre-Show & Memorable Moments:
The VMA pre-show was full of so much fun, it felt like a show within itself. The show was co-hosted by ‘Pretty Little Liars’ star/Country music singer/songwriter Lucy Hale, and MTV correspondents Sway & Christina Garibaldi. The trio interviewed a lot of amazing stars during the pre-show, and even got to speak to ‘Teen Wolf’ star Dylan O’Brien, regarding his highly anticipated film ‘The Maze Runner’. Pop singer/songwriter/rapper Becky G and beauty/fashion/lifestyle YouTube guru Ingrid Nilsen (aka Missglamorazzi, you can find a blog post about her here: YouTube Wednesday: Missglamorazzi…the beauty/fashion/health guru who likes her glamour with a side of fun! | celindareyesblog) served as the Covergirl ‘InstaGLAM’ correspondents for the pre-show, and helped us keep track of some of the fun fashions of the night. A moment during the pre-show that definitely had our heads spinning with nostalgia, was when Katy Perry and rapper Riff Raff wore all denim outfits inspired by Britney Spears’ and Justin Timberlake’s famous 2001 American Music Awards outfits (even though Britney and Justin are no longer one of Pop music’s most beloved couples). Another moment that I want to mention right now (even though it happened during the actual show) was Miley Cyrus’ ‘Video of the Year’ win, where she allowed a homeless young man named Jesse accept the award on behalf of all of the homeless young people in the LA area. Jesse also told the audience where they could go and learn more about the issue of homeless and runaway youths. There was also a short tribute to the late actor Robin Williams during the actual VMA show, which displayed a picture of the actor while a beautiful song played in the background. Last but surely not least, let’s talk about the pre-show performances!
Fifth Harmony:
The girl group/former ‘X-Factor’ contestants went on to win the ‘Artist to Watch’ award later in the show, but before that, they gave a crowd pleasing rendition of their latest hit single ‘BO$$’. The girls wore different combinations of dressy skirts, pants, and tops, and were aided in their performance by dancers who wore all white outfits. Some of their dancers also carried red trumpets, which added an overall cool vibe to the performance. With the deafening sound of Fifth Harmony’s fans (aka Harmonizers), it was no surprise that the group took home their first VMA award last night.
Charli XCX:
The singer/songwriter behind the infectious song ‘Boom Clap’ (which was featured on both the film and the trailer for one of the summer’s most anticipated films ‘The Fault in Our Stars’), took the stage after Fifth Harmony, and definitely had the aid of the energetic crowd on her side. Charli wore a light colored dress with a feathered coat, and in the middle of her performance left the first stage, walked on a runway that went through the crowd, and walked onto a smaller second stage. As Charli walked, her steps coordinated with the beating of her drummers, which gave off a very cool effect that just hyped up the crowd even more. At the end of her performance, Charli presented a random fan with a ticket to the VMAs, and the crowd went even wilder.
Winners (these were awards that were presented during the actual award show or during the pre-show, for a full list of the winners please go here 2014 Video Music Awards Winners And Results | VMAs | MTV):
Best Lyric Video: ‘Don’t Stop’ by 5 Seconds of Summer
With the success of their 2014 summer smash ‘She Looks So Perfect’, and follow up hits such as ‘Don’t Stop’ and ‘Amnesia’, it is obvious that this band was definitely a contender for both of the awards that they were nominated for last night. Although they didn’t win the ‘Artist to Watch’ award, the fact that the band did win ‘Best Lyric’ video, proved just how dedicated 5 Seconds of Summer’s fans are. Also, the ‘Don’t Stop’ video was definitely very interesting and intricate, (I mean the entire video was a giant comic book, how cool is that!?!).
Best Female Video: ‘Dark Horse’ by Katy Perry feat. Juicy J
Ever since this song was released as Katy Perry’s 3rd single off of her latest album ‘Prism’, the song has become an instant hit for Katy. The song has peaked within the top 10 in A LOT of countries, and has gone double, triple, and even sextuple (which means 6 times) platinum. The video also currently has 545,027,017 views, and it’s only been up for 6 months, so that’s REALLY impressive.
Best Male Video: ‘Sing’ by Ed Sheeran
Ok, let’s just take a moment to discuss ‘Sing’. After Ed stole our hearts with his emotional tracks ‘A Team’ and ‘Lego House’ we taught we knew what Ed was about, but then he surprised us with this song off of his latest album ‘X’. ‘Sing’ is a really fun, upbeat pop/jazzy/hip-hop song that definitely showed a new side to the singer/songwriter. With Pharrell Williams (who has had an enviable career that has spanned since the early 90s), serving as a producer and backup vocalist on this song, it was a guaranteed smash from the start. Now as if the song alone wasn’t enough, Ed added the extra touch of him in puppet form…seriously who can dislike a puppet!?! So needless to say, Ed certainly had a great shot at taking home this particular award.
Best Pop Video: ‘Problem’ by Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea
Now it was enviable that Ariana wasn’t going to walk away last night empty handed. She has arguably become the fastest rising young star in the music industry this year, and it seems that she is only on her way up. With hits such as: ‘The Way’ (which was actually released in 2013), ‘Break Free’, her newest soon to be hit single ‘Bang Bang’, and of course ‘Problem’ (which arguably is one of the biggest hits of the summer of 2014), it is easy to see that Ariana was going to be a tough act to beat. The video is also very cool, and uses a meticulously put together 70’s vibe that gives it an interesting flair. I have to say that this was definitely a standout video this year, so it definitely deserved this award.
Best Hip-Hop Video: ‘Hold On, (We’re Going Home)’ by Drake feat. Majid Jordan
With big names such as: Eminem, Wiz Khalifa, and others, Drake was definitely in for a fight for this award. However, there is no denying that Drake has become a HUGE name in Hip-Hop over the past few years, and the success of ‘Hold On’ has definitely aided him in this. The song has also gone Gold and Platinum in numerous countries (double Platinum in the U.S.). Honestly if you wanted a definition of “cool” then this would be the perfect example, because this video just screams cool. The simplicity of the video is what I really like about it, and this definitely makes this video unique.
Best Rock Video: ‘Royals’ by Lorde
It still amazes me just how much of a whirlwind career Lorde has already had. At just 17 this young star has a resume that many seasoned musicians would envy. Her debut single ‘Royals’ definitely made a powerful and lasting impact for the singer/songwriter, and has already been certified platinum (many, many times over) in numerous countries. I found that the music video for ‘Royals’ was exceptional, because the concept is very simple, which perfectly matches the vibe and lyrical content of the song. I think that the fact that the video is not overly flashy only adds to the song’s power.
Artist to Watch: Fifth Harmony ‘Miss Movin On’
Ever since music mogul Simon Cowell put this INCREDIBLE girl group together Fifth Harmony has acculturated a fiercely loyal fan base. Although they did not win their season of the ‘X Factor’, the girl group was signed to Syco Records, and has had great success with all of their projects. In fact, their song ‘Miss Movin On’ has been charted in numerous countries, and has made the group arguably one of the most successful acts to come off of the ‘X Factor’ franchise. I personally love their video for the song, because it’s fun, and full of sassy attitude, which perfectly matches the tone of the song.
Video of the Year: ‘Wrecking Ball’ by Miley Cyrus
Needless to say, this song was a hit for Miley, but the video is what really seemed to capture people’s attention. Before dropping her latest album ‘Bangerz’, Miley was best known for her hit Disney Channel show ‘Hannah Montana’. Miley’s lead single ‘We Can’t Stop’ quickly showed that she was headed in a new direction with her music and her sophomore hit ‘Wrecking Ball’ left no doubt that Miley had left Hannah behind for good. The greatest evidence of this change was definitely ’Wrecking Ball’ video, which had Miley showing her vulnerable side by swinging on a wrecking ball naked, crying in some frames of the videos, and destroying her setting in other frames. The video certainly left an intense and lasting impact that definitely warrants the title of ‘Video of the Year’.
Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award: Beyoncé
I mean what can really be said about Beyoncé’s career? With a resume that spans nearly 2 decades, Beyoncé has certainly made a lasting impact on Pop music. She first won the hearts of fans as a part of the highly successful girl group ‘Destiny’s Child’(which have left the legacy of being one of the world best selling girl groups of all time), and then went on to form a very fruitful solo career. In her entire career, Beyoncé has managed to win 479 awards, which include: 17 Grammys, 18 Billboard Music Awards, 18 MTV VMA Awards, and numerous others. Needless to say, it’s a good time to be Beyoncé right now!
Performances:
Ariana Grande:
The powerhouse vocalist that has been dominating 2014 thus far definitely showed everyone last night that she is a powerful, long lasting presence, with her unforgettable performance of her latest single ‘Break Free’ (which features EDM superstar DJ Zedd). Ariana’s performance had a futuristic/outer space setting, where she came out of a spaceship, in a frilly pink dress and boots, and dances with her dancers (who also had space themed outfits.
Nicki Minaj:
Hip-Hop rapper/singer/songwriter Nicki Minaj was up next, with a crowd pleasing performance of her latest hit ‘Anaconda’. Nicki wore a green one piece suit, and had a lot of cool acrobatic dancers performing tricks above the stage. Nicki and her dancers then kept up the VMA tradition that was set by Miley Cyrus last year, and participated in a lot of twerking. This definitely got the audience very hyped up, and the energy continued to rise.
Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and Jessie J:
Next up, singer/songwriter Jessie J came on stage and began singing one of Ariana’s newest tracks ‘Bang Bang’ (which features Jessie and Nicki). Ariana and Nicki finally remerged, and began performing their parts of the song. Even though Nicki had a slight wardrobe malfunction during the performance, she still handled it like a pro. The audience certainly loved the world premiere of the song, and it is obvious that this will likely be another song that all three artists will receive a lot of acclaim for.
Taylor Swift:
The next performance was given by Taylor Swift, who performed her newest (and first purely pop hit) ‘Shake It Off’. Taylor wore a cool sparkly two piece (a matching skirt and top), that resembled a very modern flapper look. She also had backup singers that wore black colored dresses of the same style, and male dancers in tuxedos. Taylor also had a funny moment in her performance, in which she “refused” to jump of a large sign that read 1989 (the name of her next album), and climbed to the bottom of the sign in order to finish the number.
Sam Smith:
Sam Smith was the next performer, and he definitely proved just how hard he can pull at our heartstrings (which is one of the many reasons why we love him). He wore all black, and had a very simple setting, with just one pianist, and a single spotlight on both him and the pianist. This performance definitely played up the song’s deep emotional content, and instantly captivated the audience from beginning to end.
Usher:
Usher performed his newest song ‘She Came To Give It To You’ (which featured Nicki Minaj) next. The performance started with Usher dressed in white dancing for a few seconds. The stage then lit up, and Usher’s entire band materialized (also dressed in white). Usher continued his performance with a golden mic and stand, which gave the whole performance a very cool vibe. During the performance Nicki Minaj came out onto the stage (also dressed in white), came out and danced with Usher and later twerked with one of his guitar players.
5 Seconds of Summer:
The next performance of the night was ‘Best Lyric Video’ winners 5 Seconds of Summer. The band played their newest hit song ‘Amnesia’, and it was easy to see that the crowd absolutely adored them. The band wore very casual outfits (jeans and t-shirts), and definitely brought back an old 90s grunge vibe to their performance.
Iggy Azalea:
Next up was multiple VMA nominee Iggy Azalea, who performed her latest hit track ‘Black Widow’ with singer/songwriter Rita Ora. Both entertainers were dressed in dresses that contained web like patterns, and the stage contained multiple ballerinas that were dressed in black and red tutus, with black mesh like fabric around their faces and bodies. The whole performance definitely had a haunted effect that made it very intriguing to watch.
Maroon 5:
Next up was rock band Maroon 5 (which is fronted by lead singer/’The Voice’ coach Adam Levine. The band performed their newest single ‘Maps’, and proved that they still have super devoted fans that go crazy merely at the sight of the band. The stage contained a giant capitalized ‘M’ (which has become the band’s signature logo), and the band dressed very casual (Adam wore a Los Angeles Lakers jersey and black jeans). The band brought a lot of energy to their performance, and also played their hit song ‘One More Night’ after the next award was presented.
Beyoncé:
The last performance of the night (and arguably the most anticipated), was Beyoncé’s performance before she accepted her ‘Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award’. Beyoncé’s performance definitely felt more like a mini-concert, and had her fans going wild. She had multiple costumes, and had her dancers do everything from hip-hop dancing, pole dancing, twerking, and various other complex routines. There was also an excellent use of various types of lighting, which added to how meticulously thought out the performance was. Beyoncé also had several moments in which she was alone on stage singing, and in these moments proved just how impactful of an entertainer she is, and why her fans love her. It would honestly take A LOT of pages to explain every single aspect of the performance, so to sum it up, the performance was certainly a once in a lifetime VMA moment that viewers will definitely not forget. Perhaps the tenderest moment of the performance was the last number, in which Beyoncé sang as photos of her daughter Blue Ivy, and her husband Jay-Z played on the back screen. When the performance was done, Jay-Z and Blue Ivy presented Beyoncé with her award, and her fans got to see ‘Beyoncé the wife and mother’, instead of just ‘Beyoncé the entertainer’. It was a truly beautiful moment.
As you can see, one of music’s biggest nights was filled with equally big moments. From Katy Perry’s throwback tribute to one of music’s most beloved couples (we miss you Britney and Justin), to Ariana, Jessie J, and Nicki Minaj’s jaw dropping opening performance, to Robin Williams emotional tribute, and Miley’s reminder that we all need to be grateful for the small things we are blessed to have, this night definitely had us on an emotional roller coaster. However, all social media sites definitely stopped when Beyoncé took the stage, and proved just why she is beloved by so many and has had such a long lasting and fruitful career. All I have to say is that I am soooo ready for the 2015 VMAs, if they are anything like the 2014 VMAs, then watch out!
Hello people of the internet!!! This past Sunday (April 13th, 2014) was the MTV Movie Awards, and as always A LOT of crazy stuff happened. The show was hosted by late night talk show host Conan O’Brien, and he certainly did not disappoint (but more on how he did later…don’t worry it’s worth the wait). Now anyone who has seen the MTV Movie Awards before knows that the award show has a history of crazy things happening, and this year the craziness was in full swing. Although the show was jam packed with fun moments, I picked my ‘Top 3 Unforgettable Moments’.
3) Grumpy Cat:
Yes, the internet phenomenon grumpy cat made her presence known at this year’s movie awards. As the host Conan joked, Grumpy Cat had an even better seat than 98 Degrees star (a popular boy band in the 90’s for anyone too young to know) Nick Lachey (what’s funniest about this joke, is that it was true)…however, in her normal grumpy fashion, Grumpy Cat was not impressed by her star treatment or this joke very funny at all (why so serious Grumpy Cat?!?).
2) Seth Rogen making out with his “mom”:
Yes you read that right, Seth Rogen made out with his mom (hopefully not his real mom because this would give a whole new meaning to the phrase “close relationship”. Now if you didn’t see the show, here is how it went down. Dave Franco, Zac Efron, and Seth Rogen all went on stage and announced that three lucky people had a golden ticket under their seat and because of this would have the opportunity to win a kiss from one of the three of them. First two beautiful young women came down for Dave Zac, and when it was Seth’s turn, he got a big surprise…his mother (or someone playing his mother…we still don’t know). Dave and Zac both kissed their winners, and Seth completely made out with his mother…so it was certainly a moment that will go down in MTV history (and an image that will scar us for the rest of time…anyways moving on).
1) Rita Ora and Zac Efron’s shirtless moment:
First please allow me to speak for everyone reading this when I say THANK YOU RITA ORA!!!!! (oh you know you were thinking it). Ok, here’s what happened! Zac Efron was accepting his award for Best Shirtless scene for the film ‘That Awkward Moment’. When Zac was in mid speech, Rita came up behind him and pulled the shirt he was wearing, so it would unbutton. Then, Zac took off his shirt and everyone screamed (definitely not an awkward moment)…and this is why Rita Ora is now everyone’s favorite human being ever. Whereas back in his High School Musical days, Zac was a total twink and had the kind of body that you might find on an adult website like twinki, this little wardrobe malfunction showed that nowadays he is sporting a much more mature and muscular frame. So as you can see, MTV definitely brought the funny, but this year I have to give an honorable mention to the most adorable Unforgettable moment ever…in the history of the world…ever…seriously this was the cutest thing ever! What is this moment you might ask, well I can sum it up in 3 words…puppies in costumes!!! Yes, during the pre-show we got to see a bunch of adorable puppies dressed up as super heroes and various other characters. In my opinion the puppies definitely stole the show. Why you ask? Because puppies are awesome…yes that is a real reason! So when you combine adorable puppies and put them in cute little costumes, well the result is just off the charts cuteness. (but I do want to put it out there that I don’t want this honorable mention to cause any friction between myself and grumpy cat…you’re cute too Grumpy Cat!!!
I mean look at this face
Adorable!
Host:
Ok, now let’s talk about how Conan O’Brien did hosting the MTV Movie Awards (yay!!!!). The show opened with Conan in a board room talking about how he wanted to break the record for most cameos in an opening sequence. The men in the board room said it could not be done, so Conan said that he would have 50 celebrities do cameos. Then, Conan went on several crazy adventure (and a trip to the nail salon with Taylor Swift), and got 49 celebrities to do cameos. He was very upset until someone informed him that he was the 50th celebrity! This was a really fun skit to watch, and I was impressed by how much work had to have gone into performing such a well put together opening skit (good job Conan! A + work!). After the skit finished, Conan came onto stage as rap music played. He then joked about Grumpy Cat, and showed vines of ‘American Hustle’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (honestly, summarizing these two films in individual 6 second videos was comedic gold). Conan then gave out two “awards” for ‘Best Product Placement” (a Pepsi machine in ‘The Hobbit’), and ‘Best Kiss Fight’ (where Will Arnett and Conan were performing some really cool matrix like ninja move while fighting by blowing kisses at each other…trust me it was A LOT funnier than it sounds). Lastly, Conan sang a song about how he wasn’t going to sing a song in the opening number. Conan was very serious that he wasn’t going to do a song in the opening number (I mean he even had a backup choir come in…everyone knows that means business!). All in all, I think that Conan did a really great job hosting, and proved just how hilarious and captivating he truly is.
Winners:
Best Musical Moment:
Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen, and Craig Robinson ‘This is the End’
Ok let me just say that when I saw this scene I had a total fan girl moment (I mean my inner 6 year old was screaming uncontrollably…so needless to say I’m excited that they won). Any scene that has 3 hilarious comedians and THE BACKSTREET BOYS (ahhh!!!!) singing ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) definitely deserves the title of best musical moment.
Best Cameo Performance:
Rihanna ‘This is the End’
Now I didn’t see this movie, but I can only assume that Rihanna was amazing. I mean honestly she can sing, she’s a fashion icon, and she’s already proven that she’s an amazing actress due to her role in the movie ‘Battleship’. Honestly it seems like Rihanna is amazing at anything she is involved in, so I have no doubt that she was outstanding in this role as well (you go Rihanna Coco)
Best Breakout Performance:
Will Poultry ‘We are the Millers’
Honestly, anyone who can work well alongside veterans such as Emma Roberts and Jennifer Aniston (who has created some of the most memorial female comedic roles ever!) is a winner to me. Now you may know Will from his role of Eustace Scrubb in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’, as a guest on ‘JacksGap’ (which is the YouTube channel of popular YouTube Vloggers Jack and Finn Harries), or if you’re from the UK, the popular comedy show ‘School of Comedy’. Although Will has an impressive comedic resume (as well as several films that are in post-production), he is still relatively new to American audiences however, I think that his standout performance in ‘We are the Millers’ will certainly catapult him into the A-list of comedy.
Best Transformation:
Jared Leto ‘Dallas Buyers Club’
Ok, since Jared did win several awards this year for his role as Rayon (a transgender woman with AIDS) in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, it was reasonable to believe that he would win this award. Jared’s portrayal of Rayon has been widely praised by critics and fans alike. With the award season that Jared has had thus far, I definitely do not believe that his winning momentum will stop anytime soon.
Best Comedic Performance:
Jonah Hill ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’
Honestly, if you’re looking to cast an actor that can take on any comedic role, you don’t have to look much further than Jonah Hill. With memorable roles in film such as: ‘Moneyball’, ‘Superbad’, ’21 Jump Street’, ‘This is the End’, and many, many others, he has certainly became one of Hollywood’s favorite comedians. Jonah’s role in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ didn’t stray from this, and further cemented Jonah’s place in our hearts and DVD collections.
Best Villain:
Mila Kunis ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’
Although Mila has shown before that she has a large and diverse acting range, her role in ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ certainly cemented this fact. I really love the transformation her character Theodora goes through as she changes from a kind, naïve witch, into the villainous Wicked Witch that we all know and love. To have the ability to translate such a beloved character on screen in a modern film takes real talent, and luckily that’s exactly what Mila has.
Best Shirtless:
Zac Efron ‘That Awkward Moment’
I don’t think the reasoning behind this needs explaining, if you saw the show, look online, or ask about 99% of the people in the world, it’s pretty simple to see why Zac was given this award.
Trailblazer Award:
Channing Tatum
With a career that includes blockbuster such as: ‘Step Up’, ‘˜Dear John’, ‘The Vow’, ’21 Jump Street’, ‘Magic Mike’, ‘She’s the Man’, ‘Coach Carter’, etc. (basically he’s made several films every year since 2005…I know that’s A LOT of movies!), and a successful modeling career in which he worked for clients such as: Emporio Armani, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nautica, Dolce & Gabbana, American Eagle Outfitters, and more. With all of these credits to his name, we can all definitely see how Channing has made it to the top of the A List, with no signs of falling.
Best Kiss:
Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Will Poultry ‘We are the Millers’
This kiss was definitely very funny, and added to the overall comedic vibe of the film. There was some stiff competition for this category but it’s hard to beat Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, and hilarious newcomer Will Poultry at anything (good job y’all…high five!!!).
Best Male Performance:
Josh Hutcherson ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’
I really couldn’t see how anyone else could possibly win this award. ‘The Hunger Games’ was definitely one of the biggest films of the year, so of course this would make Josh one of the biggest male stars of the year. With another two Hunger Games installments planned, I think that it’s safe to say that Josh should make room on his trophy case for a few more awards.
Best Female Performance:
Jennifer Lawrence ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’
I mean c’mon its Jennifer Lawrence; she has the midis touch in Hollywood right now. Also, she’s one of the main stars of ‘The Hunger Games’ so take everything I said about Josh and apply it here.
Favorite Character:
Tris (Shailene Woodley) ‘Divergent’
Now I think that the fact that ‘Divergent’ just came out in the theaters a few weeks ago speaks volumes about how beloved this character has already become. Personally I love Tris because she’s a strong female character, which is a nice change in Hollywood. I think that Tris’ uniqueness is one of the things that makes her so relatable, and thus gives the character a large fan base. I really hope that films continue this trend, because it has certainly caught on with the public.
Best Fight:
Orlando Bloom ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’
This definitely shouldn’t have come as a surprise due to the fact that ‘The Hobbit’ is an action adventure movie, of course the fight scenes are going to be awesome. Personally I think that any film that has mystical creatures is automatically going to have the best fight scenes (it’s a scientific fact…really it is!).
Generation Award:
Mark Wahlberg
This was probably my favorite award, just because I’m a sucker for entertainers who are honored for their long careers (don’t judge me…#sorrynotsorry). Now Mark Wahlberg has certainly had a PHENOMENAL film career, due to his involvement in movies such as: ‘Boggie Nights’, ‘Planet of the Apes’, ‘Ted’, ‘The Basketball Diaries’, ‘The Lovely Bones’, and so many others (I mean seriously look at this guy’s IMDB page and you’ll be amazed). Now although I know that this is the movie awards, I have to also point out that it would have been EPIC if MTV had played ‘Good Vibrations’ by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (aka Mark Wahlberg’s hit rap song from the 90s here’s a link for those of you who aren’t familiar with it, or just want to hear it again: Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch – Good Vibrations).
Movie of the Year:
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
It’s THE HUNGER GAMES…enough said. But if you need further proof, the movie has made $864,565,663, is ranked as the tenth highest grossing film at the domestic box office, and is the highest grossing film at the domestic box office of 2013. So, needless to say, ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ was THE movie of 2013.
Performances:
Twenty One Pilots:
Twenty One Pilots performed their newest single ‘Car Radio’. The performance began with the band performing on stage with numerous people wearing white ski masks. About midway through the song the lead singer (Tyler Joseph) and the drummer (Josh Dun) also put on white ski masks, and the audience near the stage did too (that’s a lot of masks). I really liked how energetic and fun this performance was, also the addition of the white ski masks made it unique. Twenty One Pilots” performance definitely made me want to hear more from them.
Rihanna and Eminem:
I was really excited for this performance, because it was the first time Rihanna and Eminem were going to perform their smash hit ‘The Monster’ live, and let me just say that they DID NOT disappoint. As the track began, red smoke lit up the backscreen, as blue smoke filled the stage. Eminem came out in a very casual black pants, leather jacket, and white T-shirt combo, while Rihanna choose an equally casual outfit, by wearing a white top, skirt, and head wrap. I really loved not only the energy and excitement that Rihanna and Eminem brought to this performance, but also how well they perform together.
Zedd and Ellie Goulding:
DJ/Producer Zedd joined pop star Ellie Goulding on the piano, as she performed her song ‘Bleeding Heart’, from the ‘Divergent’ Soundtrack. I loved how the dark staging and single spotlight gave the performance a very sweet and tender feel, which perfectly complimented the vibe of the track.
Zedd, Matthew Koma, and Miriam Bryant :
The last performance of the night was Zedd once again, who was joined this time by singer/songwriters Matthew Koma, and Miriam Bryant. The trio performed their song ‘Find You’, which is also form the ‘Divergent’ Soundtrack. For this performance, Zedd quickly jumped off of the piano, and began to DJ. Throughout the performance, the backboard flashed some really cool multicolored designs, as well as Zedd’s logo. I really loved how high energy and exciting the performance was, it definitely showed just how talented Zedd, Matthew, and Miriam are, and left the show on the same crazy/fun level that it began on.