“Break Free”
For the show's opening number, Ariana Grande kicked off a medley by belting out her latest single, "Break Free," produced by Zedd. The singer hit the stage in silver, backed by a slew of dancers.
For the show's opening number, Ariana Grande kicked off a medley by belting out her latest single, "Break Free," produced by Zedd. The singer hit the stage in silver, backed by a slew of dancers.
Nicki Minaj then hit the Forum stage for a jungle-themed bit of her new release, "Anaconda," which heavily samples Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back." She plugged her track alongside a bunch of booty-bumping dancers — but no actual snakes.
Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj ended the opening number alongside Jessie J for their first-ever performance of their joint single, "Bang Bang." While the British singer and the Sam & Cat breakout were trading vocal riffs, the rapper awkwardly walked the stage while holding her little black dress closed over her chest. (Minaj later explained that she ran short on time backstage during the costume change and failed to get the dress zipped all the way up.)
The first award of the night honored "Dark Horse," by Katy Perry and Juicy J. "We are gonna party tonight!" said a blue-haired Perry alongside her collaborator.
Taylor Swift performed her new single dressed in a shimmering silver two-piece, but when she found herself standing atop a massive "1989" sign and appeared as if she was about to jump off into her crowd of dancers, the music suddenly paused. "I don't care if it's the VMAs, I'm not jumping off there," she said, disappearing out of view and then referencing Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" dancer snafu during rehearsals. "All kinds of people getting bit by snakes, it's dangerous!"
Ed Sheeran took home the best male video award for "Sing" with Pharrell Williams.
While introducing best pop video, the Dumb and Dumber To stars hilariously sang a riff of Sia's Chandelier and touted the versatility of a scarf — as a sling, a Burning Man dance prop and an Ebola blocker at Coachella.
Ariana Grande took home the Moonman for best pop video for "Problem" with Iggy Azalea.
Sam Smith made his U.S. awards show debut by delivering a bare-bones performance of his breakout ballad, simply singing into a microphone in the spotlight, accompanied by a piano and backing musicians. The audience could also be heard singing along with Smith on the chorus.
Common prefaced his presentation of best hip-hop video by urging viewers to remember what happened this week in Ferguson, Missouri. After saying that people's attention has been drawn to the civil rights protests, he called for a moment of silence "for Mike Brown and for peace in this country and in the world." The audience at the Forum complied with Common's request, and, as the camera panned across the crowd, Snoop Dogg could be seen flashing a peace sign as he had his head bowed. Common then accepted the award on behalf of Drake, who topped the category with Majid Jordan on "Hold On (We're Going Home)."
Orange Is the New Black's Emmy winner Uzo Aduba and fellow series nominees Laverne Cox and Taylor Schilling joined together to introduce Usher, but not without an in-character meltdown from Aduba as Crazy Eyes.
Usher introduced his new single with Nicki Minaj. After a ton of dance moves, Minaj appeared onstage for her rap verse, during which Usher (while playing the electric guitar) repeatedly bumped her bum with his shoulder, and then spanked it before she left the stage. Usher closed the number with more dance moves and a few fireworks.
Lorde won the award for best rock video, and after thanking her friends from school for being in the video, she accidentally dropped a cuss word and said, "Sorry for swearing! Thank you so much!" and ran offstage.
5 Seconds of Summer — consisting of Calum Hood, Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings and Ashton Irwin — brought a ballad to the Forum stage.
Fifth Harmony won the Artist to Watch award for "Miss Movin' On."
The awards show scrolled though a handful of shots of the late actor in a short, wordless tribute, set to Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars."
Maroon 5 performed their hit single "Maps" outdoors. Underneath a large, red, glowing "M" and a smaller "V," a play on the band's name and upcoming album, frontman and Voice coach Adam Levine crooned the opening verse before kicking it up a notch for the remainder of the song.
Miley Cyrus won the video of the year Moonman, but used her speech to shed light on the issue of homelessness in L.A. Cyrus had a young man named Jesse take the stage to accept the award. "Thank you all — my name is Jesse, and I am accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now. I know because I am one of these people," he said, dressed in a suit and tie and reading from a few pieces of paper. Sitting on the side of a ramp leading to the stage, Cyrus shed tears during his speech.
Dressed in a bejeweled bodysuit, Beyonce showcased (nearly) all her hits from her latest album, Beyonce, with a memorable 15-minute medley, complete with "Drunk in Love," "Partition" and "XO."
Jay Z and Blue Ivy — who told the performer, "Good job, Mommy," — came onstage to present her with the award. "I am so full. I have nothing to say. I am filled with so much gratitude," she told the audience before closing the show with a kiss for her husband.