mizChartreuse!

By now, everybody has heard about the dramz at MTV’s Video Music Awards show last night. If you live under a rock, MTV awarded 17-year-old Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” the coveted Moon Man for the “Best Female Video” category, beating out Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies [Put a Ring on It],” Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold,” and Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You.”

As Miz Swift was marveling about her recognition, Kanye West came on stage, took the microphone from her, and said “Yo, Taylor–I’m really happy for you–I’m gonna let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time!” He handed Taylor back the mic and exited the stage. Beyonce was in the crowd, looking absolutely stunned, and Taylor remained onstage, looking forlorn and unable to say anything further.

Instantly, the Interwebs went ablaze with backlash and commentary and anger and spoof video remixes. The tween/teen girl sector of the country was probably the most outraged, and a select few minority of people applauded Kanye and couldn’t agree more.

I happen to be one of those very few people who thinks what Kanye did was hilarious.

How prestigious are the Video Music Awards shows anyway?

Yes, I’m biased. I love Beyonce, and the “Single Ladies” song and video was so incredibly epic this past winter. She looked fabulous, the dance was amazing, and the song was in everybody’s heads whether they wanted it to be or not. And to her credit, of her nine nominations, Beyonce won three Moonmen: choreography, editing, and VIDEO OF THE YEAR. So she got her props. And perhaps, since Bey was slated to win Video of the Year anyhow, the MTV execs figured they could throw Taylor Swift a bone. Fair enough.

But I still don’t think that her video was better than Beyonce’s. It’s very cute, yes, but I just think the “Single Ladies” video trumps “You Belong with Me,” mainly because of the choreography and the fact that it went viral–spawning so many spoofs and tributes and knockoffs and SNL sketches. Love it.

Granted, the MTV awards shows are cool, but I suppose they are inconsequential when compared to the highest musical award in the land–the Grammys. A lot of the show is theatrical, and I think the officials must make their decisions about the winners by taking more into account than just the talent. There are probably a lot of politics involved.

“Everyone knows that this ‘Kanye West’ is merely a character in an elaborately staged and increasingly complicated performance art piece, designed to test people’s reaction to somebody with a staggering level of idiocy and a complete lack of self-awareness. It’s all a prank people, like Borat or David Cameron.” -thisismetypinganame [comment from The Guardian]

The VMAs have been known for their Youtube moments over the last several years–Britney Spears’ horrendous performance in 2007 is one example. And then last year, when Kanye lost, he lost his cool, going on a screaming tirade backstage. “That’s two years in a row, man!” He’d cried, yelling about how hard he works and how much he’d deserved the recognition.  ”I’m trying hard, man, I have the number one record, man.”

Despite Kanye’s abhorrent behavior, Beyonce was the picture of class and graciousness. When she won the Video of the Year, this was her response:

“This is amazing! I remember being 17 years old up for my first MTV award with Destiny’s Child and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life…so I’d like for Taylor to come out and have her moment.” -Beyonce Knowles

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Mercury in Retrograde

My friend Kenya and I were texting last night about the incident after I filled her in on what had happened and told her  I’d be blogging about it:

Kenya: “Of course you are! Is he a gemini? thats some gem shit fo sho! I can’t wait to see it.”

Me: “Ooh ima look it up! I wouldn’t be surprised…he’s either a gem or a Leo, ha…OMG! Good call! HE IS A GEMINI! June 8 baby! Hilarious. Love it!”

Kenya: “Ha! I knew it! We do off the wall shit like that. I’m not surprised! So funny.”

After I looked up his date of birth on Wikipedia, it all made even more sense. Also, we have to take into consideration the fact that Mercury is in retrograde from September 6/7th through the end of the month. This affects everyone in different ways, but Geminis are ruled by Mercury; thus the planetary backtrack has an even stronger impact on us:

“In general, Mercury rules thinking and perception, processing and disseminating information and all means of communication, commerce, education and transportation. By extension, Mercury rules people who work in these areas, especially those who work with their minds or their wits.” [from astrology.com]

Well then.

Everybody’s kinda messed up lately. We have Congressman Joe Wilson calling President Obama a liar, tennis star Serena Williams going off on a line judge during the final moments of the U.S. Open, Madonna turning the Michael Jackson tribute into something about her, and general calamity across the board–whether it’s roommate issues, miscommunications with our significant others, and drama in matters of business and finances.

But hey. We’re human.

Plus, Kanye was probably schwasted. He showed up to the red carpet with a half-full bottle of Hennesey, drinking it as the night progressed, sharing it with Pete Wentz, Joe Jackson and probably others.

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“You’re no Jesus, you’re no f*ing Elvis”

Now, we all know Kanye West is afflicted with acute megalomania. We’ve become accustomed to how he says outrageous things to the media, raps about how amazing he is, and leaves no holds barred when it comes to his opinion. This is the reputation he has not only earned, but given to himself. UK’s The Guardian did a great job of outlining all his outbursts in the media over the last several years here.

“He’s rich enough, he should just hold his own awards ceremony. That way whoever he thinks should win, will win. The award would be called a Kanye, and it’d be shaped like a golden fish stick.” -LordSummerisle [comment from the Guardian]

Now, I will be the first to say that Kanye West is a douchebag. Hell, Kanye West KNOWS he’s a douchebag. He lacks class and tact, he says inappropriate things, and his supersized ego is a major turnoff. I don’t think that what he did to Taylor Swift was right, per se, but I do think it was funny and true. So when South Park calls him a “gay fish” and he is criticized for his behavior, he certainly deserves it. He’s brought it upon himself.

In 2006, when he lost at the MTV Europe awards and had another infamous outburst, his response to the backlash was: “People were so surprised at what I did. I’m more surprised people thought I had changed.”

Yep. And I think he summarizes my point precisely–he knows he’s crazy and out of control.

And at the end of the day, controvery=ratings. Taylor Swift’s fame is going to exponentially rise, Beyonce is still a classy princess, and Kanye gains more notoriety, no homo.

So why are people so shocked? He’s just doing what he’s always done.

Plus, he APOLOGIZED ON HIS BLOG IN ALL CAPS. LOL.

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Beyonce’s video for “Single Ladies” (I know the little girl is dancing along, but this was the ONLY version I could find on YouTube that allowed embedding…)

Taylor Swift’s video for “You Belong with Me”

What do YOU think?