2013 MTV VMA highlights

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A reunion by the ’90s boyband *NSYNC became one of the highlights in this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, held Sunday, August 25 (Monday, August 26 PH time), in New York.

A nearly-naked Lady Gaga, Katy Perry boxing at the foot of the Brooklyn bridge, and a super sexy number by former Disney star Miley Cyrus, with Robin Thicke, were also some of the show’s top moments, broadcast live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Justin Timberlake nabbed the night’s top award, while the duo of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis bagged 3 Moonmen.

Timberlake’s video for “Mirrors,” part of his “20-20 Experience” album, was declared Video of the Year, beating Bruno Mars, Robin Thicke, Taylor Swift, and Macklemore & Lewis.

Timberlake also won Best Direction and Best Editing, and he was also the recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

“I don’t deserve this award but I’m not going to give it back,” Timberlake said as he accepted the award.

Late night TV comedian Jimmy Fallon, who hosted the ceremony, described Timberlake as a “legend” and dubbed him the “President of Pop.”

His reunion with former band members in *NSYNC – Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, and Chris Kirkpatrick – was definitely the highlight of the month.

Timberlake wowed his fans by singing a medley of his best-known tunes, including “SexyBack,” “Cry me a River,” “Senorita,” “Suit and Tie,” and “Rock your Body” — then the four members of his former group joined him to perform two of *NSYNC’s best-known hits, “Girlfriend” and “Bye Bye Bye.” The 1990s hit boy band broke up on 2002.

The packed arena was thrilled, and stars like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez stood and danced at their seats.

Awardees

Singer Bruno Mars won an award for Best Male Video for his hit “Locked Out of Heaven,” while country/pop diva Taylor Swift won the Best Female Video award for her song “I Knew You Were Trouble.”

“I want to thank the person who inspired this song, who knows exactly who he is, because now I’ve got one of these,” she said as she accepted the award.

The TV cameras then focused on Swift’s ex-boyfriend Harry Styles, a member of the British hit boy band One Direction.

The award for Best Pop Video went to Swift’s gal pal Selena Gomez — delivered to her by the five One Direction boys — for the visuals to her song “Come & Get It.”

Macklemore & Lewis received the Moonmen for Best Cinematography and Best Hip-Hop Video for “Can’t Hold Us,” and Best Video with a Social Message for “Same Love.”

The song upholds the theme of equality for all in the right to matrimony, and upon receiving their trophy, Macklemore said, “gay rights are human rights… there is no separation.”

Music megastars perform

Aside from the much-hyped reunion, performances from Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Drake, Kanye West, and Bruno Mars were interspersed between announcements of the winners.

Lady Gaga opened the show with her new single “Applause,” and changed into outlandish costumes before ending in a bikini of giant seashells which she wore for the rest of the night.

Former “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus, clearly aiming to show that she was beyond the days of the Disney TV show, sang her summer hit “We Can’t Stop” in a tight leotard, thrusting out her tongue and waving her microphone near her crotch.

She then stripped down to what appeared to be her underwear and remained on the stage, gyrating her hips and using a large foam hand as a sex prop, for a raunchy performance of “Blurred Lines” along with singer Robin Thicke.

Katy Perry closed the show with a roar heard round New York, performing her latest single “Roar” with the legendary Brooklyn Bridge as her backdrop.

For the first time, the VMAs were held in Brooklyn, New York City. It was held in the west coast – in Los Angeles, specifically – for the past 4 years.

The first MTV awards were handed out in 1984. Winners receive a statuette of an astronaut on the moon, known as a “Moonman” award.

Here is a full list of nominees and winners (in bold):

MICHAEL JACKSON VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD
Justin Timberlake

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Justin Timberlake, Mirrors
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz, Thrift Shop
Bruno Mars, Locked Out of Heaven
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell, Blurred Lines
Taylor Swift, I Knew You Were Trouble

BEST SONG OF THE SUMMER
One Direction, Best Song Ever
Miley Cyrus, We Can’t Stop
Selena Gomez, Come and Get It
Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding, I Need Your Love
Daft Punk, Get Lucky
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell, Blurred Lines

BEST VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE
Kelly Clarkson, People Like Us
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Same Love
Snoop Lion, No Guns Allowed
Miguel, Candles in the Sun
Beyoncé, I Was Here

BEST MALE VIDEO
Justin Timberlake, Mirrors
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell, Blurred Lines
Bruno Mars, Locked Out of Heaven
Ed Sheeran, Lego House
Kendrick Lamar, Swimming Pools

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko, Stay
Taylor Swift, I Knew You Were Trouble
Miley Cyrus, We Can’t Stop
Pink featuring Nate Ruess, Just Give Me a Reason
Demi Lovato, Heart Attack

BEST POP VIDEO
Bruno Mars, Locked Out of Heaven
Justin Timberlake, Mirrors
fun., Carry On
Miley Cyrus, We Can’t Stop
Selena Gomez, Come and Get It

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton, Can’t Hold Us
Drake, Started From the Bottom
Kendrick Lamar, Swimming Pools
A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar, F—-n’ Problems
J. Cole featuring Miguel, Power Trip

ARTIST TO WATCH (presented by Taco Bell)
Twenty One Pilots, Holding On to You
Zedd featuring Foxes, Clarity
Austin Mahone, What About Love
The Weeknd, Wicked Games
Iggy Azalea, Work

BEST COLLABORATION
Justin Timberlake, featuring Jay-Z, Suit & Tie
Pitbull featuring Christina Aguilera, Feel This Moment
Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding, I Need Your Love
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell, Blurred Lines
Pink featuring Nate Ruess, Just Give Me a Reason

BEST ROCK VIDEO
Imagine Dragons, Radioactive
Fall Out Boy, My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)
Mumford & Sons, I Will Wait
Thirty Seconds to Mars, Up in the Air
Vampire Weekend, Diane Young

BEST ART DIRECTION
Capital Cities, Safe and Sound
Thirty Seconds to Mars, Up in the Air
Janelle Monae featuring Erykah Badu, Q.U.E.E.N
Lana Del Rey, National Anthem
Alt-J, Tesselate

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Chris Brown, Fine China
Ciara, Body Party
Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull, Live It Up
will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber, #thatPOWER
Bruno Mars, Treasure

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Thirty Seconds to Mars, Up in the Air
Lana Del Rey, Ride
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sacrilege
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton, Can’t Hold Us
A-Trak & Tommy Trash, Tuna Melt

BEST DIRECTION
Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z, Suit & Tie
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton, Can’t Hold Us
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sacrilege
fun., Carry On
Drake, Started From the Bottom

BEST EDITING
Pink featuring Nate Ruess, Just Give Me A Reason
Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch, Sweet Nothing
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton, Can’t Hold Us
Justin Timberlake, Mirrors
Miley Cyrus, We Can’t Stop

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Capital Cities, Safe and Sound
Duck Sauce, It’s You
Flying Lotus, Tony Tortures
Skrillex featuring The Doors, Breakn’ a Sweat
The Weeknd, Wicked Games

– With reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com