The VMAs: Part One

In the United States, we have many traditions.  We have the 4th of July, Labor Day, the Oscars, the Grammy Awards, the Super Bowl, and many others.  One very special tradition is the Video Music Awards, or the VMAs.  Since I do the iPod Shuffling series, I decided that I would do a special post telling you about the songs that are up for different awards and about the artists themselves.  I will do this in parts because there are several awards to cover and several nominations.

 

BEST POP VIDEO

The nominees are:

Adele- Rolling in the Deep

Adele realized when she was fourteen that she was going to be a singer. Adele has been involved in the music business for five years and she was a breakthrough artist in 2008.  As of May 2011, she became worth 6,000,000 pounds, or, $9,780,000.  This music video is the most nominated music video of the year.  It has seven other nominations.

"Rolling in the Deep" is about being betrayed by someone you love and Adele perfectly portrays how someone feels when they have loved someone and all of a sudden you are betrayed by the one you have been in love with.   Currently, it has 111,930,905 on YouTube.

Britney Spears- Till the World Ends

Britney Spears is a southern girl who grew up in Louisiana.  According to Forbes magazine, she is the third most mentioned musician and sixth most powerful celebrity.  She has been famous for her voice and publicized for her personal issues.  She disappeared from the celebrity world for a while in order to begin a family.  She returned to the stage with new hits and singles including "Till the World Ends."  Britney said that she was inspired by touring the world with other singers and not wanting it to end.   Britney has accumulated a net worth of $115 million.  Currently, it has 60,523,460 on YouTube.

Bruno Mars- Grenade

Bruno Mars also known as Peter Gene Hernandez was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up surrounded by music.  He began by singing around the island and was known for his impressions of Elvis.  He co-wrote several songs for B.O.B., Travie McCoy, Flo Rida, and K'naan.  He is fairly new on the scene and he has become very popular.  This song is about the feeling of when you love someone and they don't love you back.  I think several of us have felt that before.  He has an net worth of about $8 million.  This song currently has 198,189,908 views on YouTube. 

Katy Perry- Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)

Katy Perry also known as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson was born in California and was raised by a very Catholic family.  She originally started singing Gospel rock, but was unsuccessful.  She slowly became more recognized by the music community.  She has been growing and maturing with her singing every year.  She was in a relationship with Travie McCoy for a long time, but now she is married to Russel Brand.  In this song, she is talking about a crazy party which she wants to happen over and over again.  She features her alter-ego in this music video called "Katy Beth Terry."  Her net worth is about $48 million.  This song currently has 79,279,835 views on YouTube. 

Pitbull f/ Ne-Yo, Nayer, and Afrojack- Give Me Everything

Pitbull also known as Armando Christian Perez is a rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer.  His parents are Cuban immigrants and this caused problems in his early career.  He has made several albums and worked with several other artists.  He also has his own TV show.  This song is about partying with a bunch of women all night long.  He has accumulated a net worth of about $9 million.  This song currently has 103,482,516 views on YouTube.  

BEST ROCK VIDEO

The nominees are:

Cage the Elephant- Shake Me Down

 

Cage the Elephant is a group that formed in Kentucky in mid-2006.  The members of Cage the Elephant have been in a different group called Perfect Confusion.  They are very popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, and in Canada for the excited performances.  The members of the group are Matthew Shultz - lead vocals; Lincoln Parish - lead guitar; Brad Shultz - rhythm guitar; Daniel Tichenor - bass guitar and leading vocals; and Jared Champion - drums and percussion.  This song shows a middle aged jogger reliving his life in a dream, which later shows that he died in his sleep.  This song currently has 4,097,110 views on YouTube.     

Foo Fighters- Walk

 

Foo Fighters began in 1994 as an alternative rock band.  Three of their albums have won Grammy Awards for best rock album.  It was formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer, David Grohl.  They have released seven albums so far.  The members of the group are David Grohl - lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, and piano; Nate Mendel - bass; Taylor Hawkins - drums and backing vocals; Chris Shiflett - lead guitar and backing vocals; and Pat Smear - lead and rhythm guitar.  This song was inspired by David Grohl's daughter learning how to walk.  David Grohl's net worth is about $200 million.  This song has currently 3,761, 349 views on YouTube.   

Foster the People- Pumped Up Kicks

 

Foster the People is an indie pop band formed in California.  The band has been active for three years now.  They only have one album entitled, Torches.  It has reached number one on the charts for U.S. rock and U.S. alternative. The members of the group are Mark Foster - vocals, keyboards, piano, synthesizers, guitar, programming and percussion; Mark Pontius - drums and extra percussion; and Cubbie Fink - bass and backing vocals.  Mark Foster said that this song was to bring awareness about gun violence among youth saying that it disrupted family and love.  This song currently has 10,595,062 views on YouTube.     

Mumford and Sons- The Cave

Mumford and Sons is an English folk rock band.  It was formed in 2007 by several multi-instrumentalists.  They have made one album called "Sigh No More."  The members of the group are Marcus Mumford - vocals, guitar, drums, and mandolin; Ben Lovett - vocals, keyboards, accordion, and drums; "Country" Winston Marshall - vocals, banjo and dobro; and Ted Dwayne - vocals, string bass, drums, and guitar.  I believe the song is about a man saying that a woman is heartless and that he will have hope that she will change and love him.  Everyone is a little confused about its meaning.  Marcus Mumford's net worth is about $2 million.  This song currently has 10, 198,361 views on YouTube.  

The Black Keys- Howlin' For You

The Black Keys was formed in 2001 in Ohio.  It falls in the genre of blues/rock.  They have released nine albums.  The members of the group are Dan Auberback - vocalist and guitarist; and Patrick Carney - drummer, producer.  This song was inspired by Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll."  The song currently has 2,416,882 views on YouTube.  

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO

The nominees are:

Chris Brown ft/ Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes- Look At Me Now

Chris Brown has made five albums and has been on TV seven times.  He is an American R&B singer, rapper, songwriter, dancer, and actor.  He was born in Virginia and as a little boy performed in his church choir and took part in several talent shows.  Due to his dancing, he has been compared to Usher and Michael Jackson.  In 2008, when he was dating Rihanna, he was put on trial for domestic violence.  This radically affected his career.  "Look At Me Now" is about Chris' life so far and how he is riding high from it.  He has a net worth of around $22 million.  This song currently has 102,147,943 views on YouTube.


Kanye West ft/ Rihanna and Kid Cudi- All of the Lights

Kanye West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer.  He was born in Atlanta, Georgia.  He went on to make six albums and work with many artists.  He has acted differently in several award shows, the most popular being the mishap with Taylor Swift when she received the award for Best Female Video at the VMAs.  In this song, he acts as a father who abuses his wife and now his daughter is walking around fatherless.  Kanye West has a net worth of about $70 million.  This song currently has 50,831,554 views on YouTube.

Lil Wayne- Six Foot Seven Foot

Lil Wayne, also known as, Dwayne Michael Carter, is an American rapper.  Born in Louisiana, he was signed on the Cash Money Records at the age of nine. He has created nine records since.  Lil Wayne has been arrested for drug possession.  Lil Wayne also majored in psychology at the University of Pheonix.  He has four children. Six Foot Seven Foot pays homage to the blockbuster hit "Inception."  Lil Wayne has a net worth of about $85 million.  This song currently has about 29,555,436 views on YouTube.  


Lupe Fiasco- The Show Goes On

Lupe Fiasco or Wasalu Muhammad Jaco was born in Chicago, Illinois.  He is an American rapper, artist, producer, and CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment.  Along with music he has two clothing lines.  He also designs shoes for Reebok.  He has created four albums.  This song was for the label and Lupe Fiasco told two publications that the label said he shouldn't rap too deep and he should be very blatant about what he is talking about.  Lupe Fiasco has a net worth of about $8 million.  This song currently has about      38,092,391 views on YouTube.  

Nicki Minaj- Super Bass

Nicki Minaj or Onika Tanya Maraj is a hip hop and R&B artist who became famous after joining the group Young Money.  She was born in Trinidad and Tobago.  She has only made one record, Pink Friday.  Minaj said that the song was about a boy you have a crush on.  Nicki Minaj has a net worth of about $8.5 million.  This song currently has about 98,735,961 views on YouTube.