Now that the nominations for the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards are out, we can officially move on to the next phase of this whole process: Complaining about every wrong choice they made and who they forgot.
Before we begin, let’s just expedite a few conversations so we can move quickly. Yes, MTV doesn’t play videos anymore because they’re in a market where they can’t compete with YouTube and the immediacy of digital demand. No, we don’t have any of the premium cable channels that MTV actually does play videos on. Yes, Taylor Swift will still be surprised if she wins.
Okay, on with the snubs!
BEST ROCK VIDEO
Snubbed: Tame Impala – “Cause I’m a Man”
This is probably the simplest layup nominee. Tame Impala has been spectacular with their videos leading up to their new album, Currents. Puppets in videos are always a win. Besides, the Arctic Monkeys video that’s nominated is from 2013, so Tame Impala could easily slide into that slot.
Nominees:
Hozier – “Take Me To Church”
Fall Out Boy – “Uma Thurman”
Florence + the Machine – “Ship To Wreck”
Walk the Moon – “Shut Up and Dance”
Arctic Monkeys – “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?”
BEST POP VIDEO
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Snubbed: Carly Rae Jepsen – “I Really Like You”
Carly Rae Jepsen has been leading the charge to have the strongest pop album in all of 2015. A good way to do that is releasing a video starring America’s sweetheart, Tom Hanks, lip-syncing your song on the coldest day of the year. How was this not nominated?! A travesty, we say.
Nominees:
Beyoncé – “7/11″
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Taylor Swift – “Blank Space”
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
Maroon 5 – “Sugar”
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
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Snubbed: Vic Mensa ft. Kanye West – “U Mad”
Now, we’ll admit, the field here is really strong. This is a category they mostly got right, but Vic Mensa‘s clip for “U Mad” is basically every dark party we’ve ever wanted to attend. Or, essentially, the party we think we’re at, but we’re too drunk to realize it’s kinda lame. Also, ‘Ye is on his mean-muggingest, and it’s perfect for his verse.
Nominees:
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again”
Big Sean ft. E-40 – “I Don’t F–k With You”
BEST COLLABORATION
https://dailymotion.com/video/x2rtq18
Snubbed: Nicki Minaj ft. Beyoncé – “Feeling Myself”
Maybe it’s because people were upset that it was a Tidal exclusive, but once everyone got their hands on it, “Feeling Myself” became a classic vid. Who doesn’t want to be friends with Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj and eat burgers and twerk with them? And hang out in kiddie pools. Hell, we’ll be the quiet friend who just brings stuff. This is a ground floor we want to be on.
Nominees:
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood”
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again”
Ariana Grande & The Weeknd – “Love Me Harder”
Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj – “Bang Bang”
VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE
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Snubbed: Kira Isabella – “Quarterback”
Kira Isabella may not be a name in country music that you know, but her video for “Quarterback” should definitely change that. Telling a brave story of an unpopular girl who found herself in an all-too-common situation, Kira nails it in a way that’s never pandering, never paternal, but just real and understandable. It’s impossible for you not to feel while watching this clip.
Nominees:
Jennifer Hudson – “I Still Love You”
Colbie Caillat – “Try”
Big Sean ft. Kanye West and John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World”
Rihanna – “American Oxygen”
Wale – “The White Shoes”
ARTIST TO WATCH
Snubbed: Shamir – “On The Regular”
It’s almost unfair that Fetty Wap is nominated here when he’s clearly the runaway favorite. How could he not win: He’s got three songs that are already blowing up the charts. So, we’d like to submit Shamir into the fold. He’s been killing it under the radar for nearly a year, until his debut, Ratchet, finally dropped in May. He has such a big range from dancey to emotional to grimy, and he’s only 20. The sky is the limit here.
Nominees:
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Vance Joy – “Riptide”
George Ezra – “Budapest”
James Bay – “Hold Back The River”
FKA Twigs – “Pendulum”
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Snubbed: Jenny Lewis – “She’s Not Me”
Jenny Lewis‘ videos for her most recent album, The Voyager (and really for her whole career), have been top notch. But her visual for “She’s Not Me” basically stirred up all the feelings that made us love her for all this time. With assists from Fred Armisen, Zosia Mamet, Leo Fitzpatrick, Feist, and Vanessa Bayer, she owns up to all of the demons from her child acting past like Troop Beverly Hills, The Wizard, and The Golden Girls. It’s basically futile to resist how charming it all is.
Nominees:
Beyoncé – “7/11″
Taylor Swift – “Blank Space”
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
Sia – “Elastic Heart”
Ellie Goulding – “Love Me Like You Do”
BEST MALE VIDEO
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Snubbed: Miguel – “Coffee”
How do you reward what is the best male video? Simply by what’s the best video by a man? No. We’d posit that “Coffee” is the best male video because it’s Miguel at his most virile, pretty much taking charge with his girl in the sexiest, most masculine way possible. This is the kind of video, regardless of gender, that will be burned in the back of your mind for the best reasons. That’s a manly video.
Nominees:
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
The Weeknd – “Earned It”
Nick Jonas – “Chains”
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
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Snubbed: Rihanna – “B*tch Better Have My Money”
This has got to be the biggest snub of all. How was Rihanna‘s revenge masterpiece, “B*tch Better Have My Money,” not nominated at all? For anything? It can’t be the deadline, because the equally deserving “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar dropped in the same week as “BBHMM.” This video was a tour de force and a fundamental shift in her entire aesthetic. It took over the entire music conversation. There must be a concrete reason that it wasn’t nominated. Otherwise, this was a glaring error.
Nominees:
Beyoncé – “7/11″
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood”
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
