The 2023 MTV VMAs were held in New Jersey on September 12. Every year, the award show attracts attention with incredible performances by artists like Britney Spears, Madonna, Lady Gaga, BLACKPINK, Selena Gomez, and so many more. Take a look at this year’s list of performers and find out who went home with an award.
The VMAs Performers List
The 2023 VMAs featured a wide range of music genres, such as K-pop, rap, and rock. It took place at New Jersey’s Prudential Center on September 12 at 8 p.m. ET.
About a month before the show, MTV had already announced the performers on social media. Keep on reading to see some of the stars who impressed the audience and the viewers at home.
Sabrina Carpenter and NLE Choppa
Sabrina Carpenter and NLE Choppa were two of the artists to hit the VMAs pre-show stage. Sabrina has been quite busy recently since she opened for Taylor Swift’s tour in Mexico.
NLE Choppa gained popularity with his debut single “Shotta Flow” in 2018 and put on a great show for fans. Both artists were incredible on stage!
Nicki Minaj and Shakira
Last year, Nicki Minaj was given the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and Shakira was this year’s proud recipient. But she didn’t stop there. She also received the Best Collaboration award for her song with Karol G.
Shakira has made history as a VMAs icon as she was the first artist to perform a fully Spanish song at an award show with “La Tortura.”
Olivia Rodrigo and Demi Lovato
Olivia Rodrigo made her return to the VMA stage right after the release of her sophomore album, Guts. She went home with an award for Best Editing for her song “Vampire,” which she also performed for her fans.
Demi Lovato has not performed at the VMAs since 2017! In honor of her upcoming album REVAMPED, Demi surprised the audience with a medley of some of her biggest hit songs, including “Cool for the Summer” and “Heart Attack.”
Måneskin and Stray Kids
After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021, the Italian rockstars Måneskin have been killing it ever since. This year, they won the Best Rock Video Award and delivered a world-premiere performance of “HONEY (ARE YOU COMING?).”
It’s been a big year for K-pop fans. Stray Kids set the stage on fire performing their latest hit, “S-CLASS,” off their number one album, 5-STAR, for the first time on US television. They also got their first-ever VMA award for Best K-Pop Video.
Tomorrow X Together featuring Anitta
TXT also represented the K-pop industry with their VMA debut performance. They performed their brand-new song “Back For More” featuring Brazillian star Anitta.
Their performance gave out the ultimate Michael Jackson vibes and showcased the group’s amazing dance skills.
What Gangnam Style Actually Means
“Gangnam Style” came out some 11 years ago on July 15th and saw adults and children alike going crazy for the special dance moves. The South Korean song became the most-viewed video on YouTube and stayed there for five years. All this was rather unexpected, considering most people didn’t know what the song meant.
The Meaning of Gangnam Style
11 years later, many people still don’t know the meaning of the “Gangnam Style” song, although they may still hear the tune in their brains. So, what does the song mean? It was released by YG Entertainment as the lead single of Psy’s sixth studio album, Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1. The album traveled up the charts, and it reached the top of South Korea’s Gaon Chart and climbed to number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
While the song is catchy, and the iconic dance move proved to be addictive, the satirical video is actually poking fun at something. It is about the Gangnam District in Seoul, and Psy described it as noble during the daytime and going crazy at night. He then compares ladies to the territory, saying he was the right guy for a lady who was like that.
A Song About a Boy and a Girl
The song is about both a girl and a guy. The girl is described as warm and classy during the day, enjoying the freedom of a cup of coffee, and states that she has a unique charm that sets her apart during the night. The guy is warm like her during the day, quickly finishing his coffee, and becomes enthusiastic and full of ideas during the night. The song points out the beauty and lovability of both the girl and the guy, urging them to continue until they end up together. The song uses playful comparisons, describing a girl and boy who appear quiet during the day but enjoy having fun during the night and embracing their true selves.
“Gangnam Style” is ultimately about individuality and unique charm, telling people to be themselves and enjoy life to the fullest. While the lyrics may be slightly questionable, the iconic song has certainly gone down in history as a memorable one.