5 Ways to Keep Perspective On The Kanye West VMAs Incident.
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I didn’t watch the MTV Video Music Awards last night, but like everyone else this morning, I’ve now heard about the way he interrupted country music star Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech to declare that Beyonce deserved the award instead. I’ve seen the YouTube footage, and even the inevitable mash-up with the speech last week where President Obama was rudely interrupted by that turd Joe Wilson. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcuE9ghAgFM)
Don’t get me wrong – it’s bad behavior on Kanye’s part. It wasn’t nice. It’s not something I would ever do (one hopes). I personally believe it’s always better to bully upwards; in other words, to shoot at the bigger targets. If Kanye would’ve messed with (for example) Jay-Z, which he’d obviously never do, he’d have gone up in coolness points with me. As it is, he ruined a moment that, while it didn’t mean much to Kanye and while it shouldn’t mean much to you or me, it probably meant something huge to Taylor Swift, who underneath it all is still a teenage girl. That’s why we all love Beyonce for giving the young lady a second chance to make her speech.
But I still will like Kanye, and I’ll tell you why: he makes good music. The second he stops doing that, that’s when it’s time to start judging him exclusively on his rude behavior. I don’t look to Kanye West for his political opinions or for fashion tips or for lessons in decorum. In a world where the sounds of Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga and Britney Spears are inescapable, I do believe we still need Kanye West.
TO MAKE MUSIC.
All the rest is noise; noise that has nothing to do with me.
Here are five reasons why Kanye should be quickly forgiven for his mistake last night:
1. Since MTV hasn’t shown a complete video in probably a decade, none of us even know what they’re awarding. The VIDEO Music Awards can only possibly matter to the people nominated for them. How would we know if Taylor Swift had a better video than Beyonce, or vice versa? Maybe Kanye had a point! (Actually, he doesn’t though – see my next point.)
2. Kanye’s outburst was awkward, ironic, and unintentionally hilarious. He leapt up not to attack Taylor Swift, but rather in defense of Beyonce. Now Beyonce is hugely talented and I personally think she’s great, but the Single Ladies song for which she was nominated is totally unlistenable, unless you’re nostalgic for the sounds of ColecoVision. The Single Ladies video, meanwhile, made the song bearable by putting Beyonce in a tight outfit and letting her dance around – this makes the best of a bad situation, but it’s hardly “one of the best videos of all time.” The fact that Kanye is so impassioned about such a stupid thing is just laughable, although nothing worse.
3. Kanye should have acted with more class, you say. Because the MTV VMAs are traditionally a forum where class, self-respect, and good behavior are expected, right? Let’s be serious here: With the singular exception of Alicia Keys, everybody who was on that stage last night makes their living on bad taste. None of us ever remember a thing about these MTV events until Howard Stern descends from the rafters in a Fartman outfit, or until Bruno lands on Eminem in a 69 position, and so on and so forth until damnation. Which brings me to my next point:
4. He gave you all something to talk about on a Monday morning. It’s just entertainment, something we distract ourselves with in order to forget all our real problems. Trust me, everyone who wears a suit at MTV completely LOVES Kanye right now. This is low theater for the masses. It’s the WWF. Everybody loves to hate the bad guy. Either you get it or you don’t. In case you don’t, here’s one more piece of perspective:
5. No offense, but if you’re over the age of 21, this probably shouldn’t bother you so much.
Comments
i agree with all your points,
i agree with all your points, especially number 3. although, i will say it is questionable as to whether or not kanye makes good music!
I admit that music is subjective, but...
...At the very least, Kanye is without question one of the best producers in hip-hop history, and his music has changed the sound of popular music over the past decade. For my money, his first three albums were full of greatness, and then he threw a curveball with 808s & Heartbreak that was brave and completely unique. For a mainstream artist to change up their sound so radically is totally unusual, and in my opinion, an admirable creative quality. Unfortunately, part of being a Kanye fan means watching him put his foot in it on a regular basis; I just figured we were all used to it by now...
P.S.
Thanks for the comment, by the way!
Enough!
I say it's time for the sun to set on West.
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