The best and the worst of the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards

The Best

Justin Timberlake’s whole performance was the absolute highlight of the night and gave the audience and the millions of viewers around the world at home like myself the best 15 minutes in MTV VMAs history. He gave a rather long but enjoyable performance that traced back to the beginnings of his solo career after his boy-band days with N’SYNC had ended. Justin Timberlake’s extended number was a medley of parts of his solo hits like: “SexyBack”, “Like I Love You”, “My Love”, “Cry Me a River”, “Seniorita”, and “Rock Your Body.”

There was also his much awaited but brief reunion that night with N’SYNC, one of the most popular acts in Pop music history, when they sang parts of their hits “Girlfriend” and “Bye Bye Bye.”

Indeed, nostalgia played an important role in that event and reminded everyone why Justin Timberlake is one of the biggest artists now in the world and more importantly, how far his career has spanned and lasted. At 32 years old, Justin Timberlake has already achieved so much in the record industry.

Aside from taking home three awards for his work on his latest studio-release ‘The 20/20 Experience,’ Justin Timberlake is also the youngest artist ever to receive the “Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award” which is the equivalent to a lifetime achievement award. That is a much coveted and rare honor which isn’t given to just any artist, but to one whose works have made an indelible and undeniable artistic mark on the whole recording industry.

Justin Timberlake proved that for one to be remembered, to leave a lasting impression, and to be the talk of the town, all those can be accomplished–for all the right reasons and in the right ways. He showed the way that night by his own example.

On hind sight, who knew a former N’SYNC member would end up becoming a music icon.

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The Worst

I can’t believe the kind of filth that is even shown on music channels these days, and more so, in an award-giving body like the MTV VMAs. Wait, maybe the last part is too much of a stretch since it is no stranger to its own share of controversies and shocking moments in the past. But by far, in terms of how sexually explicit and obscene the whole performance of Miley Cyrus was, this was the worst I have ever seen as a viewer of the VMAs. To say that this was horrifyingly inappropriate is a huge understatement.

It didn’t help that she was competing with Lady Gaga on who could leave the stage with the most shocking moment of the night and…she won her own twisted victory. But was this the way she should have gone?

To me, her performance was a frantic and frenzied wiggling to strip herself–literally and figuratively– of any vestiges and remnants of her former wholesome image and to be rid of her “Disney past” as the character Hannah Montana!

How so, so sad that the Disney character Mickey Mouse and his glove whose images bring immediate joy, delight, glee, and even comfort to everyone–kids and adults alike–Miley Cyrus has chosen to practically desecrate and to perversely use for her own sick and disgusting pleasure and amusement she spells as entertainment.

What happened to you, Miley Cyrus?