Video Music Awards: Performances Review

Here’s a breakdown of the 2024 VMAs' most epic, unexpected and talked-about performances.

Sabrina Carpenter:

Sabrina Carpenter gave everyone a taste of how she likes to perform.

After winning “Song of the Year” for her hit song, “Espresso,” the 25-year-old singer came out in a sparkly silver bodysuit with two lip prints on her leg and back, a nod to her newest album “Short n’ Sweet.”

Carpenter was introduced by Cyndi Lauper and was praised as a “wonderful singer” as she sat on a swing above the audience and sang pieces of “Please Please Please.”

She then landed on the stage and went right into her newest song, “Taste,” which has blown up all over social media, similar to her other songs. As a shocking moment for everyone, she brought on stage an alien and an astronaut to recreate the makeout scene from the song’s music video with Jenna Ortega and Rohan Campbell, but instead made out with the alien.

The singer then performed “Espresso” as palm trees and coffee mugs lit up behind her as she walked down the stage with her astronauts.

Her performance was one that will be talked about for a long time to come.

Chappell Roan:

Chappell Roan’s performance was on fire, literally.

The “Best New Artist” winner made her performance debut Wednesday, and it was nothing short of epic. She performed her newest single, “Good Luck, Babe” and added a historical twist to it.

Roan was introduced by RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 winner Sasha Colby, who she has said is one of her heroes and is now her drag mother. She appeared on stage as a knight in shining armor with a crossbow aimed at a giant castle behind her.

On stage with her were several other knights who danced around her as she sang. An iconic moment was when Roan was in the middle of the stage with her sword, spinning around in circles and pointing it at the knights as they walked in the opposite direction around her.

For a performance debut, this one will be burned in viewers’ minds for a long time.

Katy Perry:

A 10-minute performance of Katy Perry singing a medley of her greatest hits? Yes, please!

The 2024 Video Vanguard Award winner was introduced by her fiancé, Orlando Bloom, by saying, "Congratulations on this honor, baby, I’m so proud of you. 143!” in reference to her newest album, “143,” which comes out September 20.

Perry flew, literally, out on stage in an all silver outfit to open the show and performed parts of “Dark Horse” as she swung across the top of the stage. She appeared from a moon and posed as her backup dancers all reached up towards her.

Other songs included in her performance were “E.T.,” "Teenage Dream,” “I Kissed A Girl” and a song from her new album, “I’m His, He’s Mine” with rapper Doechii. The entirety of the performance stayed within the futuristic theme for “143.”

At the end of her performance, Perry kissed her beau as he handed her the award. She started off by saying, “Can you believe I did this all on my period?” and continued to say how grateful she was to her fans, including praising the newest generation of artists in the music industry.

Perry ended her speech by encouraging fans to “do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art, turn off social media, safeguard your mental health, pause, touch grass, and do what you were born to do, just like I was born to [sing].”

Lenny Kravitz:

The man, the myth, the legend.

Two-time VMA winner Lenny Kravitz made his return to the performing stage with his electric guitar to perform three of his biggest hits.

He was introduced by Suki Waterhouse as a “rock God with a sound completely his own” and sang “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” wearing a white sparkly, but barely there, fringe vest, a white boa and his sunglasses.

Just like you would see at a typical rock n’ roll concert, there were bright lights and backup dancers when he gracefully started playing “Human” next with his shirtless co-guitarist.

To end his performance, he decided to bring back his 1998 hit, “Fly Away,” but performed the reformed version of the song with Quavo that was just released this past May. Everyone in the crowd was on their feet singing along and dancing to this old classic.

Kravitz made fans remember why he was asked to perform and brought and energized the crowd on a whole new level.

Ashley Mascaro is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email aem6398@psu.edu.