During the VMA's last night Kanye West rushed the stage took the mic from the teenage Taylor Swift (who had just won an award for best female video) and proclaimed, "I'm sorry, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time." Let's assume that this is not a publicity stunt from MTV (i.e. Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction) and look at it for what it is. Kanye has had a history of on stage rants (i.e. when he did not get best new artist, and last year when his performance was in a hotel instead of main-stage) but his complaints are usually centered at his self. Let's look at the REAL NEWS for a second, a teenage country singer won an VMA from MTV and that is amazing. It is a real shame that the only thing people will remember about last night is negative. By the way there is not an ounce of creativity in Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video (just a bunch of girls shaking their hips at the same time).
I do want to point out one other interesting thing that almost no one is saying. Although the act was probably just a rude individual just being himself, if Beyonce had won and a white artist had stormed the stage declaring that a country singer's video was better, everyone would be crying racist. I may even be labeled by some for noticing this hypocrisy within our culture. The truth is we all have different tastes in music and we can still have mutual respect for talented individuals regardless of who is in our personal music collection.
Just a suggestion for the holidays ahead : Kanye CDs make great drink coasters (almost makes me wish I owned some . . . hey, I said almost).
6 comments:
Well said Nate!I read a few of the celebrity blogs about last night and I don't think they are so forgiving of him this time.
As far as the racist comments go...I think we need to become color blind so that we dont even have meaningless conversation about it. And last I heard we have the right to "freedom of speech/opinion"....so..."Go Kanye". And since I'm on the freedom of speech wagon....I personally think that Beyonce deserved the award and not Taylor Swift :)
We do have freedom of speech, and I would not be opposed to Kanye making making these comments in a Blog or even in an interview, but interrupting a ceremony is not freedom of speech. We cannot yell fire in a crowded building because we feel like it. The reason "Freedom of Speech" is in the Bill of Rights is to prevent the government from telling you what you can or cannot say. I am not suggesting that the government step in and stop Kanye. I am merely exercising my rights by voicing my "opinion" about the way he consistently publicly shows the tact of a three year old when he does not get his way.
In regards to the comments on race I too believe society should be color blind but it is not. I was merely pointing out the hypocrisy (I said that he was NOT being racist, he was just acting like a jerk).
Whoa this conversation is a little too deep for Kanye, someone might have to explain it to him!
Freedom of speech? Come on, Deeann... Nate already pointed out the flaw with that argument, but I just had to second him. Since when can anyone say whatever they want whenever they want? That would be chaos. Can you get up on stage at a concert and take control of the artist's microphone? Good luck getting past security. Can you continue to yell out from the audience at a public speech without being ejected? It might be fun to watch you try. What if Kanye had gotten up on stage just to curse out someone in the audience? Would you still be crying his right to free speech? This is obviously not a question of whether or not he has the right to free speech. You criticizing Nate for saying that about Kanye is no different than Nate criticizing Kanye. According to your logic, you are now infringing upon Nate's right to free speech.
good stuff nate. i agree with you completely...
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