Are you a fan of music and classic science fiction? Then, last night’s VMA awards are for you. It featured oodles of references to science fiction films, new and old. Are you as excited as we are?
Check out the biggest genre references at the MTV Video Music Awards 2024.
A Massive Inflatable Astronaut Hovers Over The Stage
Last night, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the MTV Video Music Awards in New York, art director Matt Steinbrenner created an inflatable astronaut that stood eighteen meters above the stage.
The show takes place within the UBS Arena. It pays homage to MTV’s well-known Moon Person mascot, an astronaut planting a flag on the moon, which inspires the awards that the music channel uses to present its annual Video Music Awards (VMAs).
The blow-up figure’s posture was changed from the prize to reach 17 meters into space in the direction of a massive inflatable moon. Steinbrenner wanted to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the MTV VMAs by symbolizing the astronaut coming out of the screen and reaching into the future.
Landmark Creations, a manufacturer of inflatables, used 3,840 meters of cloth to create The Moon Person.
According to Steinbrenner, the goal was to make the figure look more like a solid item than a blow-up figure. This was dubbed “the most significant challenge” of the project.
When MTV first came on the scene in 1981, it featured footage of the Apollo 11 launch and an astronaut putting an MTV emblem on a flag planted on the moon. In a 2006 interview, MTV founder Bob Pittman clarified that the goal was to establish “a network that would be about the network, rather than the individual programs.” At first, they would utilize the astronaut picture with the well-known remark from Neil Armstrong. It was too late when Armstrong’s attorney denied their request to use the quotation. The man on the moon inspired their marketing and promotion plan, which was already well-developed.
Astronauts have been prominent in science fiction movies and television but are not the only reference to space travel.
Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” Video References a Sci-Fi Classic
At the MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday, pop sensation Taylor Swift won seven trophies, matching Beyonce for the most career prizes in the 40-year history of the video awards. With her depressing, monochromatic “Fortnight” video with Post Malone, Swift won the highest title for video of the year. By the conclusion of the evening, the 34-year-old Swift had tied hip-hop superstar Beyonce with her career total of 30 VMAs. On Wednesday, Swift also won Song of the Summer and Artist of the Year.
The song “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift signaled a dramatic return to the singer-songwriter’s more humorous brand of self-deprecation. Swift’s worries and insecurities are portrayed in the self-directed video, sometimes reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Michel Gondry’s science fiction love drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The ghosts of Swift’s past haunt her in a house covered in gaudy vintage decor.
This isn’t the only reference to the movie. The sixteenth track from the deluxe edition, “Let Me Remind You…” is a rock ballad song with piano and violin arrangements. It samples a line from the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” at the song’s beginning.
Taylor Swift’s ‘E.T.’-Inspired Surprise Second VMAs Outfit
Taylor Swift made an unexpected costume change halfway through the program. The “Fortnight” singer, who has twelve possible Oscars and is the most nominated artist of the night, leaned into an extraterrestrial vibe when she replaced her seductive plaids with an incredible Monse design. Swift appeared to allude to Katy Perry’s Video Vanguard performance only a few seconds prior with her second VMA ensemble, which portrayed an alien spacecraft departing.
Her ensemble had a square neckline, heavy straps with buckle accents, and a front depiction of an alien invasion scene suited for E.T., seemingly a reference to Perry’s song “E.T.” Katy Perry’s intergalactic hit has a title inspired by Spielberg’s 1982 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. Monse says the design was “inspired by the iconic sci-fi films of the 1950s.”
Taylor Swift’s After-Party VMAs Look Concluded Her Galaxy-Level Fashion Moment
Swift changed into a third ensemble following the ceremony, which seemed to be a somewhat different version of the Monse dress. The same cosmic landscape from her second dress was featured on her third outfit, which she wore to an after-party at the Electric Lady Studio. This time, though, the extraterrestrial image was printed on a tiny pleated skirt and a corset-style top with harness straps. She was also wearing Monse’s identical UFO Tapestry Boyfriend Jacket, which had the same print.
Sabrina Carpenter Makes Out With An Alien
During her 2024 Video Music Awards performance, Sabrina Carpenter shocked the audience by kissing an alien.
The 25-year-old pop sensation performed the words to her smash song “Please Please Please” from her critically acclaimed Short N Sweet album as she made her way down to the VMAs stage while perched atop a glittering swing. Following her landing, backup dancers costumed as astronauts and aliens joined her as she broke into her newest hit, “Taste.”
Carpenter briefly made out with one of her extraterrestrial backup dancers before moving on to her hit song “Espresso.” The kiss was a nod to the movie Death Becomes Her and her most recent music video for the song “Taste,” in which she kissed Jenna Ortega, a fellow Disney graduate.
Katy Perry Performs A Gravity-Defying Act That Soars Through the Air
On Wednesday, September 11, at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Katy Perry received special recognition.
According to Billboard, the “Woman’s World” singer received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, a lifetime achievement honor given to an artist for exceptional contributions and a significant impact on music videos and pop culture amid the thrilling evening filled with amazing looks and performances.
Following a charming introduction by her fiancé, Orlando Bloom, Perry performed a gravity-defying set list that included some of her greatest hits from her career. She began with “Dark Horse,” flipping through the air in a scenario that would have looked right out of a science fiction film. Then, she moved on to “E.T.,” where she kept spinning in the air. In addition, Perry invited Doechii to premiere their joint song “I’m His, He’s Mine,” which will be out this Friday, September 13, of Perry’s upcoming album 143.
What did you think of last night’s sci-fi references at the MVT VMA awards? Let us know in the comments below.
