Lady Gaga won eight MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) in Los Angeles, last night, and that was/is big news in the music industry. But last night, the show belonged to the drama/soap opera, the saga of Kanye West and Taylor Swift. They were both nominated for awards, neither won, but both performed on stage and their performances took the night. Stole it away from Lady Gaga, and that is worth gaga-ing about.
Last night's theme was redemption for last year's uber dissing of Ms.Swift by Mr. West. Last night, Mr West dissed himself, calling himself a "jerk." Ms. Swift did not disagree, graciously.
Mr.West has apologized for last year's VMA incident when he stormed the stage and interrupted Ms. Swift's acceptance speech for best female music video. At last night's VMA awards, he and Ms. Swift performed separate songs that spoke to the issues involved.
Mr. West in his song, "talked about the obnoxious behavior that has too often overshadowed his musical talent." From the Associated Press --
"I always find something wrong; you've been putting up with my (expletive) for too long," he sang, before launching into an unprintable chorus, which included the line: "Let's have a toast to scumbags."(Mr West) derided himself as a jerk; (Ms. Swift) told him he wasn't as bad as his misdeeds. He gave a sarcastic ode to his boorish behavior; she sang of an opportunity to grow from a very public stumble.
Well, public confession, forgiveness and redemption are as American as is the Bible and are always good for business and careers. In one year, West and Swift came full circle at the VMA show, and that was good for the show.