The MTV VMAs are always touted as a night of spectacle, jaw-dropping performances, and the occasional flop. Well, the 2024 VMAs did not disappoint. Performances were as varied as the artists themselves. It was a night filled with pop legends from Katy Perry to rising stars such as Chappell Roan—a feast for fans of music, as always—but not every act could please everybody. Here’s a brutally honest take on some of the biggest performances of the night.
Chappell Roan: Star in the Making?
The night also delivered one of its most talked-about performances with the emergence of newcomer Chappell Roan. Bold, theater-ish, and outlandish, Roan sure caught the attention of the audience, even as her set wasn’t without criticism. Her extravagant style, combined with daring costume changes and one flamboyant stage setup, proved to be a breath of fresh air for many.
She’s like the love child of Lady Gaga and David Bowie,” one reviewer noted, praising how she melded musicality with artistry. Not everyone was quite as struck: “It felt like too much style, not enough substance,” said one critic. Visually, the performance was stunning, but for some viewers, it felt like t
he vocals didn’t live up to the energy of the stage. There’s little doubt, however, that Roan is indeed a star on the rise, and this evening of songs nailed her interest as an artist for many years to come.
Katy Perry: A Return to Form, But Has the Magic Faded?
For one, the queen of pop music at this point in time, Katy Perry, let loose on the VMAs stage after relative silence on the career front. Wearing bold fashion, a performance by Perry was a colorful celebration of her discography, with hits like “Roar” and “Teenage Dream” merged into a medley that had the crowd on their feet.
But while the spectacle was there, some critics felt like Perry’s performance was missing a spark that made her one of pop’s most beloved figures. “It was fun, but it felt a little dated,” one review remarked, adding that her energy—while high—wasn’t quite to the explosive levels of her past VMA performances. Others praised the professionalism factor and, above all, the nostalgia factor in such a review: “Katy Perry always performs to the best standard, and tonight was no different. She knows how to put on a show.”
However, Perry’s vocal performance was also a divisive matter, with some feeling she hit the mark, while others found her sometimes-shaky vocals detracted from overall impact. All in all, it was a good set from Perry, but for most, not one of the most memorable of her performances.
Other Performances: A Mixed Bag
The VMAs are proud of the diversity of their acts, and this year didn’t differ much: the hip-hop artists tore the roof off with high-octane performances, while the pop artists relied a bit more on choreographed moves. Some, like the deliciously talented Doja Cat, get high points for creativity and artistry, while others—like some surprisingly seasoned veterans—leave the audiences feeling just a little underwhelmed.
One of the most polarizing performances of the evening belonged to a performer few could have foreseen. “It was like watching a Cirque du Soleil show, but not in a good way,” one reviewer joked about a set that attempted to wed circus theatrics with a musical performance. While for some, the risk was an honorable one, to others, it detracted from the music itself.
Conclusion: A Night of Hits, Misses, and Future Icons
The 2024 VMAs proved precisely why the event has kept audiences glued for years on end. A place where icons solidify their place in history and new stars are born—this is where a case was made for Chappell Roan as one of the future powerhouses in the industry, while Katy Perry’s return was a little more mixed.
Like with any VMAs, performances were polarizing, in that some acts met expectations while others did not quite live up to their fans’ expectations. That’s the beauty of the VMAs, though—every year yields a new batch of surprises, and this year is no exception. Love or hate the performances, there’s simply no denying the fact that the night gave fans a whole lot to discuss.
