Billboard ranks the best VMA performances of all time | Madonna #1

[Feanor]

 

 

The 22 Best VMAs Performances of All Time: Critics’ Picks

 

Ranks #22 to #11…

Spoiler

22. Justin Timberlake, Medley (2013)

21. Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, 'Chromatica' Medley (2020)

20. Jennifer Lopez, Medley (2018)

19. Britney Spears, “Oops! ... I Did It Again” (2000)

18. Rihanna, “Disturbia”/ “Seven Nation Army” (2008)

17. Madonna, “Like a Virgin” (1984)

16. P!nk, Medley (2017)

15. Kendrick Lamar, “DNA.” / “Humble.” (2017)

14. Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me” (2009)

13. Kanye West, “Runaway” (2010)

12. Chris Brown & Rihanna, “Wall To Wall”/ “Umbrella”/ “Kiss Kiss” (2007)

11. Madonna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera & Missy Elliott - "Like A Virgin" / "Hollywood" (2003)

 

 

The top 10…

 

10. Puff Daddy, Sting, Faith Evans & 112, “I’ll Be Missing You” (1997)

9. Eminem, “The Real Slim Shady”/ “The Way I Am” (2000)

8. Beyoncé, “Love on Top” (2011)

7. Missy Elliott, Medley (2019)

6. Britney Spears, “I’m A Slave 4 U” (2001)

5. Lady Gaga, “Paparazzi” (2009)

4. Beyoncé, 'Lemonade' Medley (2016)

3. Bon Jovi, “Livin’ On a Prayer”/ “Wanted Dead or Alive” (1989)

2. Michael Jackson, Medley (1995)

 

1. Madonna, “Vogue” (1990)

 

Quote

Talk about a cross-century mashup: Madonna and her company of dancers, clad in 18th century Marie Antoinette garb, taught the world how to vogue, a performance style popularized in underground LGBTQ dance clubs in ’80s New York City. Cue one incredibly animated pants-less dancer, and VMAs magic is made

 

Have your faves made it?

 

 

Edited July 27, 2023 by Feanor

[khalyan]

Applause should be there instead of Rain on Me 

[Jjang]

Haters hate to see it 

[GrandeVersace]

Why is Puff Daddy above Holywood? 

[Abracadabra]

I'm A Slave 4 U is definitely the most iconic, but Madonna is a worthy winner

[Blue Rose]

Beyoncé only artist appearing twice in the top10  

her performance of Ring The Alarm is also better than most performances that are listed 

[Raver]

That Vogue performance is just on another level. 

[Proseductice]

Why is Britney's Oops! performance that low?  

[Beyonceist]

IDC what anyone says but Beyoncé's Single Ladies performance at 2009 VMAs is honestly the BEST TV performance ever.

[Mystic Boy]

4 minutes ago, Miichael said:

I'm A Slave 4 U is definitely the most iconic, but Madonna is a worthy winner

Imagine that stolen Aaliyah performance being more iconic than Vogue

 

OT: Bee and Gaga appearing twice

[trainsskyscrapers]

5 minutes ago, Beyonceist said:

IDC what anyone says but Beyoncé's Single Ladies performance at 2009 VMAs is honestly the BEST TV performance ever.

I'm also surprised that the 2014 Beyonce Video Vanguard Medley is absent, but I can definitely see the argument for "spreading the wealth around so many fanbases are happy", as well as having her more-immersive 2016 long-form performance eliminate this one from contention.

Edited August 26, 2022 by trainsskyscrapers

[Legend E]

Kelly with SUBG should be here  

[Planet Mars]

This list is...a choice.

 

The Like A Virgin/Hollywood should be higher, even #1, or #2 after Vogue.

 

Satisfaction/OIDIA should be Top 5 imo, definitely over I'll Be Missing You

 

And Janet Jackson's That's The Way Love Goes/If should also be placed way higher, That's easily Top 10.

 

The whole top 10 should just be women honestly.

[Abracadabra]

7 minutes ago, Mystic Boy said:

Imagine that stolen Aaliyah performance being more iconic than Vogue

 

OT: Bee and Gaga appearing twice

Imagine thinking that the GP associates Marie Antoinette imagery with Madonna and remembers that performance over Britney's performance with the snake that is still commonly referenced in pop culture to this day  I'm not dragging Madonna because it was a great performance, but come on girl, be serious  Try not to let your hatred for Britney get in the way of you thinking clearly

[FreeXone]

Janet doing scream to honor Michael should DEF be on there.

 

it gave GOOSEBUMPS

[Shaner69]

Billboard finally getting something right.... Lol

[BrokenMachine]

Good for P!nk being recognized 

[Jeremiah]

A joke, but what's new coming from Billboard?

 

7 minutes ago, Planet Mars said:

This list is...a choice.

 

The Like A Virgin/Hollywood should be higher, even #1, or #2 after Vogue.

 

Satisfaction/OIDIA should be Top 5 imo, definitely over I'll Be Missing You

 

And Janet Jackson's That's The Way Love Goes/If should also be placed way higher, That's easily Top 10.

 

The whole top 10 should just be women honestly.

Basically.

 

LAV/Hollywood is THE performance that showcases what the VMAs were all about: a spectacle. A performance with concept, iconography, star power, dancing, great music, pop referencing, gimmick, shock value. Pure entertainment of the good kind, a show not talked for days but for years, almost 2 decades now. To not place it #1 is to lack some sense, let alone leave it out of the top 10.

 

Vogue is amazing and deserves a high spot btw. And the Britney disrespect... not cute.

[Oktober Knight]

Thee QOP at the top where she belongs 

 

[Rev8]

the ranking is a pure Joke

[Power love]

So many names missing. Like they could have done a bit better than this man. Very embarrassing. 
 

why on earth is that Gaga & Ariana performance there wtf 

Edited August 27, 2022 by Power love

[Shaner69]

Hollywood should be higher though. That was a pure moment. 

[Gottasadae]

Great top 10 

[Shaner69]

4 minutes ago, Power love said:

So many names missing. Like they could have done a bit better than this man. Very embarrassing. 
 

why on earth is that Gaga & Ariana performance there wtf 

That one could have been deleted I agree and a couple others but it's kinda a good list. And it's based on critics so I think they had Gaga and Ariana votes. 

[Ivan_brit]

They choose a nice 22 perfomances but the order is a mess

 

Anyway... Britney is the VMAS Queen  I see her 3 times she also had one of the messies 2007 with Gimme More