1984 MTV Video Music Awards explained

1984 MTV Video Music Awards
Date:Friday, September 14, 1984
Location:Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Country:United States
Host:Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler
Producer:Don Ohlmeyer
Bob Pittman
Edd Griles
Director:Edd Griles
Most Awards:Herbie Hancock (5)
Most Nominations:Cyndi Lauper (9)
Network:MTV
Next:1985

The 1984 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 14, 1984. The inaugural ceremony honored the best music videos released between May 2, 1983 and May 2, 1984, and was hosted by Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.[1] [2]

Herbie Hancock was the show's most-awarded artist, taking home five awards, followed by Michael Jackson, who won three.[3] The main award, Video of the Year, went to The Cars for "You Might Think".[4] This was the first instance of only a few in the show's history where the video of the year did not win any other awards. Hancock's "Rockit" and The Polices "Every Breath You Take" were the most-nominated videos, receiving eight nominations apiece.[5] [6] Cyndi Lauper was the most-nominated artist of the night, with nine overall for two of her videos: six for "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", which eventually won the Moonman for Best Female Video, and three for "Time After Time".[6] [7]

Other major nominees included Jackson and The Cars, both of whom received six nominations each for their videos "Thriller" and "You Might Think" respectively;[8] [6] ZZ Top, who received six nominations among their videos for "Legs", "Sharp Dressed Man", and "Gimme All Your Lovin'";[6] and Billy Idol, who garnered five nominations for "Dancing with Myself" and "Eyes Without a Face".[7] Lastly, David Bowie earned four nominations for his "China Girl" and "Modern Love" videos,[6] and was also one of the honorees for the Video Vanguard award.[4]

Background

MTV announced that it would host the first annual Video Music Awards in June 1984.[9] Don Ohlmeyer was hired to produce the ceremony in a similar energetic fashion to his work in sports broadcasting.[10] Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler were announced as the ceremony's hosts in mid-July 1984.[11] Nominees and winners were selected by 1,500 individuals representing the record industry.[10] Following its initial MTV airing, the ceremony was syndicated to broadcast television.[12]

Performances

List of musical performances
Artist(s)Song(s)
Rod Stewart"Infatuation"[13]
Madonna"Like a Virgin"[14]
Huey Lewis and the News"I Want a New Drug"
David Bowie"Blue Jean"
[15]
Tina Turner"What's Love Got to Do with It"
ZZ Top"Sharp Dressed Man"
Ray Parker Jr."Ghostbusters"

Madonnas performance of "Like a Virgin" has been referred to as one of the most "unforgettable" and "iconic" moments in both pop culture and VMA history for the singer's fashion and her "provocative moves".[16] [17] [18] [19] She emerged from a 17-foot tall wedding cake wearing a "racy", "risque", see-through wedding dress and bustier, with a silver belt buckle that read "BOY TOY".[20] [21] While descending the steps of the cake, one of her high heeled shoes slipped off, prompting her to dive to the floor and roll around to cover up the wardrobe malfunction. Her attempt to retrieve the shoe inadvertently led to her flashing her underwear on live television[21] —Rolling Stone listed the moment as the sixth-most outrageous in MTV VMA history.[22] Madonna later told Billboard after the incident, "So I thought, 'Well, I'll just pretend I meant to do this,' and I dove onto the floor and I rolled around. And, as I reached for the shoe, the dress went up. And the underpants were showing".[23] In 2017, the outlet ranked her performance as the second-greatest award show performance of all time, saying that after her they "became the historical record; the way we remember stars at their most iconic, and the way they demonstrate their immortality".[24]

Presenters

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.

Video of the YearBest Male Video
Best Female VideoBest Group Video
Best New Artist in a VideoBest Concept Video
Most Experimental VideoBest Stage Performance in a Video
Best Overall Performance in a VideoBest Direction in a Video
Best Choreography in a VideoBest Special Effects in a Video
Best Art Direction in a VideoBest Editing in a Video
Best Cinematography in a VideoViewer's Choice
Video Vanguard Award
The Beatles[39]
David Bowie
Richard Lester
Special Recognition Award
Quincy Jones

Other appearances

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Coronation Ceremonies for the Goon Generation": Here's How Critics Reviewed the First MTV Video Music Awards. Dessem. Matthew. August 27, 2019. Slate. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190827145139/https://slate.com/culture/2019/08/vmas-1984-critics-video-music-awards-madonna.html. August 27, 2019. October 8, 2020. After all, the only videos eligible were those that had played on MTV between May 2, 1983 and May 2, 1984..
  2. Web site: MTV VMAs first show in 1984: A look back. Edelstein. Andy. August 12, 2016. Newsday. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160813132441/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/mtv-vmas-first-show-in-1984-a-look-back-1.5927040. August 13, 2016. October 8, 2020.
  3. Web site: MTV Execs Remember the First VMAs. Higgins. Bill. August 23, 2013. The Hollywood Reporter. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130823142647/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mtv-execs-remember-first-vmas-609038. August 23, 2013. October 14, 2020.
  4. Web site: Hollywood Flashback: Madonna Rolled Around Onstage, The Cars Topped Michael Jackson at First VMAs. Sanchez. Omar. August 15, 2018. The Hollywood Reporter. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180815223521/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/vmas-flashback-madonna-rolled-around-onstage-1984-like-a-virgin-1134889. August 15, 2018. October 8, 2020.
  5. Book: Wendell, Eric. 2018. Chapter 7: A Video Star Is Born. https://books.google.com/books?id=-tNZDwAAQBAJ&q=herbie+hancock+mtv&pg=PA128. Experiencing Herbie Hancock: A Listener's Companion. United States. Rowman & Littlefield. August 10, 2018. 128. 9781442258389. October 8, 2020. Google Books. Later that year, "Rockit" was nominated for eight awards at the first annual MTV Video Music Awards, ultimately winning five including Best Concept Video and Most Experimental Video..
  6. Web site: The first annual MTV Music Awards opened in Radio.... Spotnitz. Frank. August 12, 2016. UPI. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201011035006/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/09/14/The-first-annual-MTV-Music-Awards-opened-in-Radio/1886463982400/. October 11, 2020. October 10, 2020.
  7. Web site:
    1. FlashbackFriday: See What the Stars Wore to the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards
    . Stern. Claire. August 26, 2016. InStyle. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160921064222/http://www.instyle.com/awards-events/red-carpet/video-music-awards/1984-mtv-video-music-awards-flashback. September 21, 2016. October 8, 2020.
  8. Web site: The Inside Story Of How The First MTV VMAs Created A Tradition Of Making Censors Sweat. Mantzouranis. Tom. August 28, 2015. UPROXX. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322214106/https://uproxx.com/music/mtv-vmas-1984-madonna-like-a-virgin-michael-jackson-thriller/. March 22, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  9. News: Nager . Larry . Music on video: PBS show gives interesting look at blues great B.B. King . . June 13, 1984 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Donlon . Brian . Video awards rock tradition . The Yonkers Herald Statesman . September 14, 1984 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Video awards planned . The Bennington Banner . July 18, 1984 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: MTV's first awards: the uncut version . . September 14, 1984 . Newspapers.com.
  13. Book: Blackwood. Nina. Goodman. Mark. Hunter. Alan. Quinn. Martha. Edwards. Gavin. Chapter 35: What A Pity You Don't Understand / The VJs Versus MTV Management. VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV's First Wave. 7 May 2013 . https://books.google.com/books?id=Ghym_LYKzlIC&dq=mtv+video+music+awards+1984+ray+parker&pg=PA230. live. United States. Simon & Schuster. May 7, 2013. 230. 9781451678123. https://archive.today/20211231150813/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ghym_LYKzlIC&dq=mtv+video+music+awards+1984+ray+parker&pg=PA230%23v=onepage&q=mtv%20video%20music%20awards%201984%20. December 31, 2021. December 31, 2021. Google Books.
  14. Web site: The First VMAs Was So Very '80s. Gemmill. Allie. August 27, 2016. Bustle. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200721042604/https://www.bustle.com/articles/181000-remembering-the-first-mtv-vmas-is-the-best-way-to-celebrate-the-2016-vmas-video. July 21, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  15. Web site: Flashback: David Bowie Plays 'Blue Jean' at Inaugural VMAs in 1984. Greene. Andy. June 30, 2020. Rolling Stone. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200630183731/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowie-blue-jean-vmas-1984-1022547/. June 30, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  16. Web site: A Definitive Ranking of Every MTV Video Music Awards Ceremony. Reid. Joe. O'Keefe. Kevin. Li. Shirley. August 22, 2014. The Atlantic. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807002611/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2014/08/a-definitive-ranking-of-every-mtv-video-music-awards-ceremony/378977/. August 7, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  17. Web site: A History of Every Unforgettable Moment From the MTV Video Music Awards. Schnurr. Samantha. August 24, 2019. E! Online. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190825044359/https://www.eonline.com/news/1067360/every-unforgettable-moment-from-the-mtv-video-music-awards. August 25, 2019. October 8, 2020.
  18. Web site: 'Like A Virgin' Lives On, A Winking Anthem For Women Getting Married. Ulaby. Neda. Tyler-Ameen. Daoud. August 20, 2018. NPR. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180820234904/https://www.npr.org/2018/08/20/639633766/american-anthem-madonna-like-a-virgin-women-getting-married. August 20, 2018. October 8, 2020.
  19. Web site: Madonna's Now-Famous 'Like a Virgin' Performance Was Thanks to a Wardrobe Malfunction. Mullen. Matt. June 11, 2019. Biography.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201002215644/https://www.biography.com/news/madonna-like-a-virgin-vmas-1984. October 2, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  20. Web site: MTV VMA Fashions. . August 26, 2003. CBS News. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008090754/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/mtv-vma-fashions/. October 8, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  21. Madonna's wild VMA moment. . August 27, 2002. Entertainment Weekly. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150405210334/https://ew.com/article/2002/08/27/madonnas-wild-vma-moment/. April 5, 2015. October 8, 2020.
  22. 32 Most Outrageous MTV VMAs Moments. Weingarten. Christopher R.. Shipley. Al. Fischer. Reed. Johnston. Maura. Maura Johnston . August 30, 2020. Rolling Stone. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180811134629/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/32-most-outrageous-mtv-vmas-moments-of-all-time-169564/madonna-performs-like-a-virgin-writhes-in-a-wedding-dress-1984-229324/. August 11, 2018. September 5, 2021.
  23. The Real Story Behind Madonna's Iconic 'Like a Virgin' Performance at the 1984 VMAs. Tannenbaum. Rob. October 28, 2014. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20141031004819/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6296887/madonna-1984-mtv-vmas-performance. October 31, 2014. October 8, 2020.
  24. The 100 Greatest Award Show Performances of All Time. Unterberger. Andrew. February 8, 2017. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170208204540/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/7677099/best-award-show-performances-of-all-time. February 8, 2017. September 12, 2021.
  25. Web site: MTV Video Music Awards: 30 memorable moments through the years. Masley. Ed. August 23, 2014. AZ Central. live. https://archive.today/20201011014703/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/08/23/mtv-video-music-awards-vma-best/14473837/. October 11, 2020. October 10, 2020.
  26. News: Cover Story; Crowning Royalty in the Kingdom of Cool. Applebome. Peter. September 5, 1999. The New York Times. live. https://archive.today/20201118004024/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/05/tv/cover-story-crowning-royalty-in-the-kingdom-of-cool.html. November 18, 2020. November 17, 2020. ...with Bette Midler and Dan Ackroyd as hosts and presenters like Grace Slick....
  27. Web site: MTV Video Music Awards, The First Annual (TV). Paley Center. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021005933/https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=news&p=47&item=T%3A08261. October 21, 2020. October 20, 2020.
  28. September 14, 1984. MTV Music Awards. Television production. 54:58. United States. MTV.
  29. David Bowie rocks the first-ever VMAs in 1984 with 'Blue Jean'. Whatley. Jack. July 15, 2020. Far Out Magazine. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911103435/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/david-bowie-first-vmas-mtv-1984-blue-jean-video/. September 11, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  30. First VMAs in GIFs from 1984. Goodman. Jessica. August 25, 2015. Entertainment Weekly. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171214113911/http://ew.com/article/2015/08/25/first-vmas-1984-gifs/. December 14, 2017. October 8, 2020.
  31. Web site: A Look Back At The First Ever MTV VMAs: Bette Midler & Dan Aykroyd Co-Hosted, Herbie Hancock Swept The Awards. Black. Elizabeth. August 25, 2016. VH1. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160831220123/http://www.vh1.com/news/279403/mtv-vma-1984-photos-video/. August 31, 2016. October 8, 2020.
  32. Web site: Exploring The Good, Bad, And Very Ugly Of MTV's 'Best New Artist' Award. Morgan. Chris. August 27, 2015. Uproxx. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160119034140/https://uproxx.com/music/mtv-video-music-awards-best-new-artist-winners/. January 19, 2016. October 9, 2020.
  33. News: Herbie Hancock's 'RockIt' was a U.S. radio dud in the '80s. Wunech. Kevin. July 19, 2013. Tampa Bay Times. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008143020/https://www.tampabay.com/herbie-hancocks-rockit-was-a-us-radio-dud-in-the-80s/2132185/. October 8, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  34. Web site: The top boy band song from the year you were born. Singh. Olivia. March 17, 2020. Insider. live. https://archive.today/20201013014930/https://www.insider.com/most-popular-boy-band-song-every-year-2018-3. October 13, 2020. October 12, 2020.
  35. Book: Daniels, Neil. Chapter 15: ZZ Top's Enduring Legacy – Selective List of Awards. https://books.google.com/books?id=7NMtAwAAQBAJ&q=best+group+video+zz+top+mtv+1984. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers: A ZZ Top Guide. United Kingdom. Soundcheck Books. January 1, 2014. 183. 9780957144279. They also won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction for "Sharp Dressed Man" in 1984..
  36. Web site: Michael Jackson: Behind the Scenes of His Iconic 'Thriller' Music Video. Chang. Rachel. October 31, 2019. Biography.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191104234641/https://www.biography.com/news/michael-jackson-thriller-music-video-facts. November 4, 2019. October 13, 2020.
  37. Terry. Ken. September 17, 1984. Hancock's 'Rockit' Tops MTV Vid Awards. live. Variety. New York. 7. 0042-2738. https://archive.today/20201011191633/https://variety.com/exclusive/week-in-review-this-week-in-entertainment-sept-5/. October 11, 2020. October 11, 2020.
  38. Book: Kutner. Jon. Leigh. Spencer. 2005. 522 The Police Every Breath You Take. https://books.google.com/books?id=BwwLBaH9488C&pg=PT751. 1,000 UK Number One Hits. United Kingdom. Omnibus Press. May 26, 2010. 9780857123602. 'Every Breath You Take' was the first single released from the final studio album, Synchronici-ty... At the inaugural MTV Music Video Awards in 1984, it also won Best Cinematography Award..
  39. Web site: Rihanna to accept Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at MTV VMAs. Melas. Chloe. August 11, 2016. CNN. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160812122017/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/11/entertainment/rihanna-video-vanguard-award-mtv-vmas/index.html. August 12, 2016. October 8, 2020.
  40. Web site: Missing You: 10 Heartfelt Diana Ross and Michael Jackson Moments. Johnson Jr.. Billy. March 26, 2014. Yahoo Entertainment. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190614062716/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/music-news/missing-you--10-heartfelt-diana-ross-and-michael-jackson-moments-212539314.html. June 14, 2019. October 12, 2020. Note: See #8
  41. Web site: 30th Installment of MTV VMAs This Sunday; Original MTV Veejays Recall First One Ever. August 25, 2013. ABC News Radio. live. https://archive.today/20210906015744/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2013/8/25/30th-installment-of-mtv-vmas-this-sunday-original-mtv-veejay-1.html. September 6, 2021. September 5, 2021. "'Then we got our little scripts and we rifled through them and I had one bumper to commercial in the balcony,' Hunter recalls, laughing.".
  42. September 14, 1984. MTV Music Awards. Television production. 1:19:02. United States. MTV.
  43. Web site: The original VJs look back, 40 years later: 'The first 24 hours of MTV were held together by duct tape'. Parker. Lyndsey. July 30, 2021. Yahoo Entertainment. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210731035047/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/the-original-v-js-look-back-40-years-later-the-first-24-hours-was-mtv-was-held-together-by-duct-tape-034116917.html. July 31, 2021. September 6, 2021.

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