2011 MTV VMA Predictions: Who Will Win Best Pop Video?

Robbie Daw | August 22, 2011 3:11 pm

The pop race is on, the clock is ticking and once again we find ourselves firmly entrenched in MTV Video Music Awards week. The show goes down this coming Sunday (August 28) in Los Angeles, and like last year, we’ll be live-blogging the event. Ahead of that, it’s time we kick off our annual round of predictions with regards to who we think will win and should win in some of this year’s categories.

Today we begin with an eye on the Best Pop Video category. It’s just one of the nine areas where Miss Katy “My Lady” Perry was recognized for her barrage of Teenage Dream visuals. So, let’s head below and see what all we’re dealing with. First off, in addition to our two cents, we want to know who you think deserves to win. So below are the nominees and some thoughts on them from us. Then after that, we’ve posted a poll where you can have your say. Pop, after all, is a democracy!

BEST POP VIDEO Adele, “Rolling In The Deep” Britney Spears, “Till The World Ends” Bruno Mars, “Grenade” Katy Perry, “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer, “Give Me Everything”

THOUGHTS ON THE NOMINEES: We’ll take this moment to first point out that Katy was nominated in this category last year, for her very first Teenage Dream single, “California Gurls.” So here she is again, this time with the fifth sticky offering off her cotton candy-coated album, “Last Friday Friday Night.” (Plus, as we know, the latter is also her fifth consecutive #1 single off the album.)

Now, while we agree that both Britney and Pitbull have gifted Planet Pop with two of the best party-jam albums of 2011, their respective videos for “Till The World Ends” and “Give Me Everything” didn’t really bring anything new to the table. On the other hand, every stop imaginable was pulled out for “Last Friday Night” — from Rebecca Black and Debbie Gibson’s tongue-in-cheek appearances to Kenny G faking a sax solo he didn’t even record for the song. (Call us crazy, but that’s kind of brilliant!) And don’t even get us started on geeked-out-beyond-recognition Katy and her retainer.

While Perry’s video was fun, Bruno and Adele’s visuals were more somber and pensive — two moods that might play better in, say, the Video Of The Year category rather than Best Pop Video. (Note: Bruno was nominated here in 2010, as well, for his feature on B.o.B’s hit “Nothin’ On You.”)

WILL WIN: “Last Friday Night.” Katy Perry was overlooked at the Grammy Awards — and some may argue that it was rightly so. But much like her video itself, the MTV VMAs are a completely different party.

SHOULD WIN: While we love the other four nominees, “Last Friday Night” truly deserves to win Best Pop Video. It’s the perfect combination of breezy summer jam and eye-popping visuals. And, c’mon — it’s got Hanson in it!

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