VMAs 2011: All The Performances (PHOTOS)

In case you didn't realize, caught up in all the Beyonce baby excitement and trying to figure out why the cast of "Toy Story" attacked Nicki Minaj, there were a whole host of performances at Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards.

Lady Gaga -- as her male alter-ego, Jo Calderone -- kicked off the night with a rambling speech about Gaga (meta!) and then rocked the piano for a moving version of "You and I." Soon after, Jay-Z and Kanye brought their "Watch the Throne" single "Otis" to the stage, American flag and Canadian tuxedo and all.

Later in the night, Adele moved the audience to tears with "Someone Like You," and Chris Brown busted moves -- on a trampoline! -- to a medley of songs he didn't write or sing.

Finally, Bruno Mars gave tribute to Amy Winehouse with a rousing big band performance, complete with pompadour coif and all.

PHOTOS:

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Comments

[Peekaboo08]

04:07 AM on 08/30/2011

What a short memory for domestic abusers this country has...and no. He hasn't "paid his dues" and we shouldn't "move on." He pitied himself and then was blindly defended I'm guessing by fellow abusers and women who wouldn't mind having their faces based in. Good job.

[Kenneth Webb]

08:04 PM on 08/29/2011

‎...And this is why I don't watch award shows.

Why does music have to shock and awe? What happened to music that was simply music. Talent wasn't shown by how much one could push the sexual/violent envelope but who had the best vocals and/or who was the best dancer (i.e. Michael Jackson). While the internet has allowed more artists an ability to perform and shine it also has unfortunately lowered the bar.

[greeneye31]

07:17 PM on 08/29/2011

A SAD time for MuSic!

[simpleperson]

09:33 PM on 08/29/2011

There is a lot of good music out there, but you are not going to see it on MTV or hear in on top 40 raido.

[ebsrule55]

10:36 AM on 08/30/2011

It's actually a great time for music, just depends which music you're listening to.

[Astro Girl]

06:28 PM on 08/29/2011

I miss the good old days. Lady Gaga is always a surprise which I like, and does have creative edge, however everything else is just okay (with exception of Adele and Bruno Mars).

Didn't watch Beyonce, because she is so full of herself and can't stand her songs anyways.

Jay Z and Kanye (like some Kanye, but never been into Jay Z) - that song/or what you want to call it was awful.

Bruno Mars was a nice surprise because I am not into him, but he reminded me of old school Motown, so that's good.

No comments on Britney's so call "greatness and influences".

[StrangelyLiteral]

05:28 PM on 08/29/2011

Anyone else notice Adele's gigantic hands?? Nothing against her; she's a very talented girl. I just couldn't take my eyes off of them!

Otherwise, this show was just way more bad than good. Bruno Mars was (as always) amazing. Lady Gaga was (as always) a train wreck. Every time she was on stage it was so awkward and creepy. All she was missing were her pals Ponyboy and Sodapop.

And now something to really gripe about. If we remember back when Janet Jackson flashed her (beautiful) breast during the Super Bowl, MTV basically banned her videos and blackballed her for a good while. But then we have Chris Brown who didn't just hit Rihanna, but beat the H-E-L-L out of her. And he's getting to perform and getting an ovation. In conclusion, MTV believe it's ok to punch a girl, as long as her breast doesn't get exposed while doing it.

[Peekaboo08]

04:08 AM on 08/30/2011

Awesome post. Well received.

[wanglog]

03:01 PM on 08/29/2011

that guy who is a judge on, "the voice" is correct. MTV still recognizes music one day a year and dedicates the rest of its programming to showcasing the dregs of society. it's not so much the music that's being recognized anymore as it is singers and rappers with their outlandish personalities and bizarre fashion choices. popular music is not so much created through traditional instrumental talent these days as it is through the means of computer program fluency. i have never respected that type of, "music" and will continue to appreciate hardworking (and for the most part, unheard of) artists who create music using actual musical instruments.

[Mr Harry Koch]

02:40 PM on 08/29/2011

a bunch of talentless people together... rap? britney? gaga? the whole thing is utterly ridiculous... well, it suits uneducated people perfectly.

[Mr Harry Koch]

02:41 PM on 08/29/2011

I make an exception to adele...

[hippy26ish]

05:11 PM on 08/29/2011

agreed. adele has a powerful and [insert positive adjectives here] talent. which is quite rare considering today's tripe music. and yes i'm talking about justin peeper, among others

[wanglog]

03:08 PM on 08/29/2011

sickening isn't it? they aren't so much being recognized for their musical ability as they are for their bizarre fashion choices, obnoxious personalities and their ability to turn on the autotune. the VMA's are an annual celebration of stupidity.

[DrucillaBee]

01:52 PM on 08/29/2011

...And Bruno Mars. I wish Nicki Minaj would have performed too.

[DrucillaBee]

01:51 PM on 08/29/2011

I loved Chris Brown performance; Beyonce's tummy rub and Adele with her beautiful voice. In that order.

[NOSOCIALNETS]

01:49 PM on 08/29/2011

Why did not Auto-Tune win an award. Most of these people can not sing. (with exceptions - before you nuke me) Nothing but computers and producers. Oh for the 60's again.

[wanglog]

02:49 PM on 08/29/2011

well said and so true. terribly unfortunate, but true.

[Ledebard57]

01:28 PM on 08/29/2011

That's a beautiful song Adele sang. I really enjoyed Bruno Mars.....I've known who he was but hadn't really listened to his stuff.

I kinda liked Gaga too.

[SteveW57]

12:58 PM on 08/29/2011

Please put labels on these photos; other than Beyonce, I didn't know who any of these people are. (And it is refreshing to say that, as each appears, from their clothes and the conduct captured, to be quite impressed with his or herself.)

[ikesambobby]

12:56 PM on 08/29/2011

Bruno you are the best!!!!!

[houstonbch]

12:48 PM on 08/29/2011

I didn't know much about Jessie J, but she has a great voice. Adele was amazing, so was Bruno Mars. GaGa was great too along with Beyonce.

Basically, I enjoyed almost every performance.

[anigma47]

12:46 PM on 08/29/2011

I have seen some awful "songs?" But I cannot believe the so called performance of J-Z and West would ever be shown on television. I could barely understand a word and have no idea what they were singing or mumbling about at all. To appreciate this I guess you need to have been labotomized at some time in your life. And I assume the CD release of" Guard the throne") refers to their toilet? Because what they think is music is CRAP.

[menyc]

01:34 PM on 08/29/2011

Watch The Throne. May I introduce you to a secret called google. It takes 2 seconds to find anything you may not know.

[anigma47]

02:44 PM on 08/29/2011

Why would I want to know about anything JZ does? He is the epitome of someone with no talent whatsoever,no matter how you spin it.

[anigma47]

06:25 PM on 09/02/2011

I googled it and saw where they sample (steal) others music,mainly because they have little if any actual musical ability. The album is garbage and no but a complete moron would think differently.