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29 March 2024

Music world mourns Aretha Franklin at MTV video awards

Published
By AFP

"Queen of Pop" Madonna led an impassioned tribute to "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin on Monday as the music world paid its R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts to the superstar at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The show came four days after 76-year-old Franklin died of pancreatic cancer and the industry used the telecast to send Franklin off in style.

"She led me to where I am today, and I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight, in this room tonight," said Madonna, who turned 60 last Thursday - the day Franklin died.

Franklin has influenced generations of singers with iconic hits including "Natural Woman" and "I Say a Little Prayer."

But "Respect" (1967) was her signature tune and the broadcast ended with a recording of Aretha belting out the Otis Redding cover as the audience danced wildly.

"I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the Queen," Madonna added.

Fast-rising rapper Cardi B - who recently became a mother - was expected to launch the show at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

Canadian singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes, who treated fans to his acclaimed single "In My Blood," which chronicles his struggle with anxiety disorder.

Whips, masks, conical breasts

Cardi B started the show as frontrunner, narrowly taking more nominations than Jay-Z and Beyonce, who ended the evening with just one award - best cinematography - for their Louvre-shot video "Apeshit."

But artist and video of the year - for "Havana" - went to former Fifth Harmony singer Camila Cabello, who earlier had to endure comedian Tiffany Haddish struggling to pronounce her name before joking awkwardly: "I only speak English."

Unlike the industry-led Grammys, the VMAs prides itself on outrageous made-for-television moments with less focus on who wins the awards.

As ever, the industry's most controversial stars strutted the red carpet in outrageous awards garb featuring whips, masks and, in model Amber Rose's case.

All big awards shows these days are political and accordingly MTV debuted a new campaign, "+1 the vote" to encourage young people to go to the polls for November's midterm elections.

Childish Gambino's "This Is America," which racked up more than 100 million views in its first week on YouTube with its powerful take on gun violence and racism, won best video with a message, choreography and direction.

Gold was an unofficial motif for the night and former child star Ariana Grande, 25, was dressed accordingly in gilded sequins as she sung "God Is a Woman."