When Lil Nas X dropped the music video for “MONTERO,” March 2021, it emerged as one of the year’s largest social media controversies. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s Aug. 7, 2020 release of the music video for “WAP” prompted a similarly impassioned response from fans and critics alike. 

Once a year, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) honor music and music videos like these for being the cultural touchstones they are. The ceremony is scheduled to air live tonight at 5 p.m. PST. 

Though widely regarded as a major event in popular culture, the VMAs  have special significance to some members of the Chapman community. Will Johnston, a lecturer in the department of dance, firsthand understands the time and effort that goes into creating music videos. Throughout his career, he has worked as both a dancer and choreographer on videos for artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Katy Perry, Sigur Ros and Ben Platt, among others. 

“A music video in of itself is just a visualization of a piece of music,” Johnston said. “The dimensions you can bring out of that can really hit someone emotionally. They can spark and evoke things in people, and that’s a beautiful thing that adds to the experience of being human.”

Giovanna Sestito, a junior strategic and corporate communication major, views music videos with a similar reverence.

“We all interpret these songs we hear on the radio in our own ways, but music videos give us a shared interpretation,” Sestito said. “I’m so glad they have VMAs that honor the creative team behind the video, because I think they’re often overlooked.”

Sestito dreams of eventually attending the VMAs, but for now, she and a group of thirty other Chapman students gave The Panther their predictions for this year’s winners and who they hope will take home a moon-man this Sunday.

Best Collaboration

Who the majority thinks will win: Cardi B. ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”

Who the majority hopes will win: Cardi B. ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”

The collaboration that broke the internet — debuting at 93 million streams in the United States , the song took number one on the digital sales chart in its first week. It’s hard to imagine a song and video that garnered so much attention losing in this category, but “Peaches” by Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar and Giveon is another hit to look out for, according to Chapman students.

Best New Artist

Who the majority thinks will win: Olivia Rodrigo

Who the majority hopes will win: Olivia Rodrigo

Rodrigo, whose fame started growing in her role as Nini on Disney Plus’ “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” handily avoided the clichéd post-Disney-downfall-turned-megastar redemption arc, as her rise to celebrity status occurred while she was still an actor with the network. 

Rodrigo was the only artist to receive unanimous votes in the Chapman survey, with 100% of respondents reporting they thought she would win Best New Artist. Considering the shattering success of “Drivers License” followed by her debut album “Sour,” which took No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its first week and had the biggest opening sales week of 2021, it would be a shock to students if this award went to anyone else.

Video of the Year

Who the majority thinks will win: Cardi B. ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”

Who the majority hopes will win: Doja Cat ft. SZA – “Kiss Me More”

The aforementioned societal waves caused by Cardi B. ft. Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” makes it a likely contender for Video of the Year.

By a narrow margin, however, Chapman respondents hope to see Doja Cat ft. SZA’s “Kiss Me More,” receive the recognition. The video, directed by Warren Fu, features actor Alex Landi playing an astronaut on “Planet Her,” where Doja Cat and SZA reside as aliens.

Song of the Year

Who the majority thinks will win: Olivia Rodrigo — “Drivers License”

Who the majority hopes will win: Olivia Rodrigo — “Drivers License”

With 67.7 million digital streams in its first week — the most of the year — Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” seems to be a shoe-in for this category. 

Artist of the Year

Who the majority thinks will win: Taylor Swift

What the majority hopes will win: Doja Cat

Releasing two full length albums and a re-recorded album in less than a year, Swift could take this category merely from a perspective of volume, not to mention the popularity and critical acclaim garnered by both “Folklore” and “Evermore.”

Doja Cat, who will be hosting this year’s VMAs, is another strong contender, with the success of her recent album “Planet Her.” If her broader fanbase is as devoted as the one that she has at Chapman, she’ll be well-positioned to take the crown.