The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards are fast approaching, which means that soon you'll be treated to an excellent night of performances and appearances by the likes of Eminem, Linkin Park, Usher, Paramore, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence and the Machine, B.o.B and Deadmau5 (who will serve as the house DJ at the show). While people tend to remember the classic performances and the unhinged moments, the coveted Moonman is the reason why people show up and tune in. This year, there are 16 categories wherein some of the biggest music stars in the universe will compete for the coolest trophy in awards shows. Today, we take a look at the nominees in the Best Dance Music Video category.
For mysterious reasons, the Best Dance Video category took a year off and was absent during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. But it's back with a vengeance this year, and it's easy to see why. Dance music has made incredible strides in the past 12 months, from the crossover growth of DJs like Tiesto and Deadmau5 to the ever-expanding sound of Lady Gaga. The collection of nominees in this category represent the best of both worlds, combining crossover sensations (Cascada's "Evacuate the Dancefloor," David Guetta's "Sexy Chick") and pop-based envelope pushing (Gaga's "Bad Romance," Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It," Usher's "OMG").
The winner of Best Dance Music Video will join shake-and-pop luminaries like Paula Abdul ("Straight Up," 1989), Prince ("Cream," 1992), Michael Jackson ("Scream," 1995), Justin Timberlake ("Rock Your Body," 2003) and Pussycat Dolls (wins in 2006 and 2008). Though Usher and Gaga have the most name recognition, this category is ripe to go to the underdog, so look for Guetta to sneak in and steal it. Which clip will dance its way to a Moonman? There's only one way to find out.
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET.