The MTV Video Music Awards show is the most unpredictable, the most entertaining, and the least important of all award shows. Unpredictable because anyone can show up (as Michael Jackson and Guns N’ Roses has done in the past), and things always go unplanned (such as a power failure in U2’s set or a member of Rage Against the Machine climbing the set). Entertaining because they have the best performances of any show (much better than the boring Grammys). And least important, because think about it — the music videos are being awarded, not the artists. The music, the lyrics, the singers, and the drummers all take a back seat to some directors we’re unfamiliar with.

This year for the first time, the awards will be handed out in Miami, the newest home of Shaquille O’Neal, who is just one of dozens of celebs scheduled to present. Sunday’s VMAs will also see performances by such acts as Hoobastank, Kanye West, Yellowcard, and the Lean Backers themselves, Terror Squad with Fat Joe.

Although the awards themselves are somewhat meaningless, andPOP will run down its predictions for some of the main categories.

Video of the year
Who should win: Outkast “Hey Ya”
Who will win: Outkast “Hey Ya”

Best Rap Video
Who should win: Jay-Z “99 Problems”
Who will win: Jay-Z “99 Problems”

Best R&B Video
Who should win: Beyonce “Me, Myself and I”
Who will win: Usher “Burn”

Best Dance Video
Who should win: Beyonce “Naughty Girl”
Who will win: Usher “Yeah”

Best Rock Video
Who should win: The Darkness “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”
Who will win: Hoobastank “The Reason”

Best Pop Video
Who should win: No Doubt “It’s My Life”
Who will win: Britney Spears “Toxic”

Best New Artist
Who should win: Kanye West “All Falls Down”
Who will win: Kanye West “All Falls Down”

Outkast and Jay-Z have the best videos this year, and judging by the number of nominations each received, they could be in line for the top prizes. However, Missy Elliott has received many nominations in past years that have amounted to very little. Another interesting award is the Viewer’s Choice, since this year more then others, the artists’ street teams have stepped up big time. Yellowcard even offered every member of their team a free DVD with their name in the liner notes if they win.

The VMAs could also be the first public appearances for two power couples (well, one power couple, the other a bizarre tale of rags and riches): Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, and Britney Spears and Kevin Federline.

Miami is the place to be on Sunday.






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