The 1999 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony, an event that somehow managed to feel both momentous and utterly forgettable, unfolded on Thursday, September 9, 1999. It was a date that, for reasons lost to the sands of time or perhaps just the relentless churn of pop culture, was informally dubbed the "9/9/9 9 MTV Video Music Awards." The venue chosen for this spectacle of manufactured excitement was the hallowed halls of the Metropolitan Opera House, nestled within the cultural bastion of New York City. This particular iteration of the awards aimed to celebrate the music videos that had managed to capture eyeballs and airwaves between June 13, 1998, and June 11, 1999. One might wonder if the universe was trying to send a message with that date. Probably not.
The unenviable task of corralling the assembled egos and musical talent fell to comedian Chris Rock, a man whose comedic sensibilities were often as sharp as they were divisive. Overseeing the production were Salli Frattini and Dave Sirulnick, while the directorial reins were held by Beth McCarthy. This event was, of course, a successor to the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards and a harbinger of the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.
The night belonged, undeniably, to Lauryn Hill. She swept the awards, amassing a grand total of four trophies, a feat that solidified her dominance in the music video landscape of that year. Her triumph was particularly significant as her video for "Doo Wop (That Thing)" snagged the coveted Video of the Year award, marking a watershed moment: the first hip-hop video to achieve this honor. It’s almost as if the academy finally realized that rhythm and poetry could translate to visual artistry. Almost.
Ricky Martin, a force of nature in a sequined shirt, was another major player, raking in nine nominations and ultimately securing two competitive awards for his undeniably catchy "Livin’ la Vida Loca". These included Best Pop Video and Best Dance Video. Beyond the competitive realm, he also snagged three International Viewer's Choice Awards, a testament to his global appeal. One has to admire the sheer, unadulterated energy he brought. It was either infectious or exhausting, depending on your tolerance for such exuberance.
Other artists who managed to walk away with hardware, or at least nominations that suggested they were noticed, included the perpetually grim Korn, the ever-stylish TLC, and the provocative Eminem. Their presence, and indeed the nominations themselves, painted a picture of a music scene in transition, a landscape where genres blurred and artists pushed boundaries, sometimes successfully, sometimes… less so.
The ceremony was not without its moments of pure, unadulterated spectacle, the kind that lingers in the collective memory like a bad pop song. Diana Ross, in a move that was either bold or simply bizarre, jiggled Lil' Kim's exposed breast. Lil' Kim’s outfit, it should be noted, left her entire left breast uncovered save for a strategically placed pastie. It was a moment that defied explanation, a sartorial and social statement that left many scratching their heads.
In a more poignant display, the mothers of two of hip-hop’s most tragically lost figures, Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., Afeni Shakur and Voletta Wallace, shared the stage to present the Best Rap Video Award. Their presence was a somber reminder of the violence that had shadowed the genre, a stark contrast to the glitz and glamour surrounding them.
Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys used his platform to issue a plea for peace, a direct response to the disturbing sexual assaults that had marred Woodstock '99. It was a moment of unexpected gravitas in an evening designed for superficial celebration.
And then there was the tribute to Madonna. As the artist with the most VMA nominations in history, she was honored with a parade of male drag performers, each mimicking her iconic looks from various music videos. It was a visual feast, a celebration of an artist who had consistently reinvented herself and redefined the visual language of music.
The night was also marked by a notable no-show: DMX. His absence led to an extended solo set by Jay-Z, a turn of events that likely delighted some and inconvenienced others.
The debut of Britney Spears performing her now-iconic single "...Baby One More Time" was another defining moment. It was the arrival of a new pop princess, a harbinger of the teen pop explosion that would soon dominate the charts. Shortly after, NSYNC took the stage to perform "Tearin' Up My Heart", further cementing the dominance of boy bands.
As the Backstreet Boys ascended to accept their Viewer's Choice award, a decidedly uninvited guest, John Del Signore, ambled onto the stage. His pronouncement, "Wake up at 3," was a bizarre interlude, later revealed as an attempt to pitch a show idea to Viacom. It was a glitch in the matrix, a reminder that even in the meticulously planned world of awards shows, chaos can find a way in.
The ceremony was also strategically interwoven with promotional efforts, most notably with SEGA, as the very date of the awards show coincided with the launch of their highly anticipated Dreamcast game console. It was a synergy of entertainment and technology, a sign of the times.
Background
The decision to host the 1999 VMAs at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City came after an exhaustive scouting process that considered locations in both New York and Los Angeles. The opera house was chosen, in part, because MTV's usual New York haunt, Radio City Music Hall, was undergoing renovations. The announcement of Chris Rock as host was made on June 30, a move that promised a night of sharp wit and perhaps a few uncomfortable truths. Nominations were unveiled on July 28 at a press conference held at Lincoln Center, with Rock, Carson Daly, and Ricky Martin sharing hosting duties. For the first time, the VMAs were preceded by a week-long "VMA Week" on Total Request Live, a programming block that would become an annual tradition until the show's cancellation in 2008. The broadcast itself was kicked off by the "1999 MTV Video Music Awards Opening Act," a pre-show event hosted by Kurt Loder and Serena Altschul. This pre-show featured red carpet interviews, a pre-taped chat with Trent Reznor, segments on Britney Spears' fashion choices, and vocal tests involving shattering glass. Musical performances during the opening act came from Smash Mouth and Blink-182.
Performances
The main event, and the preceding appetizer, featured a diverse lineup of musical acts.
Pre-show
- Smash Mouth delivered their hit "All Star".
- Blink-182 performed a medley of "What's My Age Again?" and "All the Small Things".
Main show
The main ceremony offered a more ambitious array of performances:
- Kid Rock, Run-DMC, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and the diminutive Joe C. joined forces for a raucous set featuring "King of Rock", "Rock Box", "Bawitdaba", and "Walk This Way". It was an amalgamation of eras and genres, a sonic collision that somehow worked.
- Lauryn Hill graced the stage with performances of "Lost Ones" and "Everything Is Everything", showcasing her undeniable talent.
- The Backstreet Boys serenaded the audience with "I Want It That Way" and "Larger Than Life".
- Ricky Martin continued his reign with performances of "She's All I Ever Had" and, of course, "Livin' la Vida Loca".
- Nine Inch Nails offered a more introspective moment with "The Fragile".
- TLC brought their signature sass with "No Scrubs".
- Fatboy Slim delivered his infectious hit "Praise You".
- Jay-Z, accompanied by DJ Clue and Amil, performed a medley of "Jigga My Nigga", "Can I Get A...", and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)".
- Britney Spears and NSYNC shared the stage for "...Baby One More Time" and "Tearin' Up My Heart", a potent display of teen pop power.
- Eminem, alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, delivered a fiery performance of "My Name Is", "Guilty Conscience", and "Nuthin' But a "G" Thang".
Presenters
The awards were handed out by a constellation of stars, each adding their own brand of gravitas or, at times, sheer bewildering presence.
Pre-show
- Chris Connelly and Ananda Lewis handled the announcement of winners in the professional categories and presented the award for Best R&B Video.
Main show
- Moby provided DJ sets during the commercial breaks, a thoughtful if somewhat niche choice.
- Janet Jackson presented the award for Best Dance Video.
- Puff Daddy and Denise Richards presented Best Group Video.
- Tom Green featured in vignettes explaining the Viewer's Choice voting process, likely with his signature brand of surreal humor.
- Wyclef Jean and Charlotte Church presented Best New Artist in a Video.
- David Bowie had the honor of introducing Lauryn Hill.
- Will Smith introduced Afeni Shakur and Voletta Wallace, and together they presented Best Rap Video.
- Carson Daly and Pamela Anderson explained the balloting procedures before introducing the Backstreet Boys.
- Gavin Rossdale and Susan Sarandon presented Best Female Video.
- Christina Aguilera and Tommy Lee presented Best Rock Video.
- Janeane Garofalo and Method Man presented Breakthrough Video.
- Mark McGrath and Jennifer Lopez presented Best Video From a Film.
- Johnny Depp introduced Nine Inch Nails.
- Limp Bizkit members Fred Durst and Wes Borland, alongside Heather Locklear, presented Best Pop Video.
- Prince introduced TLC.
- Mira Sorvino and Freddie Prinze Jr. presented Best Male Video.
- Regis Philbin introduced Fatboy Slim and the Torrance Community Dance Group.
- Renée Zellweger and Jay Mohr introduced the International Viewer's Choice Awards winners.
- Stone Cold Steve Austin introduced Jay-Z.
- Buddy Hackett, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams presented Best Direction in a Video.
- Mary J. Blige and Lil' Kim introduced Diana Ross, and together they presented Best Hip-Hop Video.
- Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Heidi Klum, and Tim Robbins presented the Viewer's Choice award.
- Lars Ulrich introduced Eminem.
- Madonna had the honor of introducing Paul McCartney, and together they presented the night's final award, Video of the Year.
Winners and Nominees
The night saw a flurry of awards distributed, with winners highlighted in bold.
Video of the Year
- Lauryn Hill – "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
- Backstreet Boys - "I Want It That Way"
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash"
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca"
- Will Smith (featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee) – "Wild Wild West"
Best Male Video
- Will Smith – "Miami"
- Eminem – "My Name Is"
- Lenny Kravitz – "Fly Away"
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca"
Best Female Video
- Lauryn Hill – "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
- Jennifer Lopez – "If You Had My Love"
- Madonna – "Beautiful Stranger"
- Britney Spears – "...Baby One More Time"
Best Group Video
- TLC – "No Scrubs"
- Backstreet Boys – "I Want It That Way"
- Limp Bizkit – "Nookie"
- *NSYNC – "Tearin' Up My Heart"
- Sugar Ray – "Every Morning"
Best New Artist in a Video
- Eminem – "My Name Is"
- Kid Rock – "Bawitdaba"
- Jennifer Lopez – "If You Had My Love"
- Orgy – "Blue Monday"
Best Pop Video
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca"
- Backstreet Boys – "I Want It That Way"
- Jennifer Lopez – "If You Had My Love"
- *NSYNC – "Tearin' Up My Heart"
- Britney Spears – "...Baby One More Time"
Best Rock Video
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash"
- Kid Rock – "Bawitdaba"
- Lenny Kravitz – "Fly Away"
- Limp Bizkit – "Nookie"
- The Offspring – "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)"
Best R&B Video
- Lauryn Hill – "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
- Aaliyah – "Are You That Somebody?"
- Brandy – "Have You Ever?"
- Whitney Houston (featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price) – "Heartbreak Hotel"
Best Rap Video
- Jay-Z (featuring Ja Rule and Amil) – "Can I Get A..."
- 2Pac – "Changes"
- DMX – "Ruff Ryders' Anthem"
- Nas (featuring Puff Daddy) – "Hate Me Now"
Best Hip-Hop Video
- Beastie Boys – "Intergalactic"
- Busta Rhymes (featuring Janet Jackson) – "What's It Gonna Be?!"
- Lauryn Hill – "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
- TLC – "No Scrubs"
Best Dance Video
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca"
- Cher – "Believe"
- Fatboy Slim – "Praise You"
- Jordan Knight – "Give It to You"
- Jennifer Lopez – "If You Had My Love"
Best Video from a Film
- Madonna – "Beautiful Stranger" (from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me)
- Aaliyah – "Are You That Somebody?" (from Dr. Dolittle)
- Jay-Z (featuring Ja Rule and Amil) – "Can I Get A..." (from Rush Hour)
- Will Smith (featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee) – "Wild Wild West" (from Wild Wild West)
Breakthrough Video
- Fatboy Slim – "Praise You"
- Busta Rhymes – "Gimme Some More"
- Eels – "Last Stop: This Town"
- Eminem (featuring Dr. Dre) – "Guilty Conscience"
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash"
- Unkle (featuring Thom Yorke) – "Rabbit in Your Headlights"
Best Direction in a Video
- Fatboy Slim – "Praise You" (Director: Spike Jonze)
- Busta Rhymes (featuring Janet Jackson) – "What's It Gonna Be?!" (Directors: Hype Williams and Busta Rhymes)
- Eminem – "My Name Is" (Directors: Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell)
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash" (Directors: Todd McFarlane, Graham Morris, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris)
- TLC – "No Scrubs" (Director: Hype Williams)
Best Choreography in a Video
- Fatboy Slim – "Praise You" (Choreographers: Spike Jonze and Michael Rooney)
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Choreographer: Tina Landon)
- Will Smith (featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee) – "Wild Wild West" (Choreographer: Fatima Robinson)
- Britney Spears – "...Baby One More Time" (Choreographer: Randy Connor)
Best Special Effects in a Video
- Garbage – "Special" (Special Effects: Sean Broughton, Stuart D. Gordon and Paul Simpson of Digital Domain)
- The Black Eyed Peas – "Joints & Jam" (Special Effects: Brian Beletic and Todd Somodivilla)
- Busta Rhymes (featuring Janet Jackson) – "What's It Gonna Be?!" (Special Effects: Fred Raimondi)
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash" (Special Effects: Matt Beck, Edson Williams, and the Brothers Strause)
- Madonna – "Nothing Really Matters" (Special Effects: Johan Renck, Bjorn Benckert and Tor-Bjorn Olsson)
- Will Smith – "Miami" (Special Effects: Eric Swenson, Andrea Mansour and Simon Mowbray)
Best Art Direction in a Video
- Lauryn Hill – "Doo Wop (That Thing)" (Art Director: Gideon Ponte)
- Barenaked Ladies – "One Week" (Art Director: Paul Martin)
- Busta Rhymes (featuring Janet Jackson) – "What's It Gonna Be?!" (Art Director: Regan Jackson)
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash" (Art Directors: K. K. Barrett, Todd McFarlane, Terry Fitzgerald and Graham Morris)
- TLC – "No Scrubs" (Art Director: Regan Jackson)
Best Editing in a Video
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash" (Editors: Haines Hall and Michael Sachs)
- 2Pac – "Changes" (Editor: Chris Hafner)
- Cher – "Believe" (Editor: Scott Richter)
- TLC – "No Scrubs" (Editor: Harvey White)
Best Cinematography in a Video
- Marilyn Manson – "The Dope Show" (Director of Photography: Martin Coppen)
- Hole – "Malibu" (Director of Photography: Martin Coppen)
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash" (Director of Photography: Julian Whatley)
- Madonna – "Beautiful Stranger" (Director of Photography: Thomas Kloss)
- Will Smith – "Miami" (Director of Photography: Daniel Pearl)
Best Artist Website
- Red Hot Chili Peppers (redhotchilipeppers.com)
- David Bowie (davidbowie.com)
- Sheryl Crow (sherylcrow.com)
- Jennifer Lopez (jenniferlopez.com)
- Limp Bizkit (limp-bizkit.com)
- Massive Attack (massiveattack.co.uk)
- The Smashing Pumpkins (smashingpumpkins.com)
Viewer's Choice
- Backstreet Boys – "I Want It That Way"
- Jay-Z (featuring Ja Rule and Amil) – "Can I Get A..."
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash"
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca"
- *NSYNC – "Tearin' Up My Heart"
- TLC – "No Scrubs"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV Australia
- Silverchair – "Anthem for the Year 2000"
- Neil Finn – "Sinner"
- The Living End – "Save the Day"
- Powderfinger – "Already Gone"
- Spiderbait – "Stevie"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV Brasil
- Raimundos – "Mulher de Fases"
- Banda Eva – "De Ladinho"
- Barão Vermelho – "Por Você"
- Capital Inicial – "O Mundo"
- Charlie Brown Jr. – "Zóio de Lula"
- Cidade Negra – "Já Foi"
- Claudinho e Buchecha – "Só Love"
- Engenheiros do Hawaii – "Eu Que Não Amo Você"
- Jota Quest – "Sempre Assim"
- Kid Abelha – "Eu Só Penso em Você"
- Leonardo – "120, 150, 200 km/h"
- Nativus – "Liberdade pra Dentro da Cabeça"
- Os Paralamas do Sucesso – "Depois da Queda o Coice"
- Pato Fu – "Canção pra Você Viver Mais"
- Pepê e Neném – "Mania de Você"
- Sandy & Junior – "No Fundo do Coração"
- SPC – "Sai da Minha Aba (Bicão)"
- Skank – "Mandrake e os Cubanos"
- Caetano Veloso – "Sozinho"
- Vinny – "Shake Boom"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV India
- A. R. Rahman – "Dil Se Re"
- Shankar Mahadevan – "Breathless"
- Sonu Nigam – "Ab Mujhe Raat Din"
- Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan – "Kuch Kuch Hota Hain"
- Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan – "Mera Mann"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV Korea
- H.O.T. – "Make a Line"
- Cho Sung Mo – "To Heaven"
- Jinusean – "Taekwon V"
- No Brain – "Youth 98"
- Shin Hae Chul – "Invitation to My Daily Life"
- Yoo Seung Jun – "Burning Love"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV Latin America (North)
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca"
- Bersuit Vergarabat – "Sr. Cobranza"
- Café Tacuba – "Revés"
- Control Machete – "Sí, Señor"
- Molotov – "El Carnal de las Estrellas"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV Latin America (South)
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca"
- Los Auténticos Decadentes – "Los Piratas"
- Miguel Mateos – "Bar Imperio"
- Molotov – "El Carnal de las Estrellas"
- Los Pericos – "Sin Cadenas"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV Mandarin
- Shino Lin – "Irritated"
- Chau Wa-Kin – "Someone with a Story"
- Valen Hsu – "Don't Say Goodbye"
- Faye Wong – "Quitting in Halfway"
- Harlem Yu and Jeff Chang – "Love Turning Around"
- Zhang Chen-Yu – "I Want Money"
- Zheng Jun – "Happiness"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV Russia
- Ricky Martin – "Livin' la Vida Loca"
- Linda – "Otpusti Menyia"
- Mumiy Troll – "Ranetka"
- The Offspring – "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)"
- Otpetye Moshenniki – "Lyubi Menia, Lyubi"
- Britney Spears – "...Baby One More Time"
International Viewer's Choice: MTV Southeast Asia
- Parokya ni Edgar – "Harana"
- Mai Charoenpura – "Mai Han Pen Rai"
- Krisdayanti – "Menghitung Hari"
- Poetic Ammo – "Everything Changes"
Artists with multiple wins and nominations
It’s always instructive to see who the industry, or at least the voters, deemed worthy of repeated attention.
Artists who received multiple awards
- 5 Wins: Ricky Martin - A clear favorite, his success was a global phenomenon.
- 4 Wins: Lauryn Hill - Cemented her legacy with a dominant performance.
- 3 Wins: Fatboy Slim - Proof that a catchy beat and a quirky video could go a long way.
- 2 Wins: Korn - Demonstrated their enduring appeal in the rock and alternative scenes.
Artists who received multiple nominations
- 9 Nominations:
- Korn - A testament to their prolific output and visual impact.
- Ricky Martin - His crossover success was undeniable.
- 6 Nominations:
- TLC - Their consistent quality kept them in contention.
- Will Smith - A multi-faceted performer who crossed genres.
- 5 Nominations:
- Busta Rhymes - Known for his visually striking videos.
- Jennifer Lopez - Her star was rising rapidly.
- Lauryn Hill - A critical darling and commercial success.
- 4 Nominations:
- Backstreet Boys - The epitome of boy band mania.
- Britney Spears - Her debut had a massive impact.
- Eminem - An explosive arrival on the music scene.
- Fatboy Slim - A consistent innovator in electronic music videos.
- Janet Jackson - A perennial VMA contender.
- Madonna - The queen of reinvention, always relevant.
- 3 Nominations:
- 2 Nominations:
See also
For those who find this particular awards ceremony insufficient, or perhaps too much, one might also consult the 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards for a different flavor of musical accolades.