Taylor Swift has announced a new album as she scooped the top prize at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).
The singer won several prizes at the event including the coveted best video, for ‘All Too Well’ (10-Minute Version). Swift expressed her excitement as she revealed she was “so honoured to be recognised” to win the prize, and took the opportunity to tell fans her next album ‘Midnights’ would be released on 21st October.
Swift made her announcement in the final moments of the show, which was hosted by Nicki Minaj, Jack Harlow and LL Cool J. Accepting the night’s top prize, the singer said: “I’m so honoured to have been recognised alongside such amazing artists and directors”.
“I’m just so proud of what we made and with every second of this moment and we wouldn’t have been able to make this short film if it wasn’t for the fans. I wouldn’t be able to re-record my albums if it wasn’t for you… you emboldened me to do that… Because you’ve been so generous, I thought it might be a fun moment to tell you that my brand new album comes out on October 21.”
Taylor Swift
She later released further details of the album on her Twitter account. Swift described the new album as a “collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams”.
Currently, Swift is currently re-recording her first five albums in an effort to regain control of her music, following a dispute with music mogul Scooter Braun. A newly-extended version of ‘All Too Well’, the video for which won three VMAs in total, was taken from the re-recorded version of her 2012 album ‘Red’.
The video for ‘All Too Well’, which stars ‘Stranger Things’ actress, Sadie Sink and Teen Wolf’s Dylan O’Brien, also won best direction and best longform video.
Appearances at VMA
The VMA Show was star-studded, with digital appearances from actor Johnny Depp, who was projected on to the face of the VMAs’ famous Moon Man Mascot.
Opening the show, Depp stated “I needed the work,” later adding that he was available for “birthdays, bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes, anything you need… anything”.
The appearance followed Depp’s victory in the multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit against former partner Amber Heard. It marks the latest move in Depp’s gradual return to the spotlight. It was recently announced he will appear in the film ‘Jeanne Du Barry’, produced by French company Why Not Productions, which will mark his first starring role since the trial.
Depp is also set to direct his first feature film in 25 years, about the Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani.
British nominees largely lost out to US counterparts at this year’s awards, with only Harry Styles taking home a major prize with album of the year.
The 28-year-old apologised to fans for his absence at the show despite being “just down the road” performing at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“Thank you so so much for this award. I know this is a fan-voted award, I’d like to say thank you to all of my fans who voted, thank you so so much, I obviously wouldn’t be holding this if it wasn’t for you. I’m sorry I can’t be on stage with you tonight, I’m about to go on stage just down the road, but I hope you’re having a wonderful evening.”
Harry Styles
Also, Nicki Minaj was the recipient of this year’s video Vanguard Award, which recognises artists who have consistently produced creative and influential music videos.
The US rapper performed a medley of her songs as she made her entrance at the ceremony – including Monster, Super Bass and her current number one hit Super Freaky Girl, which samples the original Rick James classic.
Minaj said she had “never ever written a speech in her life”, but went offstage to retrieve her phone to read her notes as she accepted the award from members of her fan club, known as the Barbz.
She thanked key people who inspired “me and my flow” and those who gave her opportunities, naming artists such as Kanye West, Beyonce, Madonna, Britney Spears and Rihanna.
She also paid tribute to late performers Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Nipsey Hussle in her speech.
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