Admittedly, I don’t watch the VMA’s but was thrilled to watch his little boy temper tantrum on You Tube.

Let me convey a little story through you, Bob…to Mr. West.

I believe it was 1984 or 1985 (back when MTV actually kind of meant something) and I had conceived and directed videos for Van Halen and David Lee Roth. That year, I believe we had amassed approximately 14 nominations for "Hot For Teacher, "Just a Gigolo" and possibly "California Girls" including Best Video, Best Concept, Best Direction, Best Group Performance and some other nonsense. If I remember correctly, at that time, it was the most nominations received by any artist.

David Lee Roth and I were seated conspicuously with cameras surrounding us for a reaction shot with each winner announcement. That same year, "We are The World" was rolled out and as most early MTV viewers will recall, was a fairly simplistic video, creatively speaking. A noble cause, a pile of celebrities, a recording studio, a lot of microphones, Quincy Jones…and as generic a video as could possibly be created. With the exception of standout vocal performances by Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and a few others, and not to mention a fabulously sequined socked and single gloved Michael Jackson….it was difficult to actually ascertain a video concept which could only have been about the message or the messengers.

Back to the VMA’s.

To make a long story shorter, suffice it to say that one by one, by two, by three, by four, by five, by six and so on…we were losing every nomination to "We are the World" as the cameras rolled on the exhaustive smiles glued upon our faces.

Then, came the FINAL nomination of the night. Was it possible that we were about to experience "a no hitter," a "shut out," a "never ending series of gutter balls" a "complete bust," a "wipe out," "goose eggs by the dozen," "zip, zilch and nada?"

Was it even possible I ask of you, Kanye?

The final winner was announced with a predictable "and the winner is…WE ARE THE WORLD!"

At that moment, the incredible Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown, the legend himself turned around from his seat directly in front of us and proclaimed, "Man, you got fucked."

What is better I ask of you…a little moon man to take home to impress your posse or "You got fucked" from one of the greatest artists of all time?

Sometimes losing is winning.

My advice to Mr. West…Take a fucking valium and enjoy the free shrimp cocktail while the ride lasts.

Pete Angelus

On top of that, the whole show is a laughing stock. Technical problems, boring guest speakers (what the hell was up with Alicia Keyes?) and the worst comedian in the history of comedy as host, Sarah Silverman. Not only can you understand why the music industry sucks so much, but you really feel bad for it. If this is representative of my generation’s music, I don’t want anything to do with it. Give me the 60′s, 70′s or the 80′s over any of this crap. I keep trying to think about who I’ll be able to tell my kids about later in life, but there really isn’t a single one that lives up to anything my parents and older brothers ever told me about.

Please save me, Bob.

Matt Robinson
Student, Belmont University