All The Aussies Who Have Won An MTV VMA
Ahead of the upcoming awards show, we're celebrating all the Australian VMA winners over the years.
The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards are fast approaching, which gives us a perfectly good excuse to look back on our favourite VMAs moments, from legendary performances to awkward encounters, and everything in between. There's no doubt that this year's VMAs will be different: it's the world's first awards show during the coronavirus pandemic – and social distancing measures are in place to make sure they go off without a hitch.
Socially distanced or otherwise, the 2020 VMAs will be huge. With performances from Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and The Weeknd lined up, the Keke Palmer-hosted music awards is set to be one to remember. We're also gearing up to see some Aussie faces, with 5 Seconds Of Summer nominated for the MTV VMA award for Best Cinematography for their video, "Old Me".
Without further ado, let's tip our hats to every Aussie who has won a VMA over the years.
Natalie Imbruglia, "Torn", 1998
Wide eyed and completely raw, Natalie Imbruglia and her music video for "Torn" – did you know it's actually a cover?! – is essentially a part of the Australian music pantheon at this stage. "Torn" won Imbruglia the Best New Artist VMA back in 1998, and you all know why.
Sia: "Chandelier", 2014
Those in Australia have known Sia far longer than the rest of the world, but it took her leaving her home country for everyone else to realise that they had someone incredibly gifted in their midst. Sia’s music videos have become a staple of her more recent works, becoming as recognisable as the songs they accompany – maybe even more so. In 2014, her video for "Chandelier" won a VMA for Best Choreography, which was essentially a shoo-in – Maddie Ziegler’s erratic and gymnastic dance moves are iconic the world over. Sia doesn’t even appear in the video once.
Iggy Azalea: "Problem" with Ariana Grande, 2014
Iggy Azalea was nominated for seven VMAs at the music awards in 2014, and tied for the most nominations of the night with that year’s Video Vanguard recipient, Beyoncé. Yet, despite her all-conquering hit "Fancy" dominating the year, the video walked home with zero awards. Instead, Iggy Azalea picked up her first and, so far, only MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop for her collaboration with Ariana Grande in "Problem", a clip tinged in sepia with a complete mod aesthetic.
Crowded House: "Don’t Dream It’s Over",1987
Let’s save the debate between whether Crowded House are an Australian or a New Zealand band. Let us instead relish that they won their first and only VMA in 1987 for Best New Artist with their classic, "Don’t Dream It’s Over".
INXS: "Need You Tonight/Mediate", 1988
INXS hold a unique spot in this list, as they’re the only Australian act to ever win an MTV Video Music Award for Video Of The Year, one of the biggest music awards in the line-up. It's a well deserved Moon Person: their music video for "Need You Tonight/Mediate" was a creative feat, designed as a tribute to yet another great video: Bob Dylan’s "Subterranean Homesick Blues".
Kylie Minogue: "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", 2002
Kylie Minogue is a living legend. In fact, she might be the living legend. So it might be surprising that she’s only earned two VMAs in her decades-long career, and only one outside of an Australian-only category. Still, that award – Best Choreography in 2002 for "Can’t Get You Out Of My Head" – is well-earned.
Jet: "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?", 2004
In 2004, Jet proved themselves to be the darkest of horses when they took out the VMA for Best Rock Video with their ubiquitous hit, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?". They were up against some of the most defining rock songs of the early 00’s, including The Darkness’ "I Believe In A Thing Called Love", Evanescence’s "My Immortal" and Linkin Park’s "Breaking The Habit". Fair play.
5 Seconds Of Summer: "Don't Stop", 2014 & "She's Kinda Hot", 2015
5SOS have the impressive title of being the only Australian act to take home back-to-back MTV Video Music Awards, in part thanks to their colossal and devoted fanbase. In 2014, they beat out Katy Perry, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato for Best Lyric Video, and in 2015 they beat out Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Fifth Harmony, Selena Gomez and more for Song of the Summer. The Video Music Awards have recognised 5SOS's talent many times; let's hope the trend continues at the VMAs on Monday, August 31 (Aussie time).
Let's Not Forget The Winners Of The MTV VMAs International Viewer's Choice Award
For most years between 1990 and 2003, the MTV VMAs gave out a special Viewer’s Choice award for specifically Australian acts, and looking back through the winners is like stepping into a time capsule. There are certified classics like Yothu Yindi’s "Treaty" and Diesel’s "Man Alive". There are also more obscure tracks that you may have forgotten (but will do well to remember), music videos like Paul Mac’s "Just The Thing" and Holly Valance’s "Kiss Kiss". Yes, Holly Valance has an MTV VMA.
Silverchair are the only act who have taken out the title at the MTV Video Music Awards twice, once for "Freak" and once for "Anthem for the Year 2000". And, the final winner of the award is Delta Goodrem, who took the title home for her debut single, "Born To Try".
So, there you have it, every single Aussie MTV VMAs winner; we'll see if 5SOS can take home another Video Music Award in just a few days. Until then, follow along with our VMAs coverage right here.
Catch the full list of nominees for every MTV VMA here, the VMAs performance line-up here and don't forget to tune in to the 2020 Video Music Awards, which will air live on Monday, August 31 from 8.30am AEST.
