The recent debut of Nicki Minaj‘s sexually charged video for her single, “Anaconda,” has everyone wondering if the rapper will try to top Miley Cyrus‘ outlandish 2013 VMAs performance at this year’s event. Our money is on an eye-popping production from Minaj, while MTV cashes in on gigantic ratings.
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After viewing the crawling, lap-dancing, booty-shaking, slapping and jiggling that’s going down in “Anaconda,” which samples Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” there’s no denying the fact that Minaj’s intention with the ditty was shock value. And with lyrics like “where my fat ass bitches in the club” rife throughout the song, there’s also no way to edit the words to make them appropriate for a younger audience. There would be no content left.
Cyrus herself admitted that the shock factor from her VMAs performance with Robin Thicke was purely intentional. “Madonna’s done it. Britney’s done it. Every VMA performance, that’s what you’re looking for; you’re wanting to make history,” Cyrus said in an interview with MTV last fall. Despite the public outcry that ensued, Cyrus was rewarded by MTV when she was crowned Artist of the Year in December.
In order to “make history” again this year and ensure that the “Anaconda” performance is what everyone will be referencing at this time next year, Minaj must pull out all the stops.
Minaj’s video did not sit well with the Parents Television Council, particularly following what they dubbed “Mileygate” after last year’s foam-finger-private-parts rubbing and tongue-wagging dance that Cyrus performed on stage. Their issue is not with Minaj or Cyrus, but with MTV. “To be absolutely clear, our problem is not with Nicki Minaj,” the council wrote on their official website. “She has every right to perform in whatever way she sees fit. The problem, of course, is what MTV chooses to promote, to market and ultimately to telecast into virtually every living room in the country.” The PTC is calling for a ratings system reform and demanding that the VMAs receive a TV-MA rating.
So, why would MTV want to irk the PTC? Because both “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” and “sex sells” adages apply to this situation. The PTC is publicly voicing their fear that Minaj will be wildly inappropriate, so of course, everyone will be scrambling to their television to see if she delivers.
We’re betting there aren’t any MTV execs currently requesting that 2014 performers tone down their acts. Minaj will seek to make this year’s VMAs historic and MTV will be loving the surge of viewers watching her try to do it.
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