Music and Youth
Beyonce dominates MTV VMAs 2016
MUMBAI: Beyonce has topped the winners list at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards that was held in New York, after scoring a string of top honours, including video of the year for her politically charged song, “Formation” and best female video.
The 34-year-old superstar led all nominees heading into the show with 11 nods for her groundbreaking Lemonade album and short film.
And she quickly racked up the prizes, earning best choreography, best direction, best cinematography, and best editing for “Formation”, which she performed as part of a show-stopping Lemonade medley.
“Formation” earned Beyonce the coveted video of the year title, which she dedicated to the residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, who have been struggling with severe flooding in recent weeks. Her best female video win was for “Hold Up”.
With her multiple victories, she broke the record for most VMAs with 21 wins, surpassing the previous title holder Madonna, who has a total of 20 Moonman trophies.
Rihanna was another big winner at the VMAs, which she opened with the first of four performances during the New York show, singing hits “Only Girl” (In The World), “We Found Love”, and “Where Have You Been.”
She later returned to the Madison Square Garden stage to belt out tracks like “Work”, “Needed Me”, “Stay,” and “Diamonds” before she was presented with the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award by her frequent collaborator and rumoured boyfriend Drake.
He delivered a heart-warming speech hailing the R&B beauty’s achievements, declared he had been “in love” with her since he was 22, and honoured Rihanna as a “living, breathing legend in our industry.”
They then shared a kiss on the cheek as Rihanna stepped up to accept the special Moonman award, which she celebrated as “such an amazing moment” in her career.
The Bajan star then went on to thank her longtime fans, saying: “My success, it started as my dream, but now my success is not my own; it’s my family’s, it’s my fans, it’s my country’s, it’s the Caribbean as a whole, it’s women, it’s black women.
“So many people feel like their little piece is such a major part of this puzzle and I have to thank you guys for supporting me, over and over…”
MUMBAI: Mumbai is about to witness something it has never seen before. The Global Youth Festival arrives on 6-7 December at Jio World Garden with 15,000 attendees and 60-plus experiences sprawled across six sprawling arenas. On its sixth edition, this is no ordinary jamboree—it is a carefully orchestrated collision of wellness, adventure, arts, music, yoga and social change.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis will throw open the proceedings with a landmark ceremony, signalling the state’s backing for a movement that has already mobilised youth across 20-plus countries and 170-plus cities. The sheer scale is staggering: 500-plus volunteers powering the machine, 600,000-plus volunteer hours logged across previous editions, and millions of lives touched annually.
The speaker roster is formidable. Diipa Büller-Khosla and Dipali Goenka, chief executive of Welspun India, will share the stage with Malaika Arora in conversations spanning leadership, creativity and culture. Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukhbhai Mandaviya will also attend, reinforcing GYF’s reach into the corridors of power.
But this is not mere talk. The Solaris Mainstage promises concerts from renowned Indian artists. Innerverse delivers a 360-degree LED spectacle of art, technology and sound. The Love and Care Arena houses hands-on projects spanning women’s empowerment, child education, rural upliftment and animal welfare. India’s largest outdoor sound-healing experience awaits. An inflatable obstacle course, neon drifter karts and open-sky bouldering cater to thrill-seekers.
Some have branded GYF the “Coachella of Consciousness.” Others call it “India’s Largest Sober Festival.” Spiritual visionary Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, who inspired the festival, will deliver the Wisdom Masterclass. Every rupee goes to charity.
After Mumbai comes Kolkata on 14 December. New York looms next year. For one weekend in December, Mumbai becomes the epicentre of youth-driven change—and nothing will be quite the same after.
Tickets available on BookMyShow. Visit youthfestival.srmd.org or follow @globalyouthfestival on Instagram.
