Who Will Take Home Video of the Year at the 2021 VMAs?

There isn't much needed to be said about Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's "Wap," which has four nominations at this year's VMAs. This giant collaboration between two of the biggest names in the music industry today produced a sensual and unapologetic music video filled with vibrant colors, themes of empowerment, celebrity cameos, and more. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and is certified six times platinum. With over 400 million views on Youtube, "WAP" is definitely a frontrunner for this year's award ceremony. "WAP" is nominated for four awards: Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Best Hip-Hop. 

With over 200 million views on Youtube, the "Popstar" is part of Drake's long promotional lead-up to his album Certified Lover Boy, which was released earlier this month. Directed by Director X, the video opens with an exasperated Drake tired of DJ Khaled pestering him for a music video. He then calls in a favor from Justin Bieber, and it proceeds to follow Bieber lip-syncing to Drake's song at a wild house party all in a way that is extremely meta. "Popstar" is nominated for two awards: Video of the Year and Best Direction. 

Directed by Warren Fu, the "Kiss Me More" video is a pink dream that stars Alex Landi as a lost astronaut on "Planet Her." Over the course of the video, the astronaut finds himself seduced by both Doja Cat and SZA, who are in the roles of ethereal and seductive beings. The video is filled with eternal sunsets, cherry blossoms, surreal imagery, and playful visuals that depict sex, lust, and desire in an extremely unique way. With almost 200 million views on Youtube, "Kiss Me More" is up for two awards: Video of the Year and Best Collaboration. 

Directed by Dave Meyers, Ed Sheeran's Buffy the Vampire Slayer-inspired music video is filled with stunning visuals and themes as it follows Sheeran's vampire alter-ego and monster friends on a wild night terrorizing the city of London. With 146 million views on Youtube, "Bad Habits" is in the running for three awards: Video of the Year, Best Choreography, and Best Art Direction. 

Lil Nas X's "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" made waves on the charts as it sparked controversies for the culture wars started by the music video. The video has three acts, the first taking place in the Garden of Eden which depicts his internal struggle with his sexual identity. In the second act, Lil Nas X is chained and yelled at by those who disapprove of him. Later, his dead spirit is guided to heaven, but he stops himself by grabbing a hold of a pole and sailing down to hell to seduce and give the devil a lap dance. With over 300 million views, "Montero" is celebrated for its biblical allusions and proud LGBT+ symbolism and themes. The song racked up five nominations: Video of the Year, Video for Good, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects. 

Directed by Cliqua, The Weeknd's "Save Your Tears" video continues the storyline set up by his previous videos from his fourth album. After being decapitated in "In Your Eyes" and getting reattached in "Too Late," the singer is disproportionately reconstructed in "Save Your Tears." With over 500 million views on Youtube, the video follows a lively performance in front of a lifeless crowd with dark themes and stunning imagery paralleling that of Todd Phillip's Joker. The Weeknd took home the award for Video of the Year last year for "Blinding Lights," making him a strong contender for this year's title as well.