1991 Video Music Awards

Host: Arsenio Hall
Venue: Universal Amphitheatre
City: Los Angeles, CA
Date: September 5, 1991

Video of the Year: R.E.M. "Losing My Religion"

1991 Video Music Awards

In 1991, the MTV Video Music Awards celebrated MTV's 10th anniversary by completely flipping the script. That's right, we brought in Arsenio Hall to host -- for the fourth consecutive year! And as if that wasn't stirring the pot enough, we held the show in ... Los Angeles -- for the fourth consecutive year! At the Universal Amphitheatre -- for the ... oh, you get the idea.

All joking aside, the 1991 VMAs was an important event for us. There was a huge reason to throw a party: MTV had not only lasted a decade, but was a thriving juggernaut with a significant pop culture legacy.

And fittingly, the 1991 Video Music Awards show was scene of many moments:

Historic: The Video Vanguard Award was renamed theMichael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in honor of his contributions to the culture of music videos.

Violent: Contrary to popular belief,Poison's Bret Michaels and C.C. DeVille threw down backstage after it was decided that DeVille's performance sucked, not because C.C. looked RIDICULOUS with pink hair.

Controversial: The VMA stage welcomed the first public appearance of Paul Ruebens following the actor/comedian's arrest for lewd-conduct earlier in the year, an event that made him a popular punchline of the time. In costume as his beloved character Pee-Wee Herman, he coolly responded to a standing ovation by asking, "Heard any good jokes lately?"

When it came to the Moonmen trophies,R.E.M. may have been losing their religion but they certainly weren't losing awards as they walked away from the '91 VMAs with six for their hit "Losing My Religion." Among the haul for Michael Stipe and his pals from Athens, Georgia, were trophies for Video of the Year and Best Breakthrough Video.

But R.E.M. did lose one award, as the all-important and hard-to-score Viewer's Choice award went toQueensryche for the video for their smash-hit ballad "Silent Lucidity."

And 1991 was the year thatC+C Music Factory showed the world that grown men can mix bondage attire with bike shorts and still be cool while dancing. And that's why we gaveJanet Jackson andPaula Abdul a break, instead honoring C+C with the Best Choreography Moonman for the video for their workout staple "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)."

When it came to performances, MTV continued to prove that there is no equal to the VMAs when it comes to music. Big winners R.E.M. jangled their way through "Losing My Religion," there was the aforementioned Poison performance of "Unskinny Bop" that caused a ruckus that got C.C. DeVille booted from the band, and C+C Music Factory literally made everyone sweat.

Dialing down the speed metal that was their calling card, 1991 sawMetallica redefine their sound to something more commercially viable, broadening their appeal and immensely increasing their popularity worldwide. Nonetheless, they still had balls enough to make the VMA audience's knees tremble with the nightmarish "Enter Sandman," And this wasyears before the band sought group therapy and got in touch with their inner children.

There were also performances by the likes ofPrince,EMF,Guns N' Roses andVan Halen, but it was chiseled hip-hop veteranLL Cool J who brought the thunder with his performance of "Mama Said Knock You Out." Like his video for the song, LL came out clad in boxing attire and proceeded to throw lyrical punches that left everyone watching laying spent on the canvas.

Don't call it a comeback, the MTV Video Music Awards were alive, pulsing and more relevant than ever, even with Arsenio in the driver's seat.

1991 VMA Winners

Video of the Year

1. 

   R.E.M."Losing My Religion"

   CloseView all nominees

   • C+C Music Factory- Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
   • Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
   • The Divinyls- I Touch Myself
   • Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
   • Queensryche - Silent Lucidity

Best Male Video

1. 

   Chris Isaak"Wicked Game"

   CloseView all nominees

   • Gerardo - Rico Suave
   • Jon Bon Jovi- Blaze Of Glory
   • George Michael - Freedom

Best Female Video

1. 

   Janet Jackson

   CloseView all nominees

   • Paula Abdul- Rush Rush
   • Neneh Cherry- I've Got You Under My Skin
   • Amy Grant - Baby Baby
   • Madonna - Like A Virgin

Best Group Video

1. 

   R.E.M."Losing My Religion"

   CloseView all nominees

   • The Black Crowes - She Talks To Angels
   • The Divinyls- I Touch Myself
   • Queensryche - Silent Lucidity

Best Rap Video

1. 

   LL Cool J

   CloseView all nominees

   • 3rd Bass- Pop Goes The Weasel
   • Monie Love - It's A Shame
   • Ice T - New Jack Hustler
   • DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime

Best Dance Video

1. 

   C+C Music Factory

   CloseView all nominees

   • The Bingo Boys- Show Me How To Dance
   • Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
   • EMF- Unbelievable

Viewer's Choice

1. 

   Queensryche"Silent Lucidity"

   CloseView all nominees

   • C+C Music Factory- Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
   • Deee-Lite - Groove is in the Heart
   • The Divinyls- I Touch Myself
   • Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
   • R.E.M. - Losing My Religion

Best New Artist

1. 

   Jesus Jones

   CloseView all nominees

   • C+C Music Factory- Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
   • Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
   • Gerardo - Rico Suave
   • Seal - Crazy

Breakthrough Video

1. 

   R.E.M."Losing My Religion"

   CloseView all nominees

   • Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
   • Enigma - Sadness, Part I
   • Seal - Crazy

Best Metal/Hard Rock

1. 

   Aerosmith

   CloseView all nominees

   • AC/DC - Thunderstruck
   • Alice In Chains - Man In The Box
   • The Black Crowes - She Talks To Angels
   • Faith No More- Falling To Pieces
   • Guns N' Roses- You Could Be Mine
   • Queensryche - Silent Lucidity
   • Warrant- Uncle Tom's Cabin

Best Alternative Video

1. 

   Jane's Addiction"Been Caught Stealing"

   CloseView all nominees

   • Jesus Jones- Right Here, Right Now
   • R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
   • The Replacements - When It Began

Best Long Form Video

1. 

   Madonna

   CloseView all nominees

   • Aerosmith- Things That Go Pump In The Night
   • Peter Gabriel- P.O.V.
   • R.E.M.- Tour Film

Best Video From A Film

1. 

   Chris Isaak"Wicked Game"

   CloseView all nominees

   • Bryan Adams- (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
   • Guns N' Roses- You Could Be Mine
   • Jon Bon Jovi- Blaze Of Glory

Best Direction

1. 

   R.E.M."Losing My Religion"

   CloseView all nominees

   • Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
   • George Michael - Freedom
   • Queensryche - Silent Lucidity

Best Choreography

1. 

   C+C Music Factory

   CloseView all nominees

   • Janet Jackson- Love Will Never Do Without You
   • Madonna - Like A Virgin
   • M.C. Hammer- Pray (Jam The Hammer Mix)

Best Special Effects

1. 

   Faith No More

   CloseView all nominees

   • Bart Simpson- Do the Bartman
   • Neneh Cherry- I've Got You Under My Skin
   • M.C. Hammer- Here Comes The Hammer
   • The Replacements - When It Began
   • Seal - Crazy

Best Art Direction

1. 

   R.E.M."Losing My Religion"

   CloseView all nominees

   • Edie Brickell & New Bohemians- Mama Help Me
   • C+C Music Factory- Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
   • Faith No More- Falling To Pieces
   • Janet Jackson- Love Will Never Do Without You
   • Jellyfish- The King Is Half Undressed
   • George Michael - Freedom

Best Editing

1. 

   R.E.M."Losing My Religion"

   CloseView all nominees

   • C+C Music Factory- Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
   • Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
   • Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
   • George Michael - Freedom
   • Seal - Crazy

Best Cinematography

1. 

   Chris Isaak"Wicked Game"

   CloseView all nominees

   • LL Cool J- Mama Said Knock You Out
   • George Michael - Freedom
   • R.E.M. - Losing My Religion

1991 VMA Performances

1. Pee-wee HermanIntroduced Show

2. Van Halen"Poundcake"

3. C+C Music Factory"Things That Make You Go Hmmmm" / "Here We Go" / "Gonna Make You Sweet (Everybody Dance Now)"

4. Poison"Talk Dirty To Me"

5. Mariah Carey"Emotions"

6. EMF"Unbelievable"

7. Paula Abdul"Vibeology"

8. Queensryche"Silent Lucidity"

9. LL Cool J"Mama Said Knock You Out"

10. Metallica"Enter Sandman"

11. Don Henley"Heart of the Matter"

12. Guns N' Roses"Live and Let Die"

13. Prince & The New Power Generation"Gett Off"

1991 VMA Photos

1. 

   1991 Highlights Arsenio returns as host in this transitional year, where Bon Jovi, Poison, Metallica and Van Halen, icons of the ‘80s, perform side by side with ‘90s rock and rap revolutionaries like R.E.M. and L.L. Cool.