1998 MTV Video Music Awards

1998 MTV Video Music Awards
Date	Thursday, September 10, 1998
Location	Universal Amphitheatre
Country	United States
Hosted by	Ben Stiller
Official website	mtv.com/ontv/vma/past-vmas/1998
Television/Radio coverage
Network	MTV

The 1998 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 10, 1998, honoring the best music videos from June 17, 1997, to June 12, 1998. The show was hosted by Ben Stiller at Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.

Madonna was the most successful winner and nominee of the night, winning six awards out of a total nine nominations: five (out of eight) for "Ray of Light", including Video of the Year and Best Female Video, and one for "Frozen" (its only nomination). Other than Madonna, only Will Smith and The Prodigy won multiple awards that night, winning two apiece.

With regard to nominations, the two biggest nominees aside from Madonna were alt-rock band Garbage and rapper Will Smith. Smith split his nominations between two videos: "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" (five) and "Just the Two of Us" (one), each of which earned a Moonman. In contrast, Garbage received all eight nominations for "Push It" but went home completely empty-handed at the end of the night.

The mesh dress that actor Rose McGowan wore to the award show was the subject of much media attention following the awards. The dress went on to become one of the most iconic and controversial outfits in the history of the VMA's.

Promotion

In the weeks before the awards ceremony, MTV "hacked" its own website intentionally and graffitied the words "JF Was Here" across the page,^[1] at the same time that the British hacker JF was under investigation by Scotland Yard for the milw0rm hacktivist attacks.^[2] Hundreds of pages hosted on MTV.com sported the new JF logo, including one page that read, "JF was here, greets to milw0rm".^[3] MTV later confirmed that the alleged JF "hack" was a publicity stunt to promote the appearance of a commentator named Johnny Fame at their upcoming awards show.^[2] Many were puzzled by the apparent hack committed by JF since the hacker was "known for relatively high ethical standards."^[2]

Nominations

Winners are in bold text.

Video of the Year

Madonna – "Ray of Light"

• Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
• Puff Daddy and the Family (featuring The LOX, Lil' Kim, The Notorious B.I.G. and Fuzzbubble) – "It's All About the Benjamins (rock remix)"
• Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"
• The Verve – "Bitter Sweet Symphony"

Best Male Video

Will Smith – "Just the Two of Us"

• David Bowie (featuring Trent Reznor) – "I'm Afraid of Americans (Nine Inch Nails remix)"
• Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
• Eric Clapton – "My Father's Eyes"
• Brian McKnight – "Anytime"

Best Female Video

Madonna – "Ray of Light"

• Fiona Apple – "Criminal"
• Mariah Carey (featuring Puff Daddy and the Family) – "Honey (remix)"
• Natalie Imbruglia – "Torn"
• Shania Twain – "You're Still the One"

Best Group Video

Backstreet Boys – "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"

• Garbage – "Push It"
• Matchbox 20 – "3 A.M."
• Radiohead – "Karma Police"
• The Verve – "Bitter Sweet Symphony"

Best New Artist in a Video

Natalie Imbruglia – "Torn"

• Cherry Poppin' Daddies – "Zoot Suit Riot"
• Chumbawamba – "Tubthumping"
• Fastball – "The Way"
• Mase – "Feel So Good"

Best Rock Video

Aerosmith – "Pink"

• Foo Fighters – "Everlong"
• Dave Matthews Band – "Don't Drink the Water"
• Metallica – "The Unforgiven II"

Best R&B Video

Wyclef Jean – "Gone Till November"

• Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
• K-Ci & JoJo – "All My Life"
• Usher – "You Make Me Wanna"

Best Rap Video

Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"

• Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
• Master P (featuring Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X and Mystikal) – "Make 'Em Say Uhh!"
• The Notorious B.I.G. (featuring Puff Daddy and Mase) – "Mo Money Mo Problems"
• Pras (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa) – "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"

Best Dance Video

The Prodigy – "Smack My Bitch Up"

• Backstreet Boys – "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
• Janet Jackson – "Together Again"
• Madonna – "Ray of Light"
• Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"

Best Alternative Video

Green Day – "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"

• Ben Folds Five – "Brick"
• Garbage – "Push It"
• Radiohead – "Karma Police"
• The Verve – "Bitter Sweet Symphony"

Best Video from a Film

Aerosmith – "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (from Armageddon)

• Beck – "Deadweight" (from A Life Less Ordinary)
• Celine Dion – "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic)" (from Titanic)
• Goo Goo Dolls – "Iris" (from City of Angels)
• Pras (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa) – "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) " (from Bulworth)
• Puff Daddy (featuring Jimmy Page) – "Come with Me" (from Godzilla)

Breakthrough Video

The Prodigy – "Smack My Bitch Up"

• Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
• Garbage – "Push It"
• Sean Lennon – "Home"
• Madonna – "Ray of Light"
• Roni Size/Reprazent – "Brown Paper Bag"

Best Direction in a Video

Madonna – "Ray of Light" (Director: Jonas Åkerlund)

• Garbage – "Push It" (Director: Andrea Giacobbe)
• Wyclef Jean – "Gone Till November" (Director: Francis Lawrence)
• The Prodigy – "Smack My Bitch Up" (Director: Jonas Åkerlund)
• Radiohead – "Karma Police" (Director: Jonathan Glazer)

Best Choreography in a Video

Madonna – "Ray of Light" (Choreographers: Madonna and Jonas Åkerlund)

• Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" (Choreographer: Fatima Robinson)
• Wyclef Jean – "We Trying to Stay Alive" (Choreographers: Henry and Crazy Legs)
• Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" (Choreographer: Stretch)

Best Special Effects in a Video

Madonna – "Frozen" (Special Effects: Steve Murgatroyd, Dan Williams, Steve Hiam, and Anthony Walsham)

• Aerosmith – "Pink" (Special Effects: Kevin Yagher)
• Aphex Twin – "Come to Daddy" (Special Effects: Chris Cunningham, Glassworks, Red, and Creature FX)
• Foo Fighters – "Everlong" (Special Effects: Paul Sokol and Chris W.)
• Garbage – "Push It" (Special Effects: Sebasten Caudron)

Best Art Direction in a Video

Björk – "Bachelorette" (Art Director: Samantha Gore)

• Death in Vegas – "Dirt" (Art Director: Andrea Giacobbe)
• Foo Fighters – "Everlong" (Art Director: Bill Lakoss)
• Garbage – "Push It" (Art Director: Virginia Lee)

Best Editing in a Video

Madonna – "Ray of Light" (Editor: Jonas Åkerlund)

• Aerosmith – "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (Editor: Chris Hafner)
• Garbage – "Push It" (Editor: Sylvain Connat)
• The Prodigy – "Smack My Bitch Up" (Editor: Jonas Åkerlund)

Best Cinematography in a Video

Fiona Apple – "Criminal" (Director of Photography: Harris Savides)

• Garbage – "Push It" (Director of Photography: Max Malkin)
• Madonna – "Ray of Light" (Director of Photography: Henrik Halvarsson)
• Dave Matthews Band – "Don't Drink the Water" (Director of Photography: Checco Varese)
• Radiohead – "Karma Police" (Director of Photography: Stephen Keith-Roach)

Viewer's Choice

Puff Daddy and the Family (featuring The LOX, Lil' Kim, The Notorious B.I.G. and Fuzzbubble – "It's All About the Benjamins (rock remix)"

• Celine Dion – "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic)"
• Green Day – "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"
• Matchbox 20 – "3 A.M."
• Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"

International Viewer's Choice Awards

MTV Asia

Chrisye – "Kala Cinta Menggoda"

• H.O.T. – "We Are the Future"
• Innuendo – "Belaian Jiwa"
• Kulay – "Shout"
• Nicole Theriault – "Kapolo"

MTV Australia

Kylie Minogue – "Did It Again"^[4]

• Grinspoon – "Just Ace"
• Natalie Imbruglia – "Torn"
• Robyn Loau – "Sick with Love"
• Regurgitator – "Black Bugs"
• Screamfeeder – "Hi C's"
• Silverchair – "Cemetery"

MTV Brasil

Racionais MC's – "Diário de um Detento"

• Fernanda Abreu – "Jack Soul Brasileiro"
• Barão Vermelho – "Puro Êxtase"
• Biquini Cavadão – "Janaína"
• Charlie Brown Jr. – "Proibida pra Mim"
• Cidade Negra – "Realidade Virtual"
• Claudinho e Buchecha – "Quero te Encontrar"
• Daúde – "Pata Pata"
• Engenheiros do Hawaii – "A Montanha"
• Gabriel o Pensador – "Cachimbo da Paz"
• Ira! – "Eu Não Sei (Can't Explain)"
• Jota Quest – "Onibusfobia"
• Maskavo Roots – "Djorous"
• Os Paralamas do Sucesso – "Ela Disse Adeus"
• Pato Fu – "Antes Que Seja Tarde"
• Planet Hemp – "Adoled (The Ocean)"
• Raimundos – "Andar na Pedra"
• O Rappa – "Vapor Barato"
• Lulu Santos – "Hyperconectividade"
• Soulfly – "Bleed"^[5]

MTV India

Lata Mangeshkar and Udit Narayan – "Dil To Pagal Hai"

• Abhijeet – "Main Koi Aisa Geet"
• Asha Bhosle – "Janam Samjha Karo"
• Kamaal Khan – "O Oh Jaane Jana"
• A. R. Rahman – "Maa Tujhe Salaam"

MTV Japan

hide with Spread Beaver – "Pink Spider"

• Blankey Jet City – "Akai Tanbarin"
• Luna Sea – "Storm"
• Puffy – "Ai no Shirushi"
• Shikao Suga – "Story"

MTV Latin America (North)

Molotov – "Gimme Tha Power"

• Aterciopelados – "Cosita Seria"
• Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas – "Jugo"
• La Ley – "Fotofobia"
• Plastilina Mosh – "Mr. P. Mosh"

MTV Latin America (South)

Molotov – "Gimme Tha Power"

• Andrés Calamaro – "Loco"
• Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – "Calaveras y Diablitos"
• Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas – "Jugo"
• Turf – "Casanova"

MTV Mandarin

Coco Lee – "Di Da Di"

• Black Biscuits – "Stamina"
• Karen Mok – "He Doesn't Love Me"
• Na Ying – "Conquer"
• Power Station – "Cruel Love Letter"
• David Tao – "Beside the Airport"

Video Vanguard Award

Beastie Boys

Performances

Pre-show

• Usher – "My Way"
• Barenaked Ladies – "One Week"/"Medley"^[6]

Main show

• Madonna (featuring Lenny Kravitz) – "Shanti/Ashtangi"/"Ray of Light"
• Pras (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mýa, Wyclef Jean and Canibus) – "Gone Till November"/"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"
• Hole – "Celebrity Skin" (with an excerpt from R.E.M.'s "Pretty Persuasion")
• Master P (featuring Silkk Tha Shocker, Mystikal and Mia X) – "Make 'Em Say Uhh!"
• Backstreet Boys – "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
• Beastie Boys – "3 MCs and 1 DJ/Intergalactic"
• Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
• Dave Matthews Band – "Stay (Wasting Time)"
• Marilyn Manson – "The Dope Show"
• Brian Setzer Orchestra – "Jump Jive an' Wail"

Appearances

Pre-show

• Kurt Loder and Serena Altschul – presented the professional categories
• John Norris and Serena Altschul – presented Best Dance Video and Breakthrough Video

Main show

• Andy Dick and the Backstreet Boys – appeared in the opening skit
• Jerry Stiller – made a special appearance during the opening monologue
• Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey – presented Best Male Video
• Chris Rock – appeared in a taped vignette discussing "security measures" at the event
• Rupert Everett and Salma Hayek – presented Best Group Video
• Tyra Banks – introduced Pras, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mýa, Wyclef Jean and Canibus
• Johnny Gomez and Nick Diamond (from Celebrity Deathmatch) – appeared in vignettes about the Viewer's Choice award
• Sarah Michelle Gellar and Hanson – presented Best New Artist in a Video
• Rob Thomas – introduced Hole
• Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan – presented Best Video from a Film
• Jada Pinkett Smith and Maxwell – presented Best Alternative Video
• Shaquille O'Neal – introduced Master P
• Will Smith and Tatyana Ali – presented Best Female Video
• Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa – introduced the Backstreet Boys
• Jack Black and Puff Daddy – appeared in a parody skit of FANatic
• Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mase – presented Best Direction in a Video
• Sarah McLachlan and Natalie Imbruglia – introduced the International Viewer's Choice Awards winners
• Tori Amos and Beck – presented Best Rap Video
• Usher – introduced Brandy and Monica
• Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and David Spade – presented Viewer's Choice
• Chuck D – presented Video Vanguard
• Matt Stone and Trey Parker – introduced the Dave Matthews Band
• Jennifer Lopez and Mark Wahlberg – presented Best R&B Video
• Lenny Kravitz and Gwen Stefani – presented Best Rock Video
• Geri Halliwell – presented Video of the Year
• Busta Rhymes and the Flipmode Squad – introduced the Brian Setzer Orchestra

References

External links

• Official MTV site