Every Single VMA-Nominated Video With a Social Message 

(And Their Messages)


  • Katy Perry — “Firework”

be who you are & don’t use explosives irresponsibly

  • P!nk — “Fuckin’ Perfect”

you don’t need plastic surgery, just a love of aerial gymnastics

  • Rise Against — “Make It Stop (September’s Children)”

i don’t know this song but it seems to be about teen suicide and bullying

  • Taylor Swift — “Mean”

don’t be mean to taylor swift! just think: if you were nice to her in high school then she might still be your friend and let you hang out at her summer house with lots of models

  • Lady Gaga — Born This Way

lady gaga was actually hatched from an egg

  • Kelly Clarkson — “Dark Side”

“The video begins with Clarkson singing in a dark background.” ok

  • Gym Class Heroes (featuring Ryan Tedder) — “The Fighter”

i think this song is about boxing?

  • K’naan (featuring Nelly Furtado) — “Is Anybody Out There?”

“K’naan raps about the character Mary, comparing her to American actress Cameron Diaz; Something ’bout Mary, never won a pageant / Never felt pretty, never looked like Cameron / Diaz was her last name, always been abandoned / Keep your head up baby girl, this your anthem.” what

  • Rise Against — “Ballad of Hollis Brown”

this is a cover of a bob dylan song about poverty

  • Lil Wayne — “How to Love”

“you look great!!!!!!!!” shouts lil wayne from a helicopter

  • Demi Lovato — Skyscraper

don’t bully demi lovato or she’ll transform into a building

  • Beyoncé — “I Was Here”

beyoncé ……………… did 9 / 11

  • Kelly Clarkson — “People Like Us”

people like kelly clarkson gotta stick together and

  • Miguel — “Candles in the Sun”

i thought all miguel songs were sexy, but apparently it’s not!

  • Snoop Lion (featuring Drake and Cori B.) — “No Guns Allowed”

guns are bad but weed is still cool

  • Macklemore & Ryan Lewis — Same Love

gay stuff

  • Beyoncé, “Pretty Hurts”

bey stuff

  • Angel Haze ft. Sia, “Battle Cry“

the message here is that you should get sia on your track

  • Avicii, “Hey Brother”

no

  • Kelly Rowland, “Dirty Laundry”

this is about how beyoncé is not a very good friend

  • David Guetta ft. Mikky Ekko, “One Voice”

i think this is about speaking up by using your voice

  • J. Cole ft. TLC, “Crooked Smile”

it’s funny because tlc’s “unpretty” is the only video that has ever had an actual social message