The MTV VMAs moved back to L.A in 1998 and picked a host out of the jolly bunch at Hollywood. They got Ben Stiller to lead the show at the Universal Amphitheatre. He was natural at making people laugh, even though he was not a standup comedian, so they gave him short film and the audience couldn’t stop laughing till Jerry Stiller(Ben Stiller’s Dad) asks him to ‘shut up and put the music on’. This particular year Madonna was nominated for eleven awards and happily walked away with six of them including Video of The Year and Best Female Video for Ray Of Light. Beastie Boys were given the much-deserved Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Adam Yauch used the opportunity to raise a political statement and went all out against the U.S. government’s military tactics aimed at the Middle East. Marilyn Manson and his girlfriend Rose MacGowan made a lot of heads turn with their choices of attire.
When it came to the performances Brandy and Monica performed The Boy is Mine and Madonna’s live rendition of Ray of Light with lead guitar accompaniment from Lenny Kravitz stole the limelight and the awards at this VMAs. It had all the recipients for a successful show, a short film, a political speech, weird costumes, thank heavens they didn’t forget the music or it would’ve been year that would’ve been remembered for all the wrong things(only at the VMAs of course.)
List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards 1998
Video of the Year
- Madonna - Ray Of Light
- Brandy & Monica - The Boy Is Mine
- Puff Daddy & The Family - It's All About The Benjamins
- Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
- The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
Winner: Madonna - Ray Of Light
Best Male Video
- Will Smith - Just The Two Of Us
- David Bowie f/ 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
Winner: Will Smith - Just The Two Of Us
Best Female Video
- Madonna - Ray Of Light
- Fiona Apple - Criminal
- Mariah Carey f/ Puff Daddy and The Family - Honey (Remix)
- Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
- Shania Twain - You're Still The One
Winner: Madonna - Ray Of Light
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
Winner: Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
Best Rap Video
- Will Smith
- Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
- Master P f/ Fiend, Silkk The Shocker, Mia X, & Mystikal - Make 'Em Say Uhh!
- The Notorious B.I.G. f/ Mase & Puff Daddy - Mo Money Mo Problems
- Pras f/ Ol' Dirty Bastard & Mya - Ghetto Supastar
Winner: Will Smith
Best R&B Video
- Wyclef Jean f/ Refugee Allstars - Gone Till November
- Brandy & Monica - The Boy Is Mine
- K-Ci & JoJo - All My Life
- Usher - You Make Me Wanna
Winner: Wyclef Jean f/ Refugee Allstars - Gone Till November
Best Dance Video
- Prodigy
- Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
- Janet Jackson - Together Again
- Madonna - Ray Of Light
- Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
Winner: Prodigy
Best Rock Video
- Aerosmith
- Foo Fighters - Everlong
- Dave Matthews Band - Don't Drink The Water
- Metallica - The Unforgiven II
Winner: Aerosmith
Viewer's Choice
- Puff Daddy & The Family - It's All About The Benjamins
- Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From Titanic)
- Green Day - Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance)
- Matchbox 20 - 3 A.M.
- Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
Winner: Puff Daddy & The Family - It's All About The Benjamins
Best New Artist
- Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
- Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Zoot Suit Riot
- Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
- Fastball - The Way
- Mase - Feel So Good
Winner: Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
Breakthrough Video
- Prodigy
- Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
- Garbage - Push It
- Sean Lennon - Home
- Madonna - Ray Of Light
- Roni Size - Brown Paper Bag
Winner: Prodigy
Best Alternative Video
- Green Day - Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance)
- Ben Folds Five - Brick
- Garbage - Push It
- Radiohead - Karma Police
- The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
Winner: Green Day - Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance)
Best Video From A Film
- Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
- Beck - Deadweight
- Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From Titanic)
- Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
- Pras f/ Ol' Dirty Bastard & Mya - Ghetto Supastar
- Puff Daddy & Jimmy Page - Come With Me
Winner: Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Best Direction
- Madonna - Ray Of Light
- Garbage - Push It
- Wyclef Jean f/ Refugee Allstars - Gone Till November
- Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up
- Radiohead - Karma Police
Winner: Madonna - Ray Of Light
Best Choreography
- Madonna - Ray Of Light
- Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
- Wyclef Jean f/ Refugee Allstars - We Trying To Stay Alive
- Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
Winner: Madonna - Ray Of Light
Best Special Effects
- Madonna - Frozen
- Aerosmith - Pink
- Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy
- Foo Fighters - Everlong
- Garbage - Push It
Winner: Madonna - Frozen
Best Art Direction
- Björk - Bachelorette
- Death In Vegas - Dirt
- Foo Fighters - Everlong
- Garbage - Push It
Winner: Björk - Bachelorette
Best Editing
- Madonna - Ray Of Light
- Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
- Garbage - Push It
- Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up
Winner: Madonna - Ray Of Light
Best Cinematography
- Fiona Apple - Criminal
- Garbage - Push It
- Madonna - Ray Of Light
- Dave Matthews Band - Don't Drink The Water
- Radiohead - Karma Police
Winner: Fiona Apple - Criminal