Two days later and fans are still gushing over Normani‘s epic getdown at this year’s MTV VMAs (August 26).
Not only coming as her inaugural solo outing on the ceremony, the high octane showing also provided the debut televised performance of her official debut solo single, ‘Motivation.’ Bringing to life choreography found aboard its Dave Meyers-directed visual (which can be seen by clicking here), the official ‘Motivation’ clip boasts homage to a number of stage-blazers who have inspired Normani over the years including Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Britney Spears.
The latter, whose basketball court scene from her own debut music video – ‘Baby One More Time’ – can be seen referenced in the former Fifth Harmony darling’s video also served as inspiration for her staging at the 2019 MTV VMAs, as revealed in a recent interview.
Dishing with our friends at Entertainment Tonight recently, look inside to hear Normani reflect on the ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ that went into the planning of the performance and how she looked to Miss Spears’ catalog of epic VMA showings as a muse:
In addition to capturing Normani’s first time seeing her 2019 performance, the interview above also sees her:
Reflecting on the performance:
“Oh my goodness, people don’t have any idea!” she explained. “It’s three minutes I’m up there on stage, but they don’t have the slightest idea of the hard work, blood, sweat, tears — I literally have bruises on my knees [from] however many times I did that split. [My choreographer] is incredible. He pushes me to the fullest of my capacity,” she shared. “I swear that man thinks I can do anything and everything. I’m like, ‘You really think that?’ And he’s like, ‘Because you can!'”
On how her career moves have gotten her to this point:
“I’ve worked incredibly hard seven, eight long years in [preparation for] this moment and it’s just really beautiful because it’s also the beginning,” she shared. “So, I’m just really, really grateful for the opportunity.”
On preparing for this performance:
‘I study. I watched Britney performances (the one with the snake), the most iconic moments and I feel like the VMAs is unlike any other show,” she added. “This is where the biggest moments in pop culture happen and the fact that I got to be a part of that tonight is really crazy.”
*****
Did you miss the performances from the 2019 MTV VMAs? Click here to watch them.
![Normani Unlocks Fresh Teaser of New Single '1.59' Featuring Gunna [Listen]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/normani-1-59-teaser-tgj-1-464x260.jpg "Normani Unlocks Fresh Teaser of New Single '1.59' Featuring Gunna [Listen].")
![Normani Teases New Song [Listen]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/normani-new-music-tgj-464x260.jpg "Normani Teases New Song [Listen].")
She’s really lovely and media trained like stars ⭐️ are supposed to be!
We are tired of media trained celebrities. We don’t want robots we wants stars who would keep it real.
Show me something natural like àss with some stretch marks *Kendrick Lamar voice*
that’s why beyonce is flopping, she has no personality. She is too boring, too proper, too groomed.
Who would you rather have, Azealia Banks and Honey Boo Boo? ? And you can still be media trained and keep it real…just not shaving your head and attacking with an umbrella real ? ?
Being real doesnt mean u should act ratchet or loud or over the top. These people like honey boo boo and azealia banks, being loud and ghetto is their brand. Britney spears is media trained that’s why she looks like a prisoner in photos.
Princess diana was real and she was still classy. Breaking rules, shaking the hand of a H** patient back when everyone thought H** was spread thru hand shake or hugging
Shainley Woodley keeps is it real and she’s still classy.
MIA keeps it real and she’s still classy
Adele keeps it real and she’s still classy as hell. Watch adele interviews, so full of life, funny, she speaks her mind, no manager or record executive tells her what to say and that’s why people love her.
Halsey, pink, Janelle monae , all keep it real, and that’s why they will go down in history as bad bìtches who changed the game.
Good girls dont make history.
Normani is like a product being sold to us by record executives but no one is buying that’s why motivation flopped after all the hype
I FULLY AGREE with your very intelligent & perceptive commentary. Thank You!!
@Clarkson, Adele is media trained! And so was Princess Diana, with all due respect! Motivation is lackluster because Ariana’s pen ? went dry lol…you really held on to what I said and ran with it ? I never bought a Halsey anything, only bought Pink’s debut album and haven’t bought a Janelle anything either…changed the game my asss ? Michael Jackson, MUVA Janet, Madonna, Prince, Elvis, The Beatles, MOTOWN and Whitney changed the game…and all were media trained! Bye lol
I just want her to have an ounce of originality, in her music, in her image, in her style, in her sound. I think will not accept her as “the next big thing” if she’s just a Janet, Beyonce, Britney tribute girl. It’s fine to take from those before you but you have to make it your own. Her push is premature and solely just because they’re trying to push her because musically she’s just blah and although she can dance her bûtt off, offers absolutely nothing refreshing to music but stuff either beyonce, Ariana Grande, Janet, Britney offer minus her own stamp. She is just like all the other 5th Harmony girls. I am definitely checking for her to do some better work tho cause she has potential. But as of now it’s very Karaoke
I studied this, I studied that, yawn. If she keeps doing this, it will get boring and old real quick.
Zero originality.
We want a dark skin black girl to win.
SZA is dark skin and she delivered quality artistic music that reminded us of a young erykah badu. We are stanning sza and supporting her. SZA look, voice, style of performing is so unique and fresh.
Normani has a generic pop star look, generic sound, generic style of performing.
If her next single flops, she is over.
Sad but true. You want her to win but she doesn’t have star power.
She is a great dancer. .. Just needs the right hit!! And work on vocals. To transition from great dancer to great performer. She is young it will happen for her. Britney/beyonce seems to be her blueprint performance-wise.
I kinda agree with the comments.
I feel like we were onto something g with Waves: it was original, fresh sounding with a video that isn’t like videos today. But with motivation, everything is generic pop looking/sounding. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
^^^^THIS is what I’ve been saying all along. Still rooting for her but she needs to find some degree of originality. “Waves” was a start but “Motivation” is a disappointment. Still listening and watching with fingers crossed, though…
Hi, respectfully, Normani has said that Motivation is not her best work. Her album will have better tracks. I personally loved waves, but I also love motivation. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find mainstream success when you’re young, black, and talented, and Normani’s team is covering all bases. Normani will be fine 🙂
i mean.. at least she properly credits her inspirations
Lmao.. some of you guys sound like some straight haters… and flip floppers. You guys were praising her like crazy in the VMA post.. now you guys saying she’s generic pop and etc …. smh she’s on the right path in my opinion. I also think she’s gotten the idealization part of her past idols out the way. I will say though, despite her being off to a great start as a groundbreaking artist, she needs to be careful when emulating her past artists so much. It may come off as karaoke in a way and we definitely don’t need replicas. Even though she does bring something different to the scene in her own right, she just needs to be careful. But I’m still rooting for her and I think the “motivation” single just adds to the versatility of her discography as a soloist.
I just love me some Normani!!! So excited for her! THIS is a star!
I see she trying to distance herself from the real queen… but i aint made at that… we know what vma performance she really studied… certified quality…
All of these negative opinions & people saying what someone should do for their career, yet no one witnessed what goes on bts or are capable of withstanding the negativity and vitriol against someone no one knows personally or has a tenth of the ability to do what she has done. Grow up and have several seats and don’t get up until you know the difference between constructive criticism and bashing.