The Ten Best VMA Performances Of All Time

7. Janet Jackson, “Black Cat” (1989)

Speaking of pyro and flash, our next entry is Janet Jackson’s moment to break out of her older brother’s shadow. At the end of the 1980s, Janet released her declaration of independence: Rhythm Nation. It took the charts by storm, and the assumption going into the VMAs is that she would bring her dancer soldiers to the party and lay down an ROTC type performance.

Instead she did something no one expected. She brought “Black Cat” which was one of the latter singles from the album, and the one with the hard rocking guitar riffs. I still remember sitting in my living room watching this performance mesmerized. She seemed so powerful, like nothing int he world could take her down. It was the opening performance to the show that year and nothing that came after it mattered. Not even Madonna (who performed “Express Yourself.”)

Next: Lady Gaga, “Paparazzi” (2009)