Best Art Direction History

1984: Herbie Han**** - "Rockit"
1985: Don Henley - "The Boys of Summer"
1986: ZZ Top - "Rough Boy"
1987: Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer"
1988: Squeeze - "Hourglass"
1989: Madonna - "Express Yourself"
1990: The B-52's - "Love Shack"
1991: R.E.M. - "Losing My Religion"
1992: Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Give It Away"
1993: Madonna - "Rain"
1994: Nirvana - "Heart-Shaped Box"
1995: Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson - "Scream"
1996: The Smashing Pumpkins - "Tonight, Tonight"
1997: Beck - "The New Pollution"
1998: Björk - "Bachelorette"
1999: Lauryn Hill - "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
2000: Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Californication"
2001: Fatboy Slim - "Weapon of Choice"
2002: Coldplay -"Trouble"
2003: Radiohead - "There There"
2004: OutKast "Hey Ya!"
2005: Gwen Stefani "What You Waiting For?"
2006: Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"
2007: no award
2008: Gnarls Barkley - "Run"

2009 Nominees
Beyoncé — "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Britney Spears — "Circus"
Coldplay — "Viva la Vida"
Gnarls Barkley — "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
Lady Gaga — "Paparazzi"

Discuss!

"Paparazi" better win.

Coldplay or Gaga. but I voted for Coldplay.

It's between these three videos:

-Circus
-Viva La Vida
-Paparazzi

Britney????

Britney

Beyonce again...

SHOULD WIN: Britney Spears, "Circus"
WILL WIN: Britney Spears, "Circus"

Beyonce should not even be nominated here, to be honest. I don't begrudge it any of its nominations except this one, because there isn't any real "art direction" to be had. I would go with "Circus" on this one. I love the whole vibe of that video.

Ever since I started watching the VMAs, I've tended to predict this category's winner correctly more often than not (save perhaps for 2001 where I actually chose "Lady Marmalade" over "Weapon of Choice" and 2002 where I really can't recollect who I thought was going to win). Nevertheless, this probably because it's really easy to see what they are going for: Make sure all aspects of production mix well, especially color and costumes.

Thus, this year I think Coldplay will take it; everything in that video from the background to the costumes the band members are wearing meshes really well and conveys that feeling of 'old' perfectly. If not, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears also have a good shot and winning this award. Gnarls Barkley may take it, too, as the art director was the one who won in 2005 for Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?" Who knows? But I really think Coldplay will take it...

SHOULD & WILL WIN: Coldplay, "Viva la Vida"