technology careers: Bruno Mars To Perform At The VMAs

Friday, August 12, 2011

Bruno Mars To Perform At The VMAs

Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Rick Ross and Odd Future will present on August 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
By Gil Kaufman

Bruno Mars
Photo: MTV

Bruno Mars could have a very, very big night at the MTV Video Music Awards. Not only is he up for Video of the Year for "Grenade," he's also joining the star-studded roster of performers on the big show.

Mars will return to the VMA stage for the August 28 broadcast after taking it by storm in 2010 during a medley with B.o.B and Paramore's Hayley Williams. He'll join a list of acts that already includes Lil Wayne, Adele, Chris Brown and up-and-coming rockers Young the Giant.

The initial slate of VMA presenters has also been revealed, and it includes Jonah Hill, Rick Ross, Selena Gomez, Seth Rogen, Kim Kardashian and Odd Future.

Mars, who recently jumped onstage with Eminem at Lollapalooza, is up for Best Male Video and Best Pop Video for "Grenade," and he'll face off against some pretty major competition for Video of the Year, including Katy Perry ("Firework"), Adele ("Rolling in the Deep"), Tyler, the Creator ("Yonkers") and the Beastie Boys ("Make Some Noise").

"I grew up watching VMAs. I know every performance," singer, musician, songwriter and producer Mars recently told MTV News. "Ever since I was a kid, I've been watching MTV VMAs, and when we got the phone call saying that my video was up for Video of the Year, that's the big-boy award."

In addition to competing for Moonmen for the "Grenade" video, Mars is also battling it out for Best Choreography for his less-angsty "The Lazy Song."

"You know what I'm excited for? As much as I put blood, sweat and tears into 'Grenade,' I'm excited for 'The Lazy Song,' Best Choreography," he said. "That is amazing ... and I think that would be the coolest thing ever if I went home and saw a Moonman that said, 'Best Choreography, Bruno Mars, "The Lazy Song." ' "

The performance caps a year in which Mars' debut, Doo-Wops & Hooligans went multi-platinum, launching his own hit singles "Just the Way You Are" and "The Lazy Song," and he co-wrote, produced and performed on B.o.B's "Nothin' on You," Travie McCoy's "Billionaire," and Cee Lo Green's "F--- You."

"We're thrilled to have Bruno Mars bring his exceptional talent to the VMA stage," said Amy Doyle, executive producer of the 2011 VMAs and MTV's EVP of music and talent. "He is one of the most exciting live performers today, and with his artistic versatility, he will undoubtedly deliver a standout performance."

The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for your favorites in the general categories by visiting VMA.MTV.com.

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