NEW YORK—It’s the single ladies versus the poker face for the top prize at this year's VMAs.  On Tuesday, August 4 the nominees for the 2009 Video Music Awards were announced.  The show will be hosted by Russell Brand, who announced the nominees for Video of the Year.  Pop songstresses Beyonce and Lady Gaga lead the pack of nominees with a total of nine nominations apiece.  Britney Spears nabbed seven nods, while Kanye West, Eminem and Cold Play nabbed four nominations each. 

Lady Gaga and Beyonce are both vying for Video of the Year for their ubiquitous hits “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” and “Poker Face.”  The women will also battle against Kanye West's “Love Lockdown,” Eminem's “We Made You” and Britney Spears's “Womanizer.” 

Based on the huge success and viral videos on YouTube, I have to give this one to Beyonce.  “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” is such a catchy song you just can’t help, but listen to it.  It’s simple, shot in black and white and the dancing is incredible; besides how many other videos do you know that had grown men dressing in unitards and doing that crazy dance routine? (Justin Timberlake and Joe Jonas to name a few).

Nominees for Best Male Video are Kanye West “Love Lockdown,” Eminem “We Made You,” Jay-Z “D.O.A. (Death of the Auto-Tune),” Flo-Rida “Right Round” and T.I. feat. Rihanna “Live Your Life.”  This looks to be a tough category because all the nominees here deliver great videos and catchy songs as well.  In the Best Female Video category the nominees are Beyonce “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” Lady Gaga “Poker Face,” Katy Perry “Hot 'n Cold,” Kelly Clarkson “My Life Would Suck without You,” Pink “So What” and Taylor Swift “You Belong With Me.”  This looks to be a fierce category with tons of talent.

Up for a VMA for Best Hip-Hop Video is newcomer Asher Roth “I Love College,” Kanye West “Love Lockdown,” Jay-Z “D.O.A. (Death of the Auto-Tune),” Flo-Rida “Right Round” and Eminem “We Made You.”  Eminem has the edge in this category. His video’s are always wildly entertaining and fresh, but don’t count out Kanye, “Love Lockdown” is an artistic masterpiece.  Best New Artist nominees include Drake, Kid Cudi, 3Oh!3, Asher Roth and Lady Gaga.  This category belongs to Lady Gaga as she had such a huge year with two number one singles, “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.”

Competing for the Best Pop Video are Britney Spears “Womanizer,” Beyonce “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),”  Cobra Starship “Good Girls Go Bad,” Lady Gaga “Poker Face” and Wisin y Yandel “Abusadora.”  Best Rock Video is sure to be a tough competition with Cold Play “Viva La Vida,” Fall Out Boy “I Don’t Care,” Green Day “21 Guns,” Kings of Leon “Use Somebody” and Paramore “Decode” vying for the top prize. 

Performers already slated to hit the stage include Green Day, Taylor Swift, Pink and Muse. Other performers are sure to be announced in the coming weeks.  The VMAs will be heading back to New York City this year.  Don’t miss any of the music or surprises when the winners are announced on Sunday, September 13 at 9 p.m. (EST).  

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