The 1994 VMAs were gloriously weird and embodied everything you could ever want from the ’90s — from denim tuxedos to delightfully disheveled comedians to the existence of VJ Kennedy, oh, and SO MUCH NORMCORE. Justin Bieber and Harry Styles were just being born in 1994, and judging by whatever Steven Tyler was doing with his butt that year, we really could’ve used pop’s current princes in this bizarre decade because ’90s dudes just did not make sense.
Here are some quintessentially ’90s photos that’ll take you back in time and prove that the 1994 VMAs had a lock on, well, the ’90s. If these photos bum you out, bear in mind that R.E.M. took home four VMAs for “Everybody Hurts” that year, so we were kind of in a dark place as a nation. We guarantee the 2014 VMAs will look a lot better on Sunday, August 24. (Except for when you look at photos of the 2014 VMAs from your spaceship iPhone in 2034.)
1. Miss Jackson with her Best Female Moonman
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
2. Baby-faced Snoop Dogg
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
3. The fact that Lisa Loeb was at the VMAs
Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
4. Michael Jackson kissing his then-wife, Lisa Marie Presley
AFP / AFP/Getty Images
5. Brendan Fraser. Just Brendan Fraser. Period.
Ron Galella/ Getty Images
6. Roseanne Barr hosted, which, to be fair, is awesome
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
7. Flavor Flav’s peace sign
Ron Galella, Ltd. / WireImage
8. Sheryl Crow double-Moonmaned
Ron Galella / WireImage
Related: 53 Life-Altering Moments The VMAs Burned Into Your Brain Forever
9. Madonna being Madonna
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
10. Steven Tyler being Steven Tyler
Ron Galella, Ltd. / WireImage
11. Steven Tyler gets the kiss-off from Madonna
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
12. Aerosmith and Madonna on the same stage
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
13. David Letterman tenderly clasping Madonna’s hand
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
14. Kennedy reminds us why she’s one of our favorite MTV VJs
Ron Galella, Ltd. / WireImage
15. Sandra Bullock and the face she was making
Ron Galella / WireImage
16. Tom Petty became a Video Vanguard
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
17 & 18. Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler hung out
Ron Galella, Ltd. / WireImage
19. Toni Braxton gave a little wave
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
20. Boyz II Men set a precedent for future VMA boy band attendees
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
21. Just, like, Coolio in general
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
It’s up to you to decide the winners of the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards! Vote now and tune in Sunday, August 24, at 9/8c ET to see who wins at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Plus, get the latest updates from all your favorite VMA artists on the MTV Artists App.
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