How much Swiftian shock will we see tonight?

Has the live-blog been obliterated by Twitter? Let's find out on MTV's biggest night of the year, the Video Music Awards, which this year will feature Taylor Swift (in business casual on the double-decker red carpet right now), Frank Ocean, Rihanna, and Green Day, among others, as well as honors to various clips designed to big-up the biggest pop tracks of the year.

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via Cats Who Look Like Skrillex

Will this cat win Best New Artist?

Welcome to Sound of the City's liveblog of the 54th Annual Grammys, coming to you live from a couch in Astoria. There are quite a few questions lurking around tonight's ceremony. Will Adele sweep the three major categories in which she's nominated, thus putting a cap on the megaselling, incredibly popular 21—and how will she sound in her live return? Will Skrillex (above, sorta) put a wub-wub-wub on the Best New Artist category? Will Bon Iver pout his way to the podium if he upsets Adele in Record or Song of the Year? Will Adam Levine upstage the Beach Boys when they share the stage? Will LL Cool J make at least 10 cross-promotional references to other CBS shows? Will Kanye West show up? Will the Whitney Houston tribute be okay? Tune in belooowwww!

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It's the return of the most talked-about Grammy Awards live blog--a collection of quips, blips, and arguably insightful observations that dares to match the actual Grammy telecast in terms of pure spectacle and Justin Bieber mentions. Please join our hosts Tom Breihan and Ryan Dombal below, and keep refreshing. UPDATE: Relive the magic with video highlights, fun facts, and the secret history of Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam after the jump:

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Just how awkward will the awkwardly staged moment between Kanye West and Taylor Swift be? Will Eminem deign to smile? Which uncomfortable pop star will B.o.B choose to bring up on stage with him? And how will your hosts, Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal and eMusic's Sean Fennessey, make it to midnight without passing out? The answers to these questions and more, below, on our official SOTC 2010 MTV VMA Live Blog, commencing shortly. (Amuse yourself in the meantime with last year's edition.)

Nicki Minaj Performs "Check It Out" With Will.i.am on the Pre-Show [8:35 p.m.]

SF: Tim Kash informs us that Nicki Minaj has a "great behind." And here she is. Will.i.am emerges dressed like the black Max Headroom.
RD: Will.i.am has too much time on his hands. Also, a live-action Jetsons movie just got greenlit. I want to Jazzercise right now.
SF: Nicki, fearlessly weird, and sort of disturbing!
RD: She just did the "Come to Daddy" scream to a dude in all white who's doing the robot -- I think I recognize that guy from Nicki's Ustreams! I have too much time on my hands.
SF: That man is wearing a "Pink Friday 11.23.10" T-shirt. RIP Macy Gray.

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As we tend to do for various events crucial to the pop diaspora, we've asked expert critics Sean Fennessey and Ryan Dombal to sit in at SOTC for the evening and live blog the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. Perhaps you remember their 2009 MTV VMA work? They really do this. Gentlemen?

Pop music, in one single photo.

8:00pm
Ryan: First thing: #teamkanye
Sean: Obvs.
Ryan: I wonder if they'd be better off just airing Gaga's Radio City show a week and a half later.
Sean: I'm excited about her decision to not wear leggings. We are nearer to thine crotch.
Ryan: They said it couldn't be done.
Sean: Elton John, donning bejeweled glasses to match Gaga.
Ryan: This set looks like that board game Mouse Trap.
Sean: "Speechless" is the best song she's ever written. There I said it.

8:05pm
Sean: "How wonderful that felt with Gaga in the world."
Sean: Ace, Elton.
Sean: By the way, if there's a lull, not to worry, Ryan's just eating a sandwich DURING THE OPENING SET.
Ryan: Priorities.

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In honor of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, we've invited SOTC buddies and pop savants Sean Fennessey and Ryan Dombal to lend a certain wisdom and perspective to these sure-to-be completely dignified proceedings. Gentleman?

John Shearer

9:00pm
Sean: We're coming to you live from one or two or seven places. Ryan, how do you feel?
Ryan: It's kinda hot in here.
9:01pm
Sean: Always, always about Madge. Even if it isn't.
Ryan: I guess Madonna is going to die now.
Sean: Pete Wentz is moved, though, so you know, good.
Ryan: He's Twittering.
Ryan: Holler at Brooke Shields.
Sean: "The roar of the lynch mob is so loud you're convinced your voice can never be heard."
Sean: Madonna is a werewolf.
Ryan: Cue Sharpton.
Sean: Taylor Lautner, let's get it.

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Live Video streaming by Ustream

For all the lovely grace notes, homages, and eulogies that have flowed from any number of erudite and compassionate individuals in the wake of Michael Jackson's untimely death at the young age of 50, a celebrity's death is not over in American until the huge, gaudy, multi-million dollar traffic-slaughtering funeral. Which is today, at 1PM EST, at Los Angeles's Staples Center, where a truly confusing team of musicians, athletes, and stars of all stripes will come together to send off MJ in a manner that, as yet, remains to be seen. SOTC will be following along in real time--refresh the page for updates--and now, as we get set to go, let's welcome Voice Music Editor Rob Harvilla to the booth. Rob?

RH: Alright Zach. Let's do our part to deep-six the internet.

RH: So I have avoided pre-game activities, the tailgating and whatnot. First question: Is his body in the building?

ZB: The body is on the move. It *will* be in the building.

RH: Man that is some macabre shit.

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