Camila Cabello made her highly anticipated return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage on Wednesday (September 11).
Shortly after delivery C,XOXO (Magic City Edition) deluxe In early September, Cabello entered a new era when she traded in her blonde hair for her natural brunette locks. In addition to switching to the dark side, the former Fifth Harmony singer brought an abbreviated version of “June Gloom” that serves as a thoughtful introduction to her stirring “Godspeed” performance.
Wearing a torn white dress and strappy heels, the singer entered a glass case containing a tripod-mounted camera and a laptop, which she eventually smashed in frustration. She operated the camera and got up close to sing directly to the millions of viewers at home.
The 27-year-old leapt out and showed off the soaring octaves of her impressive mezzo-soprano vocal range as she bid farewell to a toxic ex-lover. She is then surrounded by a team of mysterious dancers to bring the performance across the finish line.
Billboard I met the singer on the red carpet before the show and she talked at length about how she detaches herself from anything that doesn’t give her a positive attitude.
“I’m in my ‘Godspeed’ era, and this song is very much about letting go of anything that doesn’t serve you. So I’m having a bit of a funeral today for everything negative, everything that doesn’t serve me,” she explained. “Death to things that are negative, death to people and situations that try to bring you down.”
C,XOXO was released in June via Geffen Records with support from Playboi Carti, Lil Nas X, JT and Yung Miami, BLP Kosher and Drake. The LP peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200.
Watch the performance below.
