Normani and Teyana Taylor at the VMAs Will Live in My Head Rent-Free for a Long Time

Congratulations are in order for Normani and Teyana Taylor, who are now proud owners of the remaining free space in my brain after their performance at the MTV Video Music Awards

tonight.

Normani—who recently returned this summer with her first single in two years, "Wild Side"—brought her song to life at Sunday's ceremony and tapped Taylor for a surprise cameo. At the end of her sexy, 2000s-inspired set, Taylor appeared onstage and Normani climbed atop her for a seductive dance number that left viewers speechless.

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normani and teyana changed my life, i want y’all to praise the lord pic.twitter.com/MT1mALPFpa

— g? (@guiyocore) September 13, 2021
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Surpriseeeeeee ? @Normani

— TEYANA M.J. SHUMPERT (@TEYANATAYLOR) September 13, 2021

Fans quickly pointed out the parallels to Janet Jackson's live performance of "Would You Mind."

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THE JANET REFERENCE YES #VMAspic.twitter.com/MNsiyt149n

— ? мαмвα мєηтαℓιту (@g_gabbo23) September 13, 2021

This marks Normani's first VMAs performance since she brought her solo debut, "Motivation," to the stage in 2019. When she finally returned tonight, following an introduction by Ciara, she proved every second was worth the wait. Much like her Tanu Muino-directed visuals, Normani's latest set was a steamy performance wrapped in a glossy Y2K aesthetic. Dressed in an Aaliyah-like silver crop top and pants (she notes the late singer as her biggest inspirations), Normani and her dancers executed the video's viral choreography perfectly against sleek white and red backdrops.

2021 mtv video music awards
Bennett RaglinGetty Images

The 25-year-old recently told BAZAAR.com that her new music has a “darker and edgier” feel. "I think that's just because I grew up listening to a lot of '90s R&B—and I love pop as well—but I think for me, a main goal is really not to be limited [musically] and really wanting to be genre-less.”

She added, “A lot of the music that I've released even before my solo endeavors, I wasn't completely fulfilled. And I always say that this is a rebirth and a chance for me to have a second go-around and do things my way. My main goal is also just to show people that I'm grown now."

Viewers were understandably going crazy over her performance. See the reactions below.

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It’s the Janet Jackson homage for me! If my spine would act right I could move just like @Normani! #VMAs

— Kalen Allen (@TheKalenAllen) September 13, 2021
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NORMANI GAVE US VOCALS, VISUALS, AND EXCELLENT CHOREO SHE ALWAYS GIVES THE BEST PERFORMANCES BOOK HER EVERY YEAR ARE YOU KIDDING
pic.twitter.com/LUWHkZnrJe

— c (@wyliesdaya) September 13, 2021
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BITCH not Normani doing a Janet Jackson tour moment on Teyana Taylor!!!!! ?????? #VMAs

— Pusha Bi. (@BiancaEnRogue) September 13, 2021
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NORMANI- YAS to the Janet Jackson “Would You Mind?” performance nod. And grinding up on thee TEYANA TAYLOR? YASSSSSSS! #VMAs

— Treva B (@divafeminist) September 13, 2021
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Normani is the best performer of the night ??‍♀️??‍♀️??‍♀️ ate all the girls up #VMAs

— Who is you, Chiron? (@NotLaja) September 13, 2021
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normani was really grinding on someone that wasn’t me pic.twitter.com/NyXOZMGfcz

— maya ? (@JIMINSPOGOSTICK) September 13, 2021
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this performance really proves that normani is an icon in the making.
pic.twitter.com/xjE0Yjfmt0

— angelᴺᴹ? (@yikesangeI) September 13, 2021
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NORMANI GAVE VOCALS, CHOREO, ATTITUDE! PLEASE HELP ME RIGHT NOW

— KY ♕⭒ (@manistoe) September 13, 2021

This year's VMAs marks the 40th anniversary of the much buzzed-about (and often controversial) award ceremony. Will Normani and Teyana Taylor's "Wild Side" moment go down in VMA history? I sure hope so.

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