VMAs 2016: Ariana Grande Pulls Off Impressive 'Side To Side' Performance On An Exercise Bike

We were exhausted just watching.

Ariana Grande turned the VMAs stage into her own personal spin class when she and Nicki Minaj performed their new single ‘Side To Side’ on Sunday night (28 August).

The two stars delivered one of the biggest performances of the night when they hit the stage, with Ariana kicking things off by singing the first half of the track while riding on an exercise bike.

Yes, the ‘Problem’ singer proved her worth alongside the other hard-hitters at the VMAs when she delivered unfaltering live vocals (no shade, Britney, honest…) while still managing to keep up with her backing dancers while doing some pretty demanding exercise bike-based choreography.

After hopping off the bike, Ariana then sidled up to some weight-lifting male dancers in wrestling singlets (the thought of which probably kept her going during the more difficult elements of the performance), before Nicki joined her on stage to perform her rap.

It was camp, it was fun and it was seriously impressive to see Ariana hitting those high notes while doing a task we can usually barely speak during, let alone sing.

‘Side To Side’ is the third single to be taken from Ariana’s chart-topping album ‘Dangerous Woman’, following the release of the title track and the 10/10-how-did-this-miss-the-top-40-what-is-the-matter-with-everyone ‘Into You’.

Ariana and Nicki weren’t the only stars to take to the stage, though, with Beyoncé delivering a masterclass in how to be a popstar with her 16-minute mash-up of ‘Lemonade’ songs.

Rihanna celebrated her Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award victory with a string of short medleys spread out over the course of the evening, while Britney Spears made her much-awaited return to the VMAs almost a decade after her last performance.

Here's What The VMAs Looked Like In 2001
Pamela Anderson Showed Some Skin On The Red Carpet...(01 of24)
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The most 2001 photo we've ever seen. (credit:Terry McGinnis via Getty Images)
.... And So Did Kid Rock(02 of24)
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He couldn't resist getting in on the act. (credit:James Devaney via Getty Images)
Jennifer Lopez Attended With Her Then-Boyfriend, Puff Daddy(03 of24)
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Looking exactly the same as she does in 2016. (credit:George De Sota via Getty Images)
Blue Steel Was Still A Thing(04 of24)
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Ben Stiller had just starred in 'Zoolander', after all. (credit:George De Sota via Getty Images)
Missy Elliott Paid Tribute To Aaliyah On The Red Carpet(05 of24)
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The R&B singer had died just two weeks earlier. (credit:New York Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
Macy Gray Really Wanted That Album Promo(06 of24)
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Good hat, too. (credit:Frank Micelotta Archive via Getty Images)
...No, You Don't Understand. She Really Wanted It.(07 of24)
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We wonder how many people bought the album because of this. (credit:Frank Micelotta Archive via Getty Images)
These... Gentlemen Were Also In Attendance(08 of24)
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That's Mudvayne (obv). (credit:Dave Hogan via Getty Images)
Jennifer Lopez And Ja Rule Performed 'I'm Real'(09 of24)
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Seriously, how has this woman not aged? (credit:Frank Micelotta Archive via Getty Images)
These Ladies Were The Big Winners On The Night(10 of24)
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'Lady Marmalade' was named Video Of The Year. (credit:TIMOTHY CLARY via Getty Images)
Mya Apparently Wasn't Invited To Party Afterwards(11 of24)
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Oh. (credit:Jim Spellman via Getty Images)
And Andy Dick Apparently Wanted To Get In On The Fun(12 of24)
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Moving swiftly on... (credit:Scott Gries via Getty Images)
*NYNC Won Best Pop Video...(13 of24)
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They beat Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears with their 'Pop' video. (credit:Kevin Kane via Getty Images)
...And Celebrated Their Victory With A Live Performance...(14 of24)
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'Kings Of Pop', though, guys? Really? (credit:Kevin Kane via Getty Images)
...Which Included A Guest Appearance From Michael Jackson...(15 of24)
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Now that's more like it. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
...But Even Michael Jackson Couldn't Steal The Show From Britney(16 of24)
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That snake immediately went down in pop history. Incidentally, Britney won zero awards this night. (credit:Frank Micelotta Archive via Getty Images)
A New Artist Called Alicia Keys Was The Talk Of The Night(17 of24)
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She won Best New Artist, over David Gray, Coldplay and Sum 41. (credit:Kevin Kane via Getty Images)
...And Gave A Stunning Performance Of Her Song 'Fallin'(18 of24)
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The VMAs had a lot of good hats that year. (credit:Scott Gries via Getty Images)
And It Wouldn't Be 2001 Without An Awards Show Performance From U2(19 of24)
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Sing it, Bono. (credit:KMazur via Getty Images)
The Group Also Won The Video Vanguard That Year(20 of24)
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The golden Moon Man was theirs to keep. (credit:KMazur via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Destiny's Child Won Best R&B Video(21 of24)
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For 'Survivor', obv. (credit:Scott Gries via Getty Images)
Missy Elliott Gave A Visually Stunning Performance(22 of24)
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Swinging from the chandelier long before Sia. (credit:Scott Gries via Getty Images)
And Finally, Remember When Limp Bizkit Used To Win Awards?(23 of24)
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Here they are celebrating their Best Rock Video victory. (credit:Scott Gries via Getty Images)
Yep, Our Thoughts Exactly, Britney(24 of24)
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Oh dear. (credit:Vinnie Zuffante via Getty Images)

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