Halsey Performs ‘Ego’ at 2024 MTV VMAs

Halsey Unveils “The Great Impersonator” at MTV VMAs

Step right up and check out Halsey’s new look. The artist brought their upcoming album, The Great Impersonator, to life with a performance of the latest single, "Ego," at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

They arrived on stage riding a bike, heading straight for a house replica with a garage set up. Inside was a three-piece band, including Victoria De Angelis from MÃ¥neskin on bass. The whole setup felt like New Jersey had come to Long Island.

Halsey initially showed up with long red hair but then switched to a short fiery cut for the performance, showing off different sides of themselves. This aligns with the theme of their new album, where each version of Halsey is a piece of the bigger puzzle.

“I can’t keep my feet on the ground/And I’m nervous what you’ll think of me now/I’m hoping that someone comes around/Helps me figure it out,” Halsey sings in “Ego.” The song dives into the rock sound they’re known for, exploring themes of ego and identity: “I think that I should try to kill my ego/’Cause if I don’t, my ego might kill me/I’m all grown up but somehow lately/I’m acting like a fucking baby/I’m really not as happy as I seem.”

People are eager to hear more about this album.

Last week, Halsey announced that The Great Impersonator would drop on Oct. 25. “I made this record in the space between life and death. And it feels like I’ve waited an eternity for you to have it,” they shared on social media. The album has been described as a "confessional concept album," created during a tough time of illness and emotional change.

In an album trailer, Halsey revealed, “I really thought this album might be the last one I ever made. When you get sick like that, you start thinking about ways it could’ve all been different,” reflecting on what life might have been like if things had gone another way. The album explores different versions of Halsey across decades, asking questions like, “Am I still Halsey every time? In every timeline? Do I still get sick? Do I become a mom? Am I happy? Lonely? Have I done enough? Have I told the truth?”

The last time Halsey performed at the MTV VMAs was in 2016 with the Chainsmokers, singing their hit "Closer." Since then, they’ve released three albums: Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, Manic, and If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.