Beck won Best Direction for “The New Pollution” at the 1997 VMAs.
The unusual video was directed by Beck himself, making the award notable because the performer and director were the same person. Its surreal imagery, fast cuts, retro television references, and deliberately artificial look matched the eccentric spirit of Beck’s Odelay era.
“The New Pollution” was released in 1997 as the third single from Odelay, Beck’s widely acclaimed 1996 album. The song blends samples, funk, hip-hop, and rock, while the video presents Beck alongside stylized dancers and futuristic, tongue-in-cheek production design.
Beck had a remarkable night at the 1997 ceremony, taking home five Moonmen, the most of any artist that year. “The New Pollution” also won for Best Choreography and Best Art Direction, while Beck’s “Devils Haircut” earned additional recognition. The award is sometimes misremembered as belonging to a separate outside director, but the official listing credits Beck Hansen.