( CNN ) -- Forget about the Moonmen . It was all about the performances at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards . The VMAs were held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn ; it was the first time the show has been held in New York in four years . From Lady Gaga 's return to the VMAs stage in search of `` Applause '' to the not-so-secret ' N SYNC reunion , we count down the most memorable VMA moments . Photos : 2013 VMAs : Stars rock the red carpet . 1 . Lady Gaga gets a round of `` Applause '' The provocateur was surprisingly tame for her return to the VMAs stage and first performance of her new single , `` Applause . '' Lady Gaga opened the VMAs with a tight shot of her wide-eyed face surrounded by a sea of white . When the camera zoomed out , it was revealed that Gaga was wearing a white cardboard square on her head and a long white robe . It was no meat dress , but the singer went through a number of costume changes during her act , eventually ending up in a seashell bra and thong . 2 . Miley Cyrus twerks the stage . Miley Cyrus ' performance of `` We Ca n't Stop '' surely turned heads with her skimpy outfit , twerking and several crotch grabs . Miley wore a furry leotard and danced around the stage with oversize teddy bears . But it was her collaboration with Robin Thicke for his hit single , `` Blurred Lines '' that caused a gasp among the crowd . Miley stripped down to a nude bra and underwear and , with a foam finger in hand , she proceeded to grind her body hard against Thicke , making his controversial music video seem PG-rated . 3 . Taylor Swift 's boy `` Trouble '' It was four years ago on the VMAs stage that Taylor Swift was interrupted by Kanye West during her big moment . After vowing to keep a stronger grip on the mic this time , Swift proudly claimed her award for Best Female Video for `` I Knew You Were Trouble . '' But it would n't really be the VMAs without an awkward Taylor run-in . During her speech , she said , `` I want to thank the person that inspired this song -- and he knows exactly who he is -- because I got one of these ! '' Cut to Swift 's ex Harry Styles of One Direction in the audience . But it was an earlier moment caught on camera that got the Twitterverse buzzing . When One Direction presented Selena Gomez with `` Best Pop Video '' for `` Come and Get It , '' cameras caught a glimpse of Swift allegedly mouthing the words , `` Shut the f -- - up '' . It may not have been as scandalous as Kanye 's `` I'mma let you finish but ... '' moment but it was enough to get the Taylor GIFs started . 2013 VMAs : Complete winners list . 4 . Katy Perry 's TKO . In another debut performance - and perhaps another competition with Gaga - Katy Perry closed out the 2013 MTV VMA 's with her new hit single , `` Roar . '' Perry gave a ferocious performance under the Brooklyn Bridge in a set designed to look like a boxing ring , while she rocked a tiger print sports bra and satin shorts . 5 . Macklemore 's 'Love ' for everyone . It was fitting that basketball player Jason Collins , who came out earlier this year , helped introduce Macklemore and Ryan Lewis . The hip-hop duo took home three Moonmen , including one for `` Best Video with a Social Message '' for `` Same Love . '' The duo also performed the marriage equality anthem for supportive fans who were treated to guest vocalists Mary Lambert and Jennifer Hudson . Photos : Coming out in Hollywood . 6 : Justin Timberlake : President of Pop . Lady Gaga , Bruno Mars , Kanye West and Drake were all great , but the artist fans were really waiting for was Justin TImberlake - and they were treated to the full `` 20/20 Experience . '' Ten years after JT made his solo debut at the VMAs , he was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award , presented by `` Late Night '' host Jimmy Fallon . The multi-hyphenate earned a standing ovation as he sang and danced his way through his hits starting with the new `` Take Back the Night '' and working backward to the worst-kept secret in Hollywood : Timberlake and his former boy band brethren ' N SYNC reunited on stage . Lance Bass , J.C. Chasez , Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick came together for a brief walk down memory lane to sing `` Girlfriend '' and `` Bye Bye Bye . '' Timberlake might have tied with Macklemore and Lewis for most Video Music Awards with three Moonmen each , but only one of them had a 20 minute chunk of the show devoted to him . As JT said in his modified version of `` SexyBack , '' `` I still run this b -- -h . ''
MTV 's Video Music Awards were held in New York for the first time in four years . Lady Gaga returned to the stage ; Miley Cyrus ' racy performance surprised fans . Macklemore and Ryan Lews took the spotlight to advocate for marriage equality .