MTV Music Video Awards 2013 Nominees and Predictions: 'Blurred Lines' Will Continue Its Reign With 'Best Male Video' Win [Poll]

The MTV Video Music Awards are right around the corner. While the ceremony format is reminiscent of the Oscars and Grammys, it's unique. It's the only ceremony that celebrates and glorifies the music video, a flourishing art form that inspires awe and procrastination. When perfected, a music video can embody the artist's persona. It can define them. It can make or break them. Sometimes a video becomes more popular than the song, giving it that extra boost to catapult it to the top of the charts.

As August 25 approaches, enthusiasts look forward and speculate on the coveted awards. One of the sought after trophies, "Best Male Video," is a cutthroat race to the finish. The category hosts musical superstars that span over an array of genres. Every artist is worthy, but only one will prevail. Although contention is tight, here's a list of the nominees along with our prediction.

Justin Timberlake - "Mirrors"

Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell - "Blurred Lines"

Bruno Mars - "Locked Out of Heaven"

Ed Sheeran - "Lego House"

Kendrick Lamar - "Swimming Pools"

There are some heavy hitters. While Justin Timberlake made a tremendous comeback to music in 2013 with The 20/20 Experience, accompanied by an exceptional video for "Mirrors," it failed to stand out from the others. The same could be said for Bruno Mars. Although his single "Locked Out of Heaven" launched his career to new heights, the video didn't necessarily do it justice. For a video to be successful, it has to make the song better. It should propel the song to the top of the charts. It should take a good song and make it spectacular.

And Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" video did just that. It recrafted a catchy tune into a global sensation. The controversial video, which features topless models playfully prancing around Thicke, T.I. and Pharrell, changed the game. It was first banned from YouTube, but was later deemed a piece of art and reinstated. It turned heads. It made the song the No. 1 smash hit that it is today. Artists like Timberlake even mirrored the lewd style with his video for "Tunnel Vision." It rocked the industry and changed music video standards forever. And for that, "Blurred Lines" will win the award for "Best Male Video" at this year's MTV Video Music Awards.