A shock wave shot through the music industry last Saturday evening.

I mean who would have thought Aaliyah, a mere 22 years of age and a solo artist in the prime of her career, could lose her life so suddenly?

The singer was tragically killed last week after her plane bound for Opa-locka, Fla. crashed just after taking off from the Bahamas. Aaliyah had just wrapped up the filming of her latest single to be released on video shortly and the filming of a feature film due out early next year.

When I saw the white block letters hauntingly flash across my screen, informing of the singer’s passing early Sunday morning, all I could think about was how unfair death is.

This was a young woman who had acheived a superstar status with the release of her latest album in June and was just beginning to reveal all of her potential.

The fact that her death was so random is just plain scary. I’m sure the last thing she could have ever expected was for her plane to go down in such an utter tragedy.

Seeing a person that young lose their life reminds me that living life to the fullest, no matter your age, is imperative because everyday and the next is a mystery.

At this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, where Aaliyah had been scheduled to perform at Sept. 6, I hope MTV tones down the usual sick humor it includes as a part of the show. The cable television station really needs to display some class, respect and empathy for Aaliyah’s family and friends at this year’s award show.

If MTV downplays Aaliyah’s death and attempts to air its usual exaggerated, comical and profanity-laden show I will be extremely disappointed in the station.

I would expect that even if MTV doesn’t examine her life and accomplishments for all the audience and viewers to see during the show, at least celebrities making appearances mention her.

I think this unfortunate situation really gives MTV producers an opportunity to show how professional their station really is. In order for them to do that they are going to have to make an obvious effort and a few alterations in the show.

I know MTV doesn’t want to exert an overall feeling of melancholy, but I also don’t see why they would want to make the VMAs out to be an overly joyous or humourous event.

So MTV will somehow have to mix in their condolences to the late singer’s family and friends while still making the show an entertaining one.

In the wake of Aaliyah’s death, MTV desperately needs the VMAs to be a consistent mixture that will offend no one in the process. It is predictable that the overall atmosphere at the VMAs will not be as thick with excitement as in previous years.

It is difficult for me to believe MTV would actually revamp its script, alter its style, or refrain from airing extreme jokes primarily because of the need for high ratings