Grammy’s 60th
In a highly politicized evening at NEW YORK’s MADISON SQUARE GARDEN for the first time in 15 years, the 60th annual GRAMMY AWARDS were dominated by BRUNO MARS, who won ALBUM, SONG and RECORD OF THE YEAR in the nationally televised awards show.
MARS won six awards in all, earning the Top Three for his “24K Gold” album, “That’s What I Like” (Song) and “24K Gold” track (Record), while KENDRICK LAMAR took home five, including Best Rap Album (“DAMN.”) and Best Rap/Sung Performance (“Loyalty”).
Only nine awards were handed out during the telecast itself, including Best Pop Solo Performance (the otherwise snubbed ED SHEERAN, a no-show), Best Comedy Album (DAVE CHAPPELLE’s “The Age of Spin & Deep in the Heart of Texas”) and Best Country Album (CHRIS STAPLETON, “From A Room, Volume 1,” ALESSIA CARA, in the evening’s other upset, beat out SZA, among others, for Best New Artist.
KENDRICK LAMAR got the evening off to an incendiary start with a machine-gun like delivery of a medley — interspersed with a live sample of U2 performing a snippet of “American Soul” — leading into an exhilarating finale that put racism and police brutality in its crosshairs.
LADY GAGA was next with a feather-laden piano medley of “Joanne” and “Million Reasons,” followed by SAM SMITH with “Pray,” accompanied by a full gospel choir. LITTLE BIG TOWN performed their TAYLOR SWIFT collab, “Better Man,” while GARY CLARK JR. and JON BATISTE paid tribute to the late rock pioneers CHUCK BERRY and ‘FATS DOMINO.
Voice Of The Grammy Awards Ellen K
Other performers included LUIS FONSI and DADDY YANKEE (“Despacito”), CHILDISH GAMBINO (“Terrified”), PINK (an earthbound, T-shirt-and-jeans-clad “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.” CARDI B stole the spotlight from BRUNO MARS himself on their version of the “Finesse” remix, followed by STING and SHAGGY, sandwiching “Englishman In New York” around their reggae collab, “Don’t Make Me Wait.”
DJ KHALED was the hype man (“Raise your hands in the air!”) for RIHANNA and BRYSON TILLER’s steamy pas de deux on “Wild Thoughts,” while ERIC CHURCH, MAREN MORRIS and BROTHERS OSBORNE paid tribute to those lost in the LAS VEGAS massacre with ERIC CLAPTON’s GRAMMY-winning “Tears In Heaven.”
KESHA’s emotional “Praying” was another highlight, her DR. LUKE rebuke with fellow #MeToo warriors CYNDI LAUPER, CAMILLA CABELLO, JULIA MICHAELS, AUDRA DAY and the ubiquitous BEBE REXHA. U2 taped their performance with the Statue of Liberty in the background, with BONO and THE EDGE adding special poignance to their rendition of “Get Out Of Your Own Way,” with a plea for immigration rights.
ELTON JOHN and MILEY CYRUS teamed up KIKI DEE-style on an affecting “Tiny Dancer,” while a BROADWAY tribute to LEONARD BERNSTEIN and ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER featured show-stopping turns by BEN PLATT (“Somewhere”) and PATTI LuPONE’s version of her 1981 GRAMMY winner, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.”
Ryan Seacrest, Ellen K
SZA made up for her loss in the Best New Artist category with a thrilling “Broken Clocks,” while EMMYLOU HARRIS and CHRIS STAPLETON performed an acoustic duo on TOM PETTY’s “Wildflowers” over the IN MEMORIAM tribute.
Before BONO and THE EDGE presented BRUNO MARS with the evening’s final award for ALBUM OF THE YEAR, LOGIC, ALESSIA CARA and KHALID performed “1-800-273-8255” suicide prevention anthem, ending with a rousing call-to-arms.
In the end, there was a little something for everyone, and a whole lot of volatile political statements for a GRAMMY show.
For coverage of yesterday’s pre-telecast, go here.
For complete coverage of last night’s show, go here.
For a complete list of winners, go to www.grammy.com.
This Article Was Originally Posted at www.allaccess.com