Kendrick Lamar Performance
Show-stopping performances by mega musicians, political statements and standing in solidarity with movements that tackle sexual harassment and inequality all made the 60th Annual Grammy Awards a night to remember. The event celebrating the best in music took place Sunday in Madison Square Garden, 15 years after the last time it was held in New York.
The Wins
Bruno Mars nabbed an impressive six awards with three of them coming in major categories, technically making the R&B artist the night’s big winner. He picked up Album of the Year for “24K Magic” as well as Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Kendrick Lamar, 30, was another big winner sweeping the rap categories, including Rap Album of the Year for “Damn.” The artist also won Best Music Video for “Humble.” Ed Sheeran, who didn’t turn up, got the nod he deserves for “Shape of You” by winning Best Pop Solo Performance, plus the British star was awarded with Best Pop Vocal Album for “Divide.”
Other winners included Alessia Cara (Best New Artist), Starboy (Best Urban Contemporay Album) and A Deeper Understanding (Best Rock Album). While we’re happy for the winners, one huge disappointment was the fact only 17 awards (out of 86) went to women or female bands. Stars like Lady Gaga, Kesha, Lorde and SZA were nominated, yet they didn’t get to pick up an award. We’re also wondering why Jay-Z had eight nominations but went home empty handed.
A Politically Charged Night
Music’s biggest night took more of a political and movement awareness route than usual via the performances, speeches, sketches and fashion choices. Fahsion-wise, most of the attendees wore (or carried) white roses, symbols of the late-19th and early-20th centuries women's suffrage movement. Many stars wore them pinned to their outfits or on their clutches to stand in solidarity with the #Time’s Up anti-harassment initiative. Some even wore white pins while others got creative, by playing up a tattoo or stitching an important message onto the back of a dress, for example.
The show started with a politically charged opening performance by Kendrick Lamar, surrounded by dancers dressed as soldiers. Lamar, who was joined by U2’s Bono, the Edge and stand-up comedian David Chappelle (who made a joke about black men and honesty), even called for Jay-Z as president while he was on the podium.
However, it was Kesha leading an all-female ensemble that really stole the how. The fearless singer belted out a powerful rendition of “Praying,” the song nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance, which was inspired by her legal battle with music producer Dr. Luke. She was joined by Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Julia Michaels, Bebe Rexha and Andra Day, all dressed in white. They earned a standing ovation and reduced many in the audience to tears. And just before the performance, Janelle Janelle Monae made the introduction while delivering an empowering and moving #Time's Up speech.
U2 performed another highly charged act, playing “Get Out of Your Own Way,” a new song with a video aimed at US President Donald Trump. Before they performed, young Cuban-American singer-songwriter Cabello made an earnest speech about being an immigrant and the importance of dreamers. “Tonight, in this room full of music’s dreamers, we remember that this country was made by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream,” the former Fifth Harmony member said.
While hosting for the second time, as well as creating a New York version of ‘Carpool Karaoke’ that took place on the subway with Sting and Shaggy, James Corden arranged for Grammy winners and nominees to read parts of Michael Wolff's “Fire and Fury.” Even Hilary Clinton made a cameo appearance during the mock audition for the audio edition of the provocative book about the American president.
Added Notable Performances
Seeing as the event is all about the year’s best music, there were of course some other mic-drop worthy performances. One came from Pink, who proved why she’s top of the pops, while singing an emotional “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.” Rather than accomplishing one of her signature stunts, she was joined by a sign language interpreter, who translated the powerful lyrics of the girl-power song.
Bruno Mars and and Cardi B’s energetic execution of “ Finesse” also made its way to the top of our favourite moments list. Then there was the powerful back-to-back nothing short of extraordinary tribute honouring composers Leonard Bernstein and Andrew Lloyd Weber.
“Dear Evan Hansen” star Ben Platt kicked things off with a gentle and chilling version of "Somewhere" from Bernstein's “West Side Story.”
A bow-down worthy performance by Broadway icon and two-time Grammy Award winner Patti LuPone ensued. She brought the house down as she sang "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" in all its glory, just as if you were watching “Evita” in 1979.
Eric Church, Maren Morris and Brothers Osborne got together to honour the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas by presenting a touching acoustic cover of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven.”
Another moving moment was Alessia Cara, Khalid and Logic performing a poignant version of “1-800-273-8255” alongside a group of suicide survivors and family members of suicide victims. The suicide prevention anthem was nominated for Song of the Year.
