After the year of Barbie, Taylor Swift and “What Was I Made For?” it is refreshing to see that girl power will remain the theme of 2024.
The 66th Annual Grammy Awards took place on Feb. 4, 2024, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Some of the biggest names in music were in attendance, such as Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lenny Kravitz, Billie Eilish, Lionel Richie, SZA and Olivia Rodrigo. This year’s Grammys were unlike any other due to the fact that women dominated almost every category. In fact, six out of the seven nominees for “Album of the Year,” one of the most competitive awards at the Grammys, were women.
Firstly, Trevor Noah did an excellent job hosting. He was respectful and did not rudely criticize or cross personal boundaries with any audience members (unlike many other hosts, cough, Jo Koy). His sincerity and admiration for all of the artists kept the show lighthearted. In fact, Noah even took the opportunity to stand up for Swift after she received backlash for her screen time during NFL games. “I’m gonna get revenge. Every time someone says Taylor Swift, I’m going to cut the cameras to someone who plays football,” he remarked, before the camera cut to former NFL legend and actor Terry Crews. This was just one example of how Noah used his platform to create a humorous, yet upbeat and fun atmosphere for the show.
The glamor and fashion was certainly on point for the musical artists in attendance. The runway was one of my favorite parts of the Grammys, and that was before it even started. Rodrigo walked the carpet in a vintage Versace gown, embellished with red beads and clear gems. This is not the first time this dress has been put on display, as it was previously worn by Linda Evangelista on the runway in spring 1995. Superstar Christina Aguliera also dressed to impress, as she wore a light blue long-sleeve gown with a train. This minimalist yet incredibly chic look certainly embodied the “clean girl aesthetic.” Further, this sky blue color really popped onstage when she presented the Best Música Urbana Album as well. Finally, my third favorite Grammys look was from Victoria Monét, who wore a bronze satin gown with a “ribbed, strapless bodice, ruched details along the sides, and a silky skirt with a long train,” according to Harper’s Bazaar. The best part about this look was that she matched with her two-year-old daughter Hazel, who made her first red carpet debut.
Swift made history as the first artist to win Album of The Year four times. Swift has won the prestigious award for her albums “Fearless,” “1989,” “Folklore” and now “Midnights.” The TIME Person of The Year is very deserving of this honor, as all 20 songs from “Midnights” charted on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to that unbelievable accomplishment, the album also broke three Spotify records: most streamed album on Spotify in 24 hours (184.6 million streams), most day-one streams of an album on Spotify (184.6 million streams) and most streamed act on Spotify in 24 hours (228 million streams). “All I want to do is keep doing this. So thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do what I love so much,” Swift remarked.
In addition to this honor, Swift also won Best Pop Vocal Album. During this acceptance speech, she announced her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” After leaving clues about finally dropping “Reputation (Taylor’s Version),” fans, including myself, were certain that is what she would be announcing at the Grammys. However, like she always does, Swift pulls a surprise from out of nowhere, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
The other major awards went to a variety of incredibly talented and deserving artists. Miley Cyrus won Record of the Year for “Flowers,” Eilish won Song of the Year for “What Was I Made For?,” Boygenius won Best Rock Song for “Not Strong Enough” and Victoria Monét won Best New Artist.
Additionally, Jay Z won the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, and brought his daughter, Blue Ivy, on stage. Although this is an incredible accomplishment, audiences were confused when his acceptance speech morphed into criticism of the Recording Academy. The musician pointed out the many times his wife, Beyoncé, did not receive the recognition she deserved, stating that “she has more Grammys than everyone and never won album of the year — that doesn’t work.”
Finally, many legendary musicians performed at the show, ranging from Billy Joel to Eilish. However, the one performance that was especially moving was by Joni Mitchell, the Canadian-American musical icon. At the Grammys, she performed her song, “Both Sides Now,” which she won a Grammy for in 1970, and received the award for Best Folk Album. Siobhan Rushin, FCRH ’26, shared, “Joni Mitchell’s performance brought me to tears and was by far the highlight of the night.”
Overall, the Grammys were an entertaining event that was reflective of the remarkably talented artists that are the pillars of the music industry today.
