The Grammys, hosted on Sunday, Feb. 2, was not only a night to celebrate this past year’s talented creators and musicians but also to come together as a nation to remember and support all that was lost in the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
The Grammys opened up with a performance by Dawes, an American folk rock band that has lost close to everything in the recent LA fires. Alongside John Legend, St. Vincent, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley and Brittany Howard, they sang a beautiful rendition of “I Love L.A.” by Randy Newman. The song seemed to set the tone for the night.
During the show, the Recording Academy launched a major donation campaign for wildfire relief. Host Trevor Noah urged the public to donate to the QR code and website on the screen after nearly every commercial break. By the night’s end, $7 million was raised for wildfire victims who had lost their homes, businesses and schools.
Alongside the city of LA, the show this past Sunday honored the work of brave, talented and astonishing artists. With a mixture of clearly well-deserved and shocking wins, there is no denying that this night felt different than award shows in the past few years.
My friends and I found ourselves not only excited to watch our favorite performances or cheer on our adored artists, but also to watch how happy every musician was to be there, despite all that has been lost this past month.
A lack of competitiveness and detestation, but admiration, respect and love swept the audience. Through the night’s triumphs and devastating snubs, our favorite celebrities still danced the night away.
Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas honored the LA fires with their performance of “Birds of a Feather,” Eilish’s hit single on her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” both up for nominations. Her pleasant live vocals filled the room and had the celebrities in the audience and those at home remembering to stick together.
Best Rap Album was the first award announced of the night, highlighting a brilliant rapper and a historic moment. Doechii, the only female in her category, won for her hard-hitting hip-hop album “Alligator Bites Never Heal.”
This was a well-deserved, exciting moment for Doechii as she projected toward the crowd, “This category was introduced in 1989, and two people have won… THREE women have won: Lauryn Hill, Cardi B, and DOECHII!”
Sabrina Carpenter performed a witty, funny mashup of several songs on her album “Short n’ Sweet” and took home the Pop Vocal Album of the Year award moments later. Carpenter has been around for a while, putting her heart and soul into this album and two tours this past year; seeing her finally rewarded for her music was fantastic. However, knowing Billie Eilish would be snubbed for the rest of the night, I would have loved to see her win for “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” a wonderfully crafted, lyrically stunning masterpiece.
It was a highly competitive year, a great year for music. Not everyone’s going to come home with something.
In a lovely exchange, Taylor Swift announced the Best Country Album award to Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter.” This past year, Beyonce gracefully experimented with a new genre, which paid off immensely.
Performances by the Best New Artist nominees following Sabrina Carpenter included Chappell Roan on a pink pony, Khruangbin with their incredible sound, Heidi Klum and Nikki Glazer ripping off Benson Boone’s suit to reveal a baby blue jumpsuit (my advice, leave the jumpsuits to Harry Styles, babe), Doechii’s fired up, energetic hip-hop mashup, Teddy Swims’ soulful and stunning vocals, Shaboozey’s giddy prancing around the stage boasting about being tipsy and Raye leaving the audience speechless after releasing her soul-crushing, incredible voice.
The most anticipated category besides Album of the Year was Best New Artist, with none other than Chappell Roan taking home the Grammy (after she picked it up off the floor of course).
Although it was not my pick, there is no denying that Chappell Roan’s breakout year was legendary. Roan celebrated her win, calling out record labels to give their artists a liveable wage and healthcare, an on-brand action for the outspoken artist. Another moment at the Grammys pushing for change, bringing the audience together, igniting hope in everybody — indeed a profound moment for the Best New Artist.
Will Smith, Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Lainey Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock came together in a beautiful tribute to the legacy of Quincy Jones, who died this past year. It was sweet, wholesome and lively, a perfect piece in honor.
Best Latin Pop Album went to Shakira, followed by a performance by the 48-year-old in which her hips still don’t lie! Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga took home the Grammy for Best Pop Duo for their record “Die With a Smile,” with a powerful sentiment for the transgender community from Gaga. Alicia Keys was awarded the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, after which she delivered an elegant and inspiring speech aimed at President Trump’s DEI policies.
“DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] is not a threat, it’s a gift,” Keys said as the audience roared with applause.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” won for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year, two wins I was not anticipating but found myself somewhat okay with. But still, both of them? Recording Academy, you could have given Eilish or Swift something.
After a flashback into Brat Summer with Charlie XCX’s skimpy and sexy performance, Album of the Year was finally announced.
An LA firefighter awarded Beyonce a Grammy for her album “Cowboy Carter.” It was not my pick (“The Tortured Poets Department”, you were my album of the year), but this win was not surprising. Beyonce’s experiment with genre was both thrilling and inspiring. Music should be shifted and borrowed, as well as original and new. There should be no limit to the imagination, no limit to creativity, which is what the Grammys proved Sunday night.
It was a legendary night for music, a historical moment for philanthropy and a good, fun time.
