Teenage pop phenom Olivia Rodrigo and R&B duo Silk Sonic dominated the foremost classes, and Jon Batiste gained album of the 12 months on the sixty fourth annual Grammys – a three-and-a-half-hour mega live performance that principally steered away from politics or the pandemic, save for a digital message from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and an emotional tribute to victims of the Russian invasion.
Per week after probably the most chaotic Oscars in current reminiscence – throughout which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage – the Grammys appeared to enjoy its technical proficiency and lack of controversy. “We’re gonna be listening to some music, we’re gonna be dancing, we’re gonna be singing, we’re gonna be retaining folks’s names out of our mouths,” mentioned host Trevor Noah in his opening monologue, acknowledging the elephant within the MGM Grand Backyard Area in Las Vegas.
“Don’t even consider it as an awards present,” mentioned Noah, who returned to the Grammys stage after emceeing final 12 months’s Covid-straitened ceremony. “This can be a live performance the place we give out awards.”
Certainly, after years of controversy over the recording academy’s lack of range, recognition of hip-hop or inclusion of feminine artists, the 2022 Grammys principally caught to the music, with solely 9 televised awards in what was basically a revue of two years in common music.
Noah acted as an amiable, enthusiastic hype man with a handful of sunshine quips on Covid vaccines (final 12 months “folks have been doing pictures, however it was extra Moderna and Pfizer”) and NFTs (“You understand it’s been tough when your favourite artists go from attempting to promote you music to attempting to promote you photos of digital monkeys”).
He struck a extra severe be aware midway by the ceremony, introducing Zelenskiy: “Even within the darkest occasions, music has the ability to carry spirits and offer you hope for a brighter tomorrow. There’s no one who may use a bit of hope proper now greater than the folks of Ukraine.”
In a pre-filmed video, a noticeably hoarse Zelenskiy forged music as an embodiment of peace and freedom. “The struggle. What's extra reverse to music?” he mentioned. “The silence of ruined cities and killed folks. Our kids draw swooping rockets, not capturing stars.
“The struggle doesn’t allow us to select who survives and who stays in everlasting silence,” he continued. “Our musicians put on physique armor as an alternative of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals, even to those that can’t hear them. However the music will break by anyway.”
Zelenskiy praised his countrymen (“We defend our freedom. To reside. To like. To sound. On our land, we're preventing Russia which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The useless silence. Fill the silence together with your music! Fill it at this time to inform our story”) and urged Grammy viewers to publicly help Ukraine. “I've a dream of them dwelling,” he mentioned of the Ukrainian folks. “And free. Free such as you on the Grammy stage.”
The message served as an introduction to a John Legend efficiency of Free, together with Ukrainian musicians Mika Newton and Siuzanna Iglidan, and Ukrainian poet Lyuba Yakimchuk.
In his second 12 months as government producer of the Grammys, taking up after Ken Ehrlich’s 40-year tenure, Ben Winston principally allowed particular person artists to shine. Rodrigo, who took residence greatest new artist and greatest pop vocal album for Bitter, sang her record-smashing breakout hit Drivers License from behind the wheel of a classic Mercedes, with a full American suburban road set.
no ideas head empty simply olivia rodrigo singing her grammy profitable tune on the #GRAMMYs 🥲 pic.twitter.com/yxN4GRNk3z
Brandi Carlile drew a standing ovation for Proper on Time, an operatic ballad of remorse and second probabilities. New York-bred rap legend Nas – “your rapper’s favourite rapper,” as Noah launched him – carried out a medley of hits (and likewise drew a standing ovation from the gang, together with Lil Nas X). Girl Gaga paid tribute to long-time buddy and collaborator Tony Bennett, who retired from reside performances final 12 months on the age of 95 on physician’s order (Bennett has lived with Alzheimer’s for a number of years, he revealed). Jon Batiste, the night time’s most-nominated artist with 11 nods, kicked off a sprightly, retro-futurist efficiency of Freedom with a dramatic, starkly lit piano solo.
In a self-conscious nod to the Academy’s reputational woes – which has led artists such because the Weeknd and Frank Ocean to snub the awards fully – new president Harvey Mason Jr promised “on the new Recording Academy, we serve music” in a video message. The present celebrated reside music producers – the behind-the-scenes employees who helped deliver reside concert events again from pandemic closures – by inviting some to introduce their artists. Street tour supervisor Misha Hedman Mayes launched HER, whom she has identified because the R&B star was simply 11 years outdated. Wardrobe supervisor Joan Lee pitched her collaborator and boss, Carrie Underwood, who gained greatest roots gospel album for My Savior. Tour supervisor Nicole Massey, who shouted out to all “ladies in touring”, set the stage for “one of the best 20-year-old boss on the planet”, Billie Eilish, who carried out a rain-soaked rendition of Happier Than Ever. Eilish’s brother/producer Finneas accompanied her on guitar, sporting a shirt honoring Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died unexpectedly final week at age 50 whereas on tour in Colombia.
Noah additionally acknowledged Hawkins, who was speculated to carry out with the Foo Fighters on the ceremony. The remembrance kicked off the night time’s In Memoriam section: Expensive Evan Hansen star Ben Platt, Depraved’s Cynthia Erivo, Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr and West Facet Story’s Rachel Zegler sang a medley of songs by the late musical theater titan Stephen Sondheim, who died final November at 91.
Amid all of the music, there have been a handful of lighthearted speeches. “I've by no means taken such a quick piss in my complete life,” mentioned Doja Cat, who apparently rushed from the toilet to the stage to simply accept the award for greatest pop duo efficiency with SZA, for Kiss Me Extra. “I prefer to downplay shit,” she mentioned by tears, “however this can be a huge deal.”
Silk Sonic, AKA Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, grooved on to the stage for each file and tune of the 12 months. “We're actually attempting our hardest to stay humble at this level,” Anderson .Paak quipped. “Drinks is on Silk Sonic tonight!”
Jon Batiste closed the night with, fittingly, a celebration of music for album of the 12 months. “I imagine this to my core: there is no such thing as a greatest musician, greatest artist, greatest dancer, greatest actor,” he mentioned. “The inventive arts are subjective and so they attain folks at some extent of their lives after they want it most.”
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