The Grammy Awards recognize significant achievements in the music industry with such awards going out to Best Artist of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year and more. This year’s 55th Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles, Calif. on Feb. 10.
Here are just some moments of note – the good and the bad:
TAYLOR WHINES
Country-pop singer Taylor Swift performed “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” from her 2012 album “Red.” The most interesting part of Swift’s set had nothing to do with her singing – because it was the typical ‘woe is me’ deal – but what stole the show were the costumes. And not in a good way. As the country-pop singer strutted across stage, distracting clowns would jump out of nowhere and bunny-human specimens with their high tops would follow a few steps behind.
News organizations report that Swift also dissed Harry Styles, her former and short-lived beau, toward the end by mimicking a British accent. That may or may not have happened; I couldn’t tell because of her horrible accent. The message came through loud and clear to One Direction fans, though, who began attacking Swift via Twitter for the slight. Decide for yourself by watching her performance here.
JUSTIN BRINGS SEXY BACK
“This performance marks the return of a man who was born to make music,” Beyoncé said by way of introducing one of Sunday night’s greatest performers. She then beckoned everyone to get on their feet – not that the audience members needed an incentive – to welcome Justin Timberlake to the stage.
Timberlake is bringing sexy back. (Sorry, I just had to do that.) He blew away members with his performance of his single “Suit and Tie.” This came after a seven-year absence from solo performance; his last album “FutureSex/LoveSounds” was released on 2006. That is not to say he was doing nothing; he went on to collaborate with Madonna, Duran Duran, 50 Cent and more. He also honed his acting skills in movies such as “Bad Teacher,” “The Social Network” and “Friends with Benefits.”
“Suit and Tie” is just one song from his album “The 20/20 Experience,” which is scheduled for release on March 19. Watch his Grammy performance here.
FRANK OCEAN WINS, CHRIS BROWN IS A SORE LOSER
I admittedly never got around to listening to Frank Ocean, but his performance of “Forrest Gump” won me over. I’m told that “Forrest Gump” wasn’t his best song from his album “Channel Orange,” but I think Ocean pulled it off.
Ocean ended up winning the gramophone for Best Urban Contemporary Album. As he went up to make his speech, the camera showed Chris Brown remaining in his seat while everyone else gave Ocean a standing ovation.
Significant? Yes. It seems like Brown is still feeling ‘sore’ about their altercation from two weeks ago. But the fight with Brown seemed far from Ocean’s thoughts at the Grammy Awards.
KELLY CLARKSON STILL HAS THE IT FACTOR
Winner of the first season of “American Idol,” Kelly Clarkson has continued to create solid and popular music, as evidenced by her win in the category of Best Pop Vocal Album for her 2012 album “Stronger.” She went on to give an astounding tribute to Lifetime Achievement recipients by singing Patti Page’s “Tennessee Waltz” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Carole King [originally by Aretha Franklin??].
ALICIA KEYS OVERSHADOWS ADAM LEVINE
I love Adam Levine’s voice when it’s a part of Maroon 5. But Keys’ strong, potent singing overshadowed his softer, mellower voice in their performance of “Girl on Fire.” It would have made more sense if Alicia Keys got her own stage, but who knows what the Grammy organizers were thinking?
What did you think of the duet? Watch it here.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
I personally think that Carrie Underwood’s performance put Swift’s to shame. The six-time Grammy winning country singer who rose to fame after her stint on “American Idol,” Underwood won Best Country Song with “Blown Away,” and the audience members were surely ‘blown away’ by her live performance of that song and “Two Black Cadillacs.” Watch her performance here.
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