Guest Blogger: Rosa Quiahua
Twitter: @rawkstrroma95
The Grammy’s is the one night out of the year where the Kings and Queens of music, come out and celebrate their achievements, with host (for a second year in a row) actor/rapper LL Cool J.
Blue strobe lights hit a woman in the dark, on centre stage. The woman is no other than Queen Bee, Beyoncé. Beyoncé takes the stage, which came as a surprise to the live audience and the millions watching at home. This is the best Grammy opening performance I’ve seen, in the history of the Grammys- I must say. Beyoncé wore a revealing sexy number, leaving nothing to the imagination. She rocked short black shorts and a black bondage/fabric tank top as she paraded her curves over a black fold-up chair. The surprising kick-off to the show wasn’t finished yet . . . Jay-Z came in and took the stage with his wife Beyoncé on the song, “Drunk in love”, which is from her newest self titled album.
After Beyoncé performed, L.L. Cool J hit the stage by speaking about the foundation of music and what it represents. He spoke about how music has taught us how to move and that it is everything that we dream. He then spoke about how music is like a passion that drives us in our daily lives by helping us in reaching our next goal(s). As L.L. Cool J left the stage, he welcomed Anna Kendrick and Pharrell to introduce, the ‘Best New Artist’ Award. That Grammy went to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. They gave their acceptance speech and said, they were thankful for winning such an amazing award and also noted that they made their album without a record label.
After Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ acceptance speech, Lorde performed her hit song,”Royals” as she sported a white blouse and black dressy pants. This wouldn’t be the last time, we would see her during the broadcast. After Lorde, L.L. Cool J welcomed an artist-who has a true message for young people in his song. The song is,” Invisible” by Hunter Hayes. In which the message depicts,young people walking through the hallways of school-and young people in general, how they should strive higher and higher no matter what other people may think that certain individual is able to achieve. Also to not listen to others who try to get you down.
After Hunter Hayes performed his song, There were many other legendary performances. Such as Katy Perry and Juicy J, who had a dark and gothic touch to their performance. Complete with a cemetery! The two performed their hit song “Dark Horse” which is getting massive amounts of air play on radio stations across the globe.Katy Perry also performed her hit song,”Roar” to the excitement of the audience. After Katy Perry performed “Dark Horse” with Juicy J, Chicago and Robert Thicke joined together for a duet. Chicago and Robert Thicke sang,”Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” Robert Thicke opened his voice up to Chicago’s lyrics. As Robert Thicke and Chicago sang,”Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” Robert Thicke transformed the song into,”Blurred Lines”. Before the break,Pauley Perrette caught up with Taylor Swift at the Twitter Photo booth,to ask Taylor Swift,”How does it feel to be next on the Grammy stage?” Taylor Swift commented with an,’I’m so ready’ kind of attitude.
After a set of commercials, the Grammys were back with John Legend, on the piano-performing “All of Me”. After John Legend performed his amazing and soulful song,”All of Me”- Taylor Swift went on stage to perform,”All too Well”. Taylor Swift rocked it out at the piano and showed a deep emotion and fierceness on her face during the song. If you thought these amazing, performances couldn’t get better-viewers were in for a surprise n the form of P!NK! Pink performed “Give Me a Reason” with lead singer from ‘FUN’; Nate Ruess. P!NK’s acrobatics during her performance left many speechless and was an attraction in itself. Ringo from The Beatles performed,”Photograph”.
Some the high-energy performances came from Metallica and Imagine Dragons. Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar covered,”Radioactive” with an out of control-wild-all over the place strobe lights. It was also dubbed as the “Greatest performance of the night”. Metallica and Lang Lang collaborated for a legendary performance, putting a unique spin on their hit song,” One”. Lang Lang was going crazy on the piano while rocking out to James Hetfield’s guitar. A classic performance would have to belong to-Willie Nelson,Blake Shelton,Kris Kristofferson,Merle Haggard on the song,”Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Country Boys”.
A classic performance was from Paul Mc Cartney and Ringo on the song,”Cut me some slack”. Two Beatles stars in one night, sharing the Grammy stage was indeed, epic. Two of the best calming performances of the night were by Sara Bareilles and Carole King performing “Brave”. When I heard those two performing that song, I had a feeling of wanting to actually be more brave! I felt that performance to my very core. One of the most talked about performance of the night came from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis along with Madonna shared the stage to perform a duet of,”Same Love”. While they performed their song,Queen Latifah came in and announced that there were 33 couples who were getting married at the Grammys. Definitely a monumental performance – one that will be remembered for years to come.
As The Grammys always do each year, they paid their respects by remembering musicians that had passed away in 2013. Which included James Jones (country singer), Gloria Lynn (Jazz singer), Kriss Kross (rapper), Jonathan Winters (comedian), Phil Everly (The Everly Brothers). These people are only a few among the people who died this year. To honour these amazing people, Billy Joel Armstrong and Miranda Lambert sang a song by the Everly Brothers,”When will I be loved”.
There were so many amazing performances throughout the broadcast. The official winners were those that walked away with a Grammy Award in their hands. Check out the complete list below!
*Note: ‘Daft Punk’ was the big winner of the night.
-Album of the Year: “Random Access Memories,” Daft Punk
-Record of the Year: “Get Lucky,” Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams***
-Song of the Year: “Royals,” Joel Little, Ella Yelich O’Connor (Lorde)
-Best Country Album: “Same Trailer, Different Park,” Kacey Musgraves
-Best Pop Vocal Album: “Unorthodox Jukebox,” Bruno Mars
-Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: “Holy Grail,” Jay Z and Justin Timberlake
-Best Pop Solo Performance: Lorde
-Best Rock Song: “Cut Me Some Slack,” Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear
-Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Get Lucky,” Daft Punk
-Best New Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
*********************************************
Pre-Telecast Winners:
-Best Pop Instrumental Album: Stepping Out, Herb Albert
-Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: To Be Loved, Michael Buble
-Best Reggae Album: Ziggy Marley In Concert, Ziggy Marley
-Best Spoken Word Album: America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren’t, Stephen Colbert
-Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: Summertime Sadness, Cedric Gervais, Remixer (Lana Del Rey)
-Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance: “Break Every Chain [Live]“, Tasha Cobbs
-Best Gospel Song: “If He Did It Before… Same God [Live]“, Tye Tribbett
-Best Gospel Album: Greater Than [Live], Tye Tribbet,
-Best Latin Pop Album: Vida, Draco Rosa,
-Best Song Written For Visual Media: “Skyfall,” Thomas Newman
-Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance: Brady Wells and Roomful of Teeth, “Roomful of Teeth”
-Best New Age Album: Love’s River, Laura Sullivan
-Best Jazz Vocal Album: Liquid Spirit, Gregory Porter,
-Best Jazz Instrumental Album: Money Jungle: Provocative In Blue, Terri Lyne Carrington
-Best Latin Jazz Album: Song For Maura, Paquito D’Rivera And Trio Corrente
-Best Compilation Soundtrack Album: Sound City: Real To Reel, Butch Vig (Compilation Producer)
-Best Musical Theater Album: Kinky Boots, Cyndi Lauper
-Best Song Written For Visual Media: “Skyfall”, Adele
-Best Americana Album: Old Yellow Moon, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell
-Best Folk Album: My Favorite Picuture of You, Guy Clark
-Best Dance Recording: “Clarity,” Zedd ft. Foxes
-Best Dance/Electronica Album: Random Access Memories, Daft Punk
-Best Comedy Album: Calm Down Gurrl, Kathy Griffin
-Best Rap Performance: “Thift Shop,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
-Best Rap Song: “Thift Shop,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
-Best Rap Album: “The Heist,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
-Best R&B Performance: “Something,” Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway
-Best Traditional R&B Performance: “Please Come Home,” Gary Clark Jr.
-Best R&B Song: “Pusher Love Girl,” Justin Timberlake
-Best Urban Contemporary Album: Unapologetic, Rihanna
-Best R&B Albu: Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys
-Best Blues Album: Get Up!, Ben Harper With Charlie Musselwhite
-Best Music Film: Live Kisses, Paul McCartney
-Best Country Duo/Group Performance: “From This Valley,” The Civil Wars
-Best Country Solo Performance: “Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker
-Best Country Song: “Merry Go Round,” Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne
-Best Rock Performance: “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons
-Best Alternative Music Album: Modern Vampires of the City, Vampire Weekend
-Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Pharrell Williams
-Best Metal Performance: “God Is Dead,” Black Sabbath
-Best Rock Album: Celebration Day, Led Zeppelin
POPGoesCULTURE.com 
Leave a comment