It’s the biggest night in the music industry. It’s the Superbowl of music. It’s the maker and breaker of singers all around the world. But really, it’s the Grammy Awards.
Between 81 categories and 35 genres of music, the nominees are endless, with only the best of the best getting screen time while many others get their Grammy before the show even begins.
Taylor Swift opened the show on Sunday night, singing “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” quite theatrically, with slightly random Alice in Wonderland-themed backup dancers and props. It’s getting really hard to determine whether she’s becoming better or worse, but we’ll save that for another day.
The 55th Grammy award show was hosted by LL Cool J, who opened the show saying, “Now Taylor [Swift] says we’re never going to get back together, but the truth is that at the Grammys, we always get back together and that’s what makes it music’s biggest night.” He ended his point of view on the greatness of the Grammy’s saying, “A Grammy isn’t a shiny thing to hold onto. A Grammy is a dream come true.”
After the award for Best Live Pop Performance was given to Adele, Ed Sheeran and Elton John teamed up to sing “The A Team” with just a piano and an acoustic guitar.
Fun. performed the song“Carry On” from their 2012 album “Some Nights”, and made it rain on the stage. They actually made it rain water, not money like rapper terminology might have you believe.
Carrie Underwood swooped up the Grammy for Best Country Single with her song “Blown Away”, which has been blowing away all the country artists at every award show in 2012 and now 2013.
Keeping the country theme, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw presented the award for Song of the Year
to Fun. for their song we’ve all heard a thousand times too many, “We Are Young.”
Mumford & Sons rocked out on stage with their song “I Will Wait” from their recent album “Babel”, for which the band picked up the Grammy for Album of the Year Beyoncé and Ellen DeGeneres came out to introduce a performance by Justin Timberlake, and while Beyoncé listed Justin’s many talents, Ellen jokingly interrupted and said, “Thank you Beyoncé, I am so much more than that. I am a talk show host,I am a best selling author,aselfless humanitarian...” Ellen never ceases to bring laughter wherever she goes.
Performing for the first time since 2009, Timberlake began his performance with his song “Suit and Tie” in an old-fashioned sepia tone, then transitioned into a new song called, “Pusher Love Girl.”
Best Urban Contemporary Album was a new category at this year’s Grammy awards and the award was given to Frank Ocean for his album “Channel Orange." Ocean later performed his song “Forest Gump” near the end of the show.
Best Rock Performance was awarded to The Black Keys for their song “Lonely Boy.” The band also performed later in the evening, as well..
Maroon 5 and Alicia Keys mixed their songs “Daylight” and “Girl on Fire,” taking the stage together for a duet between Keys and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine.
Best Pop Vocal Album went to Kelly Clarkson, after being nominated for four categories this year with her album “Stronger”. Later, pop icon Prince presented the award for Record of the Year to Gotye and Kimbra for their single, “Somebody That I Used to Know”. The two artists were very humbled to be in Prince’s presence, as any normal person would be.
Rihanna, Wiz Khalifa, Miguel, Kelly Clarkson, The Lumineers did a group performance in tribute to Bob Marley, another group performance in tribute to Sandy Hook and a few more gave performances. The most outstanding performer to take the stage had to be Carrie Underwood, not just because she sang ‘Blown Away’ flawlessly, but more because her dress stole the spotlight from right underneath her. Literally. The dress glowed with lights, sparkles, swirls and butterflies galore making the whole experience stunning.
Finally, after three packed hours, the show came to its finale. They announced a new award that will be given in at future Grammy Awards titled, The Music Educator Award. This award will be given to music teachers around our nation that can be nominated by any student. It was a sweet and kind way to close the grand and glamorous night we all call the Grammys.
