You had to listen for it closely in Swift’s speech – a warning to young women hoping to follow the singular trail that she’s still blazing: “There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame”.
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Her vocals cut out for a few seconds at the beginning of her performance of “All I Ask”, which she powered through nonetheless.
Kendrick Lamar – the most nominated and politically charged man at the event – was nominated for To Pimp A Butterfly, an album whose slick rhymes and jazz-fusion became an implicit rallying cry for social justice in America in the past year.
“This is dedicated to the fans right here”, Mars added.
“2016 will not be remembered as a stellar year for the Grammys”, says Lanre Bakare in The Guardian, saying that Adele struggled with technical issues, Rihanna and Lauryn Hill didn’t show up due to illness and that Lady Gaga’s musical salute to the late David Bowie “paid tribute or butchered Bowie depending on your point of view”.
“We wouldn’t be up here if it wasn’t for the people dancing to this song”, Mars said.
Hip-hop also took center stage in the win for Best Musical Theater Album, an award not usually presented during the evening telecast. “Don’t Wanna Fight” won Grammys for best rock song and rock performance.
Wonder, who has won 25 Grammys over his career, was joined by a cappella group Pentatonix for a tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, while Eagles musician Glenn Frey, who died last month, was honoured with a special tribute by his bandmates Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Timothy B Schmit and Joe Walsh and friend Jackson Browne, who performed Take It Easy at the show. He also won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for his joint venture “These Walls” featuring Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat.
“My heart is beating a mile a minute”, said frontwoman Brittany Howard.
“This is something you never ever dream of so I’m super grateful for it”, he said.
Meanwhile, drummer and bandleader Antonio Sanchez, who was denied an opportunity to win an Oscar previous year for Best Original Score after his work for the film “Birdman” was declared ineligible, was awarded Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media.
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John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor and Tyrese all delivered stunning performances – but when Richie himself jumped on stage, the performance hit another level. “Thank you for this moment”. MULTIPLE TROPHIES Other multiple Grammy winners on Monday included The Weeknd, Skrillex and Diplo, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town and Jason Isbell.
