Taylor Swift proved she’s no walkover as she appeared to have a subtle dig at Kanye West in a speech.
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The back-and-forth drama between Taylor Swift and Kanye West is infamous enough that the 2009 quote “Imma let you finish” is still a valid catchphrase these days.
“With all that divides us today, our shared love of music unites us”, the host offered from the stage before promising that all performers would be singing live and remembering highlights from past years’ ceremonies. Referring to his Grammys, he added, “This is something that you never ever, ever dream of, so I’m super grateful for it”.
Swift’s 1989 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when it was first released in October 2014 and had “the largest sales week for an album since 2002”.
“I’d like to thank Taylor Swift for glitter-bombing me before”, Stapleton joked, referring to the falling glitter during Swift’s opening performance as he accepted his award.
While the experimental album also came out too late for this year’s Grammys, composer Maria Schneider won a Grammy for best arrangements for one of the songs, “Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)”.
Some were uneven, though, with Demi Lovato’s stirring version of Lionel Richie’s “Hello” followed by Luke Bryan’s struggle with “Penny Lover”. The single is also nominated for song and record of the year.
Even so, her return to the Grammy stage after four years away was arguably the most anticipated of the night – and it may have been one of the evening’s best.
All About That Bass singer Meghan Trainor burst into tears and embraced her father as she was announced as best new artist by last year’s victor Sam Smith.
“Hamilton” is sold out well into the fall, and no wonder: Miranda’s combination of hip-hop, history and histrionics showed the Grammys’ Los Angeles audience that NY was very much in the house. “We won! We won pop vocal album!”.
He went on to fuse rap, jazz, reggae and African sounds for a commanding performance as he rapped “The Blacker the Berry” and the Grammy-nominated “Alright” passionately.
Rosen gave the Grammys edge to Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and Wilson said Alabama Shakes’ Sound & Color would win, while arguing that To Pimp a Butterfly should win.
“I have to think L.A. Reid for looking at me like an artist instead of just a songwriter”, the “All About That Bass” singer said, audibly sobbing.
The band later returned to the stage to perform the track.
Rihanna, who was supposed to perform near the top of the show, couldn’t due to doctor’s orders.
Best pop solo performance- “Thinking Out Loud”, Ed Sheeran. “Oh shoot, I don’t have her number”, he said onstage.
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Vying with Lamar for best musical segment of the show was Lady Gaga’s tribute to David Bowie, who died suddenly earlier this year.
