It all comes right down to Taylor Swift, doesn’t it? After some weeks the place she attracted consideration for her soccer star boyfriend and right-wing assaults directed her approach, the Grammys put the main target again on Swift’s artwork. She grew to become the primary artist to received the Grammy for album of the 12 months 4 occasions, breaking a tie with different three-time winners Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
Women dominated the 2024 Grammys, each within the main awards and in performances. Returns by Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell have been emotional excessive factors of a present that didn’t lack for memorable moments.
It’s Taylor Swift’s world, and she or he simply permits us to stay in it.
After weeks the place she attracted limitless consideration for her soccer star boyfriend and a mystifying right-wing marketing campaign in opposition to her, the Grammy Awards put the main target squarely again on her artwork. “Midnights” earned Swift her fourth profession Grammy for album of the 12 months on Sunday, an achievement nobody can match.
It breaks a tie with Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder, who every received the honour thrice.
“For me, the award is the work,” she mentioned. “All I want to do is keep doing it.”
And she is going to (extra on that later). Swift was the final instance of an action-packed present the place girls earned the most important honors and had the vast majority of essentially the most memorable performances. Miley Cyrus powerfully belted “Flowers, which won record of the year. Billie Eilish’s ballad from “Barbie,” “What Was I Made For?” was tune of the 12 months for her and co-writer Finneas O’Connell, her brother. Singer-songwriter Victoria Monét is greatest new artist.
There have been so many riches that rock supergroup boygenius, with Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, received three Grammys and didn’t even make it onto the CBS portion of the present.
Making the perfect pop vocal solo efficiency the televised present’s first award — the place all 5 nominees have been girls — was a savvy trace to what was coming.
TRACY’S TURN
Bringing the reclusive Tracy Chapman on to duet with nation singer Luke Combs, who had an enormous hit overlaying her “Fast Car” this previous summer season, was spine-tingling. In a pre-taped phase main into it, Combs eloquently described what the tune meant to him rising up. Clearly moved, Chapman’s eyes glistened when the group roared as she performed the 1988 tune’s unforgettable guitar riff. She’s stored to the background as Combs introduced the tune to a brand new technology, and selected a sensible place to reemerge.
SOME FLOWERS FOR MILEY
Not to diss extra elaborately-staged affairs, however there was a sure energy to Cyrus’ efficiency of “Flowers.” It was simply her and the tune, basically. There was no query she may carry it, and she or he even inserted a few ad-libs: “I just won my first Grammy!” Her acceptance speeches have been full of persona. “I don’t think I’ve forgotten anyone,” she mentioned, after a requisite checklist of thank-yous, “but I may have forgotten underwear.”
JAY-Z NEVER FORGETS
In accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z proved he has a protracted reminiscence. He recalled the occasions that rap artists have been outspoken about not getting sufficient consideration from the Grammys commensurate with music gross sales, even boycotting a present — though “they went to a hotel to watch the Grammys,” he mentioned. “It wasn’t a great boycott.” Jay-Z considers it an injustice that his spouse, Beyoncé, has by no means received album of the 12 months regardless of her astonishing haul of 32 Grammys. “When I get nervous,” he mentioned, “I tell the truth.”
JONI’S RETURN
Joni Mitchell’s return to the stage earned her a Grammy and her efficiency Sunday was one other emotional spotlight. Surrounded by musical associates like Brandi Carlile, the 80-year-old Mitchell sat in a simple chair that resembled a throne, tapping her cane as she sang “Both Sides Now.” Her voice, which she needed to recuperate after struggling a mind aneurysm, introduced a richness and perspective to the tune that would solely be hinted at within the unique. Like Chapman, she was visibly moved by the viewers’s reception, betrayed by laughter after she completed.
TOUCHING TRIBUTES
Let’s be trustworthy, these “in memoriam” tributes to individuals who died up to now 12 months often sign that it’s time for a loo break. Not so right here. Stevie Wonder honored Tony Bennett on a chilling “duet” with a filmed Bennett on Wonder’s “For Once in My Life,” then sang Bennett’s “The Best is Yet to Come.” Annie Lennox, saluting Sinead O’Connor, sang “Nothing Compares 2 U,” with two of the late songwriter Prince’s accompanists. And Fantasia Barrino shook the partitions with “Proud Mary” to honor Tina Turner.
LATE ‘LIGHTS’
The Grammys little question supposed Billy Joel’s efficiency of his first new tune in 30 years, “Turn the Lights Back On,” to be a giant show-capper. But the Grammys’ earlier three hours have been a tough act to prime.
HARD WORK
To the general public, it typically appears that stars arrive all of a sudden, however Monét and SZA supplied charming reminders of all of the onerous work and goals that go into success. After disarmingly thanking “the champagne servers of tonight,” Monét described the 15-year journey that took her to a greatest new artist award. “My roots have been growing underneath the ground for so long — and I feel like today I’m sprouting,” she mentioned. There was a short pause earlier than SZA accepted an award for greatest R&B tune, since she was altering backstage. But she was overwhelmed after recalling, with the trophy offered by Lizzo, the times a decade in the past after they opened exhibits in small golf equipment. She hustled offstage when the tears flowed. “I’m not an attractive crier,” she mentioned.
PROMO TIME
Yes, we perceive that artists are all the time looking out to advertise their work. But when Swift took time in accepting an award to announce that her new album would come out in April, and mentioned she would share cowl artwork on social media, it felt … low cost. Like she was hijacking the occasion for her personal functions, with information she knew would overshadow a lot of what was taking place. U2, beamed in from a live performance at their Las Vegas residency, felt like they have been selling an enviornment as a substitute of their very own work, misplaced as they have been within the razzle-dazzle. Two forgettable moments for 2 large stars.
TREVOR KNOWS
Props to Trevor Noah for his job as host. His enthusiasm for the music world can appear pet dog-like, nevertheless it beats insult comics and ironists Opening the present from the world’s flooring, strolling round to level out the celebrities, Noah constructed spirit for folks there and at dwelling alike. He bought in some good traces, too, like when he famous Universal Music was eradicating its artists from TikTook. “How dare you rip off all the artists,” he mentioned. “Shame on you. That’s Spotify’s job.” As Swift arrived late, he mentioned that as she walked within the room, “the economy around these tables improve. Lionel Richie becomes Lionel Wealthy.”
Unlike her glares that torpedoed Jo Koy on the Golden Globes, Swift gave the impression to be having fun with Noah.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”