By Nardos Haile | Associated Press
NEW YORK — An evening in music brimming with stunning upsets, historic wins, tributes for artists just like the late rapper Takeoff and hip-hop’s fiftieth anniversary, the sixty fifth Grammys have been again in full swing Sunday. Once once more, Beyoncé was within the operating for the highest honor.
Once once more, the present ended with another person successful album of the yr.
This yr was extensively seen as an opportunity for the Grammys to honor the celebrity with a marquee award, particularly on an evening the place she may have ( and did ) turn into its most embellished artist.
Instead, Harry Styles received, and a line from his acceptance speech stung those that thought Beyoncé ought to have received.
Here’s what occurred, the way it’s been perceived and who picks the Grammys’ prime honors.
WHAT’S CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT STYLES’ WIN?
Styles received for his third album, “Harry’s House,” and even he appeared stunned when his identify was referred to as.
The British pop star was competing once more different giants within the trade: acts like ABBA, Adele, Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Coldplay, Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar, and Beyoncé.
While accepting the award, he stated, “This is really, really kind. I’m so, so grateful… I’m just so — This doesn’t happen to people like me very often. And this is so, so nice. Thank you very, very much.”
The line, “this doesn’t happen to people like me very often,” drew criticism within the hours after his win.
Styles was born and raised in Northern England and rose to fame in 2010 when he auditioned for the Simon Cowell-led expertise competitors present “The X Factor.” He positioned third with the boyband One Direction. His solo profession has earned him a number of Grammys and Billboard-charting albums and singles.
Styles hasn’t stated what he meant by his phrases. Some have interpreted it as him making an attempt to precise how far he’d come from his youth. Others, nevertheless, see the comment for example of white privilege.
WHY ARE PEOPLE MAD AT STYLES’ WORDS?
Many of Beyoncé’s followers are fiercely protecting of the singer. They’re referred to as the Beyhive, in spite of everything.
Despite Beyoncé’s 32 Grammy wins – essentially the most of any artist in historical past – many are troubled by the actual fact she has but to win album of yr and that she’s misplaced to white musicians each time she has been nominated.
Washington Post pop music critic Chris Richards, in a narrative headlined “Beyoncé just made Grammy history. Why does it feel like she still lost?” wrote that her historic achievement feels hole.
“Why does that feel like not enough,” Richards requested. “Because for the past 20 years and counting, the Recording Academy has routinely failed to recognize Black artists at their creative peaks — and to her credit, Beyoncé keeps updating that peak with each new album.”
Similar criticism was raised in different tales and by on-line commenters, a few of whom famous a Black girl hadn’t received album of the yr since Lauryn Hill within the late ’90s.
Ashley Smalls, a Black feminism and popular culture doctoral scholar at Penn State University criticized Styles’ speech in a tweet: “‘this doesn’t happen to people like me very often’ when a Black woman hasn’t won that award since 1999 is crazy lol.”
WHAT IS BEYONCÉ’S GRAMMYS HISTORY?
The artist is tied together with her husband, Jay-Z, for many nominations all-time with 88 however she has solely received 32 occasions. Most considerably, Beyoncé has misplaced album of the yr 4 occasions to Taylor Swift, Beck, Adele and now Styles.
Beyoncé has been nominated in every of essentially the most prestigious classes throughout her decadeslong profession however she has received in these classes simply as soon as for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).”A Black girl has not received album of the yr since Lauryn Hill acquired the accolade for her breakout album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in 1999. The final Black individual to win the award was Jon Batiste, final yr for his album “We Are.”
WHO DECIDES ALBUM OF THE YEAR?
According to Billboard, the Recording Academy boasts greater than 12,000 voting members. The total membership is allowed to vote within the massive 4 classes — greatest new artist, document, music and album of the yr. Members are additionally answerable for nominating of their space of experience, in addition to voting on the winners this classes.
Numerous artists have criticized how the Grammys nominate artists. The Recording Academy is present process a marketing campaign to diversify its membership and has a aim of getting 2,500 feminine members by 2025.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR BEYONCÉ AND STYLES?
Both are hitting the street for worldwide excursions.
Styles’ subsequent present is in Thailand subsequent week and he’ll play reveals in Asia and Europe into the summer season.
Beyoncé shall be beginning her “Renaissance” tour in May in Sweden and can play dates in Europe and the United States.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”