2023 GRAMMY’S HIGHLIGHTS ON STAGE
The 65th Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles and everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Adele to Willie Nelson and Beyoncé was on the scene. Harry Styles’ picked up the coveted best album prize, Viola Davis completed an EGOT, and Beyoncé became the most decorated artist in Grammy history.
Here are the high and low points of a ceremony that had more twists and turns than a helter skelter in a hall of mirrors.
What does Beyoncé have to do to win best album?
Every time Beyoncé releases a new album, she rewrites the rule book for everybody else. From her self-titled visual album in 2013, and the confessional masterpiece that was 2016’s Lemonade, to last year’s disco fantasia Renaissance, she has changed the way that pop music is written, produced, released, presented and promoted.
During the ceremony, Beyoncé picked up a record-breaking 32nd trophy. She was already tied with her husband Jay-Z as the most-nominated artist of all time (they have 88 each).
This year, Renaissance was the presumed front-runner for album of the year. A deep and affectionate dive into black and gay dance culture, it was the most critically-acclaimed release of 2022.
But, for the fourth time in her career, Beyoncé was beaten to the top honour. This time Harry Styles took the crown. Previously, it was Beck, Adele and Taylor Swift.
What’s the message the Grammys are trying to deliver here? Because it seems to be: “Stop being so impressive and write music we feel comfortable with”.
Everyone needs to work on their speeches, except Lizzo.
It wasn’t a great night for speechmaking. Ozzy Osbourne made me laugh with a brusque, “Thank you and off”, but otherwise, there was a lot of thanking your mum and being “so inspired” by all the other nominees. Luckily, Lizzo was on hand to give everyone a big old pep talk.
The Grammys belatedly realised hip-hop is pretty good!
This August marks 50 years since DJ Kool Herc and his sister Cindy threw a party in the Bronx that’s considered the birthing ground of hip-hop.
Kicking off with Grandmaster Flash’s Flash to the Beat and The Message, the 12-minute medley made room for Run-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, Public Enemy, De La Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff (scratching his way through Rock The Bells) Rakim, Ice-T, Method Man, an exquisitely-choreographed Missy Elliot, Queen Latifah and The Lox.
It was the undoubted highlight of the night… but there was a glaring absence from Drake and Eminem, both of whom are boycotting the Grammys, saying it sidelines hip-hop from the major categories.
It was a big night for Kim Petras
Sam Smith and Kim Petras won best pop duo/group collaboration for their campy sex melodrama Unholy – which they also performed, with Smith dressed as the devil for good measure.
But the British singer ceded the microphone to Petras at the winner’s podium, watching with pride as she delivered her speech,
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” Petras said, her face covered in a red satin veil.
She went on to thank the pioneers and activists who “kicked the doors open” – a list that would include Wendy Carlos, the first transgender woman to win a competitive Grammy back in 1970, for her pioneering synth album Switched-On Bach).
