Last weekend, the music world got hit with some big-time news stories. On Saturday, news of legendary musician Whitney Houston’s death began to trickle out, and fans had just begun to mourn the loss of their beloved ingénue with the commencement of the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on that Sunday evening. In spite of a sudden and shocking loss, the show had to go on.
Making history in and of himself, Rapper LL Cool J served as the Grammys first ever host. Then Bruce Springsteen was the first performer to take the stage, followed by Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Chris Brown, The Foo Fighters, and Taylor Swift.
Although Lady Gaga did not perform, Nicki Minaj won the prize for most scandalous and controversial performance of the night. For her performance of “Roman Holiday,” Nicki shocked audiences with a spectacle that included exorcism, dancing monks, and a bishop as her escort. We’re still shaking our heads in confusion.
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The Grammys were a demonstration of domination in the awards arena, with a select few taking home what were nearly too many awards to carry, and most artists taking home none at all. The night’s biggest standout was 23-year-old English singer-songwriter Adele. The soul/blues/pop singer quickly rose to stardom after she was discovered on that antiquated website known as Myspace in 2006. In 2009, she won awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Three years later, she added six more Grammys to her now-extensive collection. The power-house vocalist won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form music video for her best-selling single, “Rolling in the Deep,” Album of the Year, as well as Best Pop Vocal Album, for her album 21, and Best Pop Solo Performance for her performance of “Someone Like You.”
Adele has gained widespread recognition not only for her octave-crossing, soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, but also her inspiring ability to be confident and grounded in who she is in an industry that praises conformity. In a world where money motivates and sex sells, it’s rare to see a celebrity artist prioritize the quality of her art form over the extent of her sex appeal. Adele is one of those artists, making her one of the admirable few who has remained true to her craft despite the pressures of fame.
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards was certainly a memorable event. Artists from all genres came together to celebrate their passion for music and to remember and honor those who came before to set the stage for an amazing night.