The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards were held Sunday, March 14th. Amidst a global pandemic, the ceremony still managed to bring a whole new feel of energy and excitement, all while following the Covid-19 social distancing policies.
And it wasn’t just one zoom video call. Those attending in-person performed their elected songs on stages, all while distanced from each other. But artists were still able to watch and cheer for others from a safe distance away. And the stages weren’t any less than what was shown on previous Grammy nights.
Additionally, Trevor Noah as the host brought his own energy to the show, and a few of his jokes. “That is what tonight is all about — it’s about bringing us all together as only music can,” he said. “Well, I mean, music and vaccines.”
From Harry Styles’s opening performance of “Watermelon Sugar,” to Roddy Ricch’s closing piano performance of “Heartless,” and everything in between, these musicians continue to wow and amaze.
Some of the night’s biggest highlights include M.V.P. Megan Thee Stallion, who took home 3 awards; best new artist, best rap, and best rap performance. Her speeches were a gift to the audience, as the rapper showed her open love and appreciation for those whom she believed helped her reach these heights in music. Among those was Beyonce, who collaborated with her in her “Savage” remix.
And Beyonce did attend the award show, accompanied by her husband Jay-Z. This woman made history on Grammy’s night when she was awarded her 28th grammy for “Black Parade,” as Best R&B performance. Her daughter, Blue Ivy, also received her first Grammy award, for “Brown Skin Girl,” as part of the Music Video/Film category.
Major contenders including Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish also took home the prize. Taylor also made history as the only woman to get Album of the Year for three years in a row. She earned the award for “Folklore.” As for Billie, she took home the biggest award of the night, for “Everything I Ever Wanted,” in the Record of the Year category. Harry Styles took the award for Best Pop Solo Performance. Dua Lipa, with a whopping 6 nominees, won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Performance-wise, there was a diverse array of performances, from many different artists. Rock group Haim brought unique energy to the stage, while Black Pumas added their own soul-feel to their performance of “Colors.” Bruno Mars debuted with Anderson Paak in their group, Silk Sonic, with their radiant performance of “Leave the Door Open.”
There were a few first-time nominee performers that night. Harry Styles opened the show with his live-band version of “Watermelon Sugar.” Megan did a mashup of her two hit songs, “Body,” and “Savage,” with a collaboration stage with Cardi B at the end. Dua Lipa and Doja Cat, with their separate stages, also brought color and pop, followed by choreography alongside backup dancers with their hit mashups. BTS, the 7-member group from South Korea, joined the line-up with their song, “Dynamite.” While they didn’t attend in person, they delivered their eye-catching performance from their home country, shining through the city of Seoul with the funk and soul that added its own magic to the award show.
But possibly among all the performers, Lil Baby’s brought the most attention. His performance of “The Bigger Picture” highlighted the major issue of police brutality in our country. The lyrics, alongside the visual storytelling, brought a sense of realism to the Grammys that night. He was joined by both Killer Mike and Tamika Mallory, activist and social justice advocate, as they presented the issue of racism at hand.
Overall, despite the pandemic, the award show pursued in broadcasting musical talent for those around the world to see, still showcasing the same level of upbeat, colorful, and vibrant performances.