There were a lot of awesomeness collaborations: Coldplay with Jay Z, Jonas Brothers with Stevie Wonder, Radiohead with University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band, the “swagga like”, Kanye West, T.I. And Lil Wayne with Maya M.I.A., Dave Grohl (of Foo Fighters, Nirvana) with Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift with Miley Cyrus. Each of the performers tried their best to steal the show at the Sunday´s Grammy, each succeeding in their own way.
Performance Extraordinaire
U2 began the night with an amazing energy to rock the rest of the night. Bono sang their new single, "Get On Your Boots," a slashing, fuzzed-out rocker from an album due this year. He is probably the last man standing, as a mass-appeal rockstar, and a philanthropist.
Radioheads had a sweet rock performance of the night with a beloved experimental art-rock ensemble, alongside collaborator University of Southern California marching band. The English band has always shied away from the Grammys but their version of "15 Step" was a show-stopper.Rapper Jay-Z joined Coldplay for the quiet piano ballad "Lost," then exited as Coldplay reached for the afters with sorta-soaring arena-rocker "Viva La Vida," which won multiple awards.
Tamil Briton M.I.A. did not give birth to a baby on the red carpet or the stage – her due was yesterday. But she did give the best performance of the night, alongside the swaggas T.I., Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Jay Z. Her electro-rap firebrand "Paper Planes" was sampled in the song Swagga like us.
The Jonas Brothers looked really good on stage during their wow-pow duet with Stevie Wonder.
And often, everything nearly went off the rails. The brothers were so amped to be onstage with the dude that they nearly knocked the soul great off his piano stool. They performed their "Burning Up" and his classic "Superstition”.
Winner-looser Lil Wayne performed a post-Katrina lament, "Tie My Hands," with blue-eyed soul singer Robin Thicke. Wayne had a bit of a party himself, winning four awards, including best rap album for "Tha Carter III," the top-selling album of 2008 in any genre.
Justin Timberlake, Al Green, Boyz II Men and Keith Urban not only receive a standing ovation, but the crowd is on its feet for their entire performance. While Kid Rock poked a fun at himself and the crowd could not help but stop laughing. During his performance a mugshot from one of his arrests was flashed on the huge monitors beside him. It was a good joke.
There was heartbreak, embodied in the sob that overtook Jennifer Hudson´s golden throat as she sang “You Pulled Me Through,” and received a standing ovation. Hiphop favorite Kanye West showed off his skills duetting with the English singer Estelle. Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift looked amazing but the duet sounded little high schoolish.
Paul McCartney, performed a Beatles song “I saw her standing there” with Grammy favorite Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on drums. Guitar geeks John Mayer and Keith Urban sat and traded licks with B.B. King, paying tribute to the late Bo Diddley.
New Grammy favorites Sugarland and brassy-voiced Adele subtly supported each other on the English chanteuse´s hit, "Chasing Pavements."
And Katy Perry, however damn good she looked inside a banana, seemed little off-tune and perhaps lip-synching? I Kissed a Girl will never be the same again.On the brighter note, Blink-182 confirmed that they were coming back, together, and with a bang after their five-year hiatus. The trio went on stage to give out the trophy for Best Rock Album to Coldplay. “We used to play music together, and we decided to play music together once again,” added Travis Barker, the drummer who survived a deadly jet accident in which four were killed last year. The bottom line: “Blink-182 is back.”
The pop-punk rock trio had disbanded in December 2004, with members forming new bands. A press statement, right after the appearance, read, “...to put it simply, We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy.”
The band left things with the words “Summer 2009. Thanks and get ready…”
Day of the Winners
Musical superodd couple Led Zeppelin ex-frontman Robert Plant and bluegrass icon Alison Krauss sweep the show with five awards for their groundbreaking rock and bluegrass collaboration, the much acclaimed "Raising Sand" album. The duo were honored with the coveted album of the year and record of the year at the prestigious gala event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Though amazing, it somehow looked little too stretched for us to believe that the amazing duo won all five awards that they were nominated for. All Five! If they had six more nomination, they would have won all those too. “Raising Sand” is a timeless craft of an engrossing country-influenced album but maybe not THE album of the year. English band Radiohead should have been rewarded, for their electronic and studio experimentations and even more daring endeavor of releasing it independently at a pay-what-you-want-to price on the band´s website.
After collecting album of the year, the last award of the night, Plant said that he was bewildered. “In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it´s a good way to spend a Sunday." For bluegrass queen Krauss, this award meant a new record with a staggering 26 Grammys under her belt, the most awards for a female performer. Plant and Krauss also won Grammys for best country collaboration with vocals, best pop collaboration, best contemporary folk/Americana album, and record of the year.
Plant also revealed that his partnership with Krauss had opened his eyes to a new world of music. "We come from such different places on the musical map," he said. "Alison showed me so much I’d never been exposed to."
Ironically, for Plant, Led Zeppelin never won an award at the Grammys, except for their posthumous honor for Lifetime Achievement, four years ago. The 60-year-old brushed off questions about a Led Zeppelin tour. "How old are you man?" he told a journalist. "Because you look older than me. You try doing ´Communication Breakdown´ in these pants."
Elsewhere, New Orleans star Lil Wayne´s hopes of winning in the album of the year award were thwarted by Krauss and Plant. He went home with four awards, out of eight nominations. Even though nominated for eight awards, the diminutive rapper won four awards. His long hope for Album of the Year was thwarted by Krauss and Plant and had to be satisfied with rap album of the year. He also won best rap performance and best rap song.Other big winners included British supergroup Coldplay who went home with three awards (they were nominated for seven awards). Their Viva La Vida won Song of the Year. They won the awards for song of the year, best pop performance by a group and best rock album for "Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends."
20-year old Londoner singer-songwriter Adele won the Grammy award for best new artist, outshining fellow Brit Duffy, tween pop-kings The Jonas Brothers, Philadelphia soul singer Jazmine Sullivan and country rockers Lady Antebellum. The tradition to award the new face award to female artists (Carrie Underwood and Amy Winehouse, in previous years) was well kept.Tragic singer Jennifer Hudson won her first Grammy after triumphing in the best R&B album category. 27-year old appeared into the spotlight only last week after the murders of her mother, brother and nephew six months back. The former American Idol contestant won for her album "Jennifer Hudson." Two years ago, she had won the best supporting actress at the Oscars for her performance in "Dreamgirls."
"Superwoman" earned R&B supersinger Alicia Keys best female R & B vocal performance. Ne-Y won the equivalent male award for his "Miss Independent."
There was a win for 83-year-old "King of the Blues" BB King, whose "One Kind Favor" won the best traditional blues album. The win was the 15th Grammy of King´s epic four-decade-old career.
Speaking of upsets Rihanna, apart from missing in action and dropping off performance, was expected to win. Such a sad thing that she lost to Daft Punk for “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. Another upset has to be that The Mars Volta dished Rob Zombie, Judas Priest and Motley Crue for best hard rock performance. It’s almost unacceptable.
There is no surprise Metallica won best metal performance for a sixth time and Jimmy Sturr won best polka album, for the 18th time, which should be renamed the Jimmy Sturr award.In altogether, 110 gilded gramophone trophies were handed out last night.
Rihanna´s Drama
The event also saw last minute change of plans. Rihanna pulled out from performing and was missing at the show along with his beau Chris Brown. In a Hollywood-like drama, Los Angeles police have questioned Brown in connection with an allegation of domestic violence. Gossipers say it involved Rihanna. So, the organizers were forced to make an 11th hour change with their star-studded line-up. Justin Timberlake saved the day with his duet with Al Green.
However, all in all the award show was a grandeur musical ceremony. And even grander performance. And here is a look at the complete list of winners at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards:
Album of the Year: "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer (Rounder)
Rap Album: "Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Say," John Mayer; track from "Continuum" (Columbia)
Record of the Year: "Please Read The Letter," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
New Artist: Adele
Rock Album: "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends," Coldplay (Capitol)
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Rich Woman," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Song of the Year: "Viva La Vida," Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay), track from "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol Records; Publishers: Universal Music-MGB Songs)
Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Stay," Sugarland, track from "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury)
R&B Album: "Jennifer Hudson," Jennifer Hudson (Arista)
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Rick Rubin
Producer of the Year, Classical: David Frost
Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Chasing Pavements," Adele, track from "19" (Columbia/XL) Traditional Pop Vocal Album: "Still Unforgettable," Natalie Cole (DMI)
Pop Vocal Album: "Rockferry," Duffy (Mercury)
Pop Instrumental Performance: "I Dreamed There Was No War," Eagles, track from "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Company)
Pop Instrumental Album: "Jingle All the Way," Bela Fleck & The Flecktones (Rounder)
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Viva La Vida," Coldplay, track from "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol)
Alternative Music Album: "In Rainbows," Radiohead (TBD)
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Gravity," John Mayer, track from "Where The Light Is: Live in Los Angeles" (Columbia)
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Sex on Fire," Kings of Leon (RCA)
Hard Rock Performance: "Wax Simulacra," The Mars Volta (Universal Motown)
Metal Performance: "My Apocalypse," Metallica, track from "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros.)
Rock Instrumental Performance: "Peaches En Regalia," Zappa Plays Zappa featuring Steve Vai and Napoleon Murphy Brock (Strobosonic/Razor & Tie Entertainment)
Rock Song: "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen), track from "Magic" (Columbia; Publisher: Bruce Springsteen)
Rap Solo Performance: "A Milli," Lil Wayne, track from "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: "Swagga Like Us," Jay-Z and T.I. featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne (Roc-A-Fella/Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
Rap/Sung Collaboration: "American Boy," Estelle featuring Kanye West, track from "Shine" (Homeschool/Atlantic)
Rap Song: "Lollipop," Dwayne Carter, Darius Harrison, James Scheffer, Stephen Garrett and Rex Zamor, songwriters (Lil Wayne featuring Static Major), track from "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal Motown; Publishers: Young Money Publishing/Warner-Chappell Music, Herbalicious Music/Blackfountain Music/EMI-April Music, JimiPub Music/EMI Blackwood, Three Nails and A Crown Publishing/Roynet Music)
Country Song: "Stay," Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland), track from "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury Records; Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing)
Country Album: "Troubadour," George Strait (MCA Nashville)
Female Country Vocal Performance: "Last Name," Carrie Underwood, track from "Carnival Ride" (19/Arista/Arista Nashville)
Male Country Vocal Performance: "Letter to Me," Brad Paisley, track from "5th Gear" (Arista Nashville)
Country Collaboration with Vocals: "Killing the Blues," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Country Instrumental Performance: "Cluster Pluck," Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Steve Wariner (Arista Nashville)
R&B Song: "Miss Independent," Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Shaffer Smith, songwriters (Ne-Yo), track from "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam/Compound; Publishers: Pen in the Ground Publishing, Universal Music-Z Tunes)
Contemporary R&B Album: "Growing Pains," Mary J. Blige (Geffen)
Female R&B Vocal Solo: "Superwoman," Alicia Keys, track from "As I Am" (J)
Male R&B Vocal Solo: "Miss Independent," Ne-Yo, track from "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam/Compound)
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Stay With Me (By the Sea)," Al Green featuring John Legend, track from "Lay It Down" (Blue Note)
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "You´ve Got the Love I Need," Al Green featuring Anthony Hamilton, track from "Lay It Down" (Blue Note)
Urban/Alternative Performance: "Be OK," Chrisette Michele featuring will.i.am, track from "I Am" (Def Jam)
Dance Recording: "Harder Better Faster Stronger," Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, producers; Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, mixers; track from "Alive 2007" (Virgin)
Electronic Dance Album: "Alive 2007," Daft Punk (Virgin)
Bluegrass Album: "Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947," Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (Skaggs Family)
Traditional Blues Album: "One Kind Favor," B.B. King (Geffen)
Contemporary Blues Album: "City That Care Forgot," Dr. John and The Lower 911 (429)
New Age Album: "Peace Time," Jack DeJohnette (Golden Beams/Kindred Rhythm)
Contemporary Jazz Album: "Randy in Brasil," Randy Brecker (MAMA)
Jazz Vocal Album: "Loverly," Cassandra Wilson (Blue Note)
Jazz Instrumental Solo: "BE-BOP," Terence Blanchard, soloist; track from "Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival" (Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars) (Monterey Jazz Festival)
Jazz Instrumental Album Individual or Group: "The New Crystal Silence," Chick Corea and Gary Burton (Concord)
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: "Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard," The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (Planet Arts Recordings)
Latin Jazz Album: "Song for Chico," Arturo O´Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (Zoho)
Latin Pop Album: "La Vida ... Es Un Ratico," Juanes (Universal Music Latino)
Latin Rock or Alternative Album: "45," Jaguares (EMI Music)
Latin Urban Album: "Los Extraterrestres," Wisin y Yandel (Machete Music)
Tropical Latin Album: "Senor Bachata," Jose Feliciano (Universal Music Latino)
Regional Mexican Album: "Amor, Dolor y Lagrimas: Musica Ranchera," Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) in a tie with "Canciones de Amor," Mariachi Divas (Shea/East Side)
Tejano Album: "Viva La Revolucion," Ruben Ramos and The Mexican Revolution (Revolution)
Norteno Album: "Raices," Los Tigres Del Norte (Fonovisa)
Banda Album: "No Es De Madera" Joan Sebastian (Musart/Balboa)
Traditional Folk Album: "At 89," Pete Seeger (Appleseed Recordings)
Contemporary Folk/Americana Album: "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (Rounder)
Native American Music Album: "Come to Me Great Mystery: Native American Healing Songs," (Various Artists) Tom Wasinger, producer (Silver Wave)
Hawaiian Music Album: "Ikena," Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho (Daniel Ho Creations)
Zydeco or Cajun Music Album: "Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival," BeauSoleil and Michael Doucet (MunckMix)
Engineering Album, Classical: "Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago," David Frost, Tom Lazarus and Christopher Willis, engineers (Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Alan Gilbert, Silk Road Ensemble, Wu Man, Yo-Yo Ma and Chicago Symphony Orchestra) (CSO Resound)
Reggae Album: "Jah Is Real," Burning Spear (Burning Music Production)
Traditional World Music Album: "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu," Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Heads Up International)
Contemporary World Music Album: "Global Drum Project," Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo (Shout! Factory)
Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Juno," (Various Artists) Peter Afterman, Jason Reitman and Margaret Yen, producers (Fox Music/Rhino)
Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Television or Other Visual Media: "The Dark Knight," James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer, composers (Warner Sunset/Warner Bros.)
Polka Album: "Let the Whole World Sing," Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra (Rounder)
Gospel Performance: "Get Up," Mary Mary; track from "The Sound" (Columbia)
Gospel Song: "Help Me Believe," Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin); track from "The Fight of My Life" (Fo Yo Soul Ent./Zomba Gospel; Publishers: Universal Music-Z Songs/Kerrion Publishing)
Rock or Rap Gospel Album: "Alive and Transported," TobyMac (ForeFront Records EMI CMG)
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "Thy Kingdom Come," CeCe Winans (PureSprings Gospel/EMI Gospel)
Southern, Country, Bluegrass Gospel: "Lovin´ Life," Gaither Vocal Band (Gaither Music Group)
Traditional Gospel Album: "Down in New Orleans," The Blind Boys of Alabama (Time Life)
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: "The Fight of My Life," Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Zomba Gospel)
Classical Album: "Weill: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny," James Conlon, conductor; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler, producer (Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich and Robert Worle; Los Angeles Opera Chorus; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra) (EuroArts)
Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Down to Earth," ("WALL-E") Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, songwriters (Peter Gabriel) (Walt Disney/Pixar; Publishers: Walt Disney Music, Wonderland Music/Pixar Talking Pictures/Pixar Music)
Musical Show Album: "In the Heights," Kurt Deutsch, Alex Lacamoire, Andres Levin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joel Moss and Bill Sherman, producers; Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer/lyricist (Original Broadway Cast with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Others) (Razor & Tie Entertainment/Ghostlight)
Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling): "An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore)," Beau Bridges, Cynthia Nixon and Blair Underwood (Simon & Schuster Audio)
Musical Album for Children: "Here Come the 123s," They Might Be Giants (Disney Sound)
Spoken Word Album Children: "Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live," Bill Harley (Round River)
Comedy Album: "It´s Bad for Ya," George Carlin (Eardrum)
Instrumental Composition: "The Adventures of Mutt," (from "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," John Williams, composer (John Williams), track from "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" soundtrack (Concord)
Instrumental Arrangement: "Define Dancing," (from "WALL-E") Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, arrangers (Thomas Newman), track from "WALL-E" soundtrack (Walt Disney)
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Here´s That Rainy Day," Nan Schwartz, arranger (Natalie Cole), track from "Still Unforgettable" (DMI)
Engineered Album, Non-Classical: "Consolers of the Lonely," Joe Chiccarelli, Vance Powell and Jack White III, engineers (The Raconteurs) (Third Man/Warner Bros.)
Remixed Recording: "Electric Feel (Justice Remix)," Justice, remixers (MGMT), Track from: "Oracular Spectacular" (Columbia)
Surround Sound Album: "Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain; Prelude to Khovanshchina," Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering engineer; Robert Woods, surround producer (Paavo Jarvi and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) (Telarc)
Opera Recording: "Weill: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny," James Conlon, conductor; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler, producer (Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich and Robert Worle; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra; Los Angeles Opera Chorus) (EuroArts)
Orchestral Performance: "Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4," Bernard Haitink, conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) (CSO Resound)
Choral Performance: "Symphony of Psalms," Sir Simon Rattle, conductor; Simon Halsey, chorus master (Berliner Philharmoniker; Rundfunkchor Berlin) track from "Stravinsky: Symphonies" (EMI Classics)
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra): "Schoenberg/Sibelius: Violin Concertos," Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Hilary Hahn (Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra) (Deutsche Grammophon)
Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra): "Piano Music of Salonen, Stucky, and Lutoslawski," Gloria Cheng (Telarc)
Chamber Music Performance: "Carter, Elliott: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 5," Pacifica Quartet (Naxos)
Small Ensemble Performance: "Spotless Rose: Hymns to the Virgin Mary," Charles Bruffy, conductor; Phoenix Chorale (Chandos)
Classical Vocal Performance: "Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan," Hila Plitmann (JoAnn Falletta; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) (Naxos)
Classical Contemporary Composition: "Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan," John Corigliano (JoAnn Falletta); track from: "Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan" (Naxos)
Classical Crossover Album: "Simple Gifts," The King´s Singers (Signum)
Short Form Music Video: "Pork and Beans," Weezer, Mathew Cullen, video director; Bernard Rahill, video producder (DGC/Interscope)
Long Form Music Video: "Runnin´ Down a Dream," Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Peter Bogdanovich, video director; Skot Bright, video producer (Warner Bros.)
Recording Package: "Death Magnetic," Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffat and David Turner, art directors (Metallica) (Warner Bros.)
Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: "In Rainbows," Stanley Donwood, Mel Maxwell and Christiaan Munro, art directors (Radiohead)
Album Notes: "Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector´s Edition," Francis Davis, album notes writer (Miles Davis) (Columbia/Legacy Recordings)
Historical Album: "Art of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music Documented by Art Rosenbaum," Steven Lance Ledbetter and Art Rosenbaum, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineering (Various Artists) (Dust-to-Digital)
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