It was a mournful and solemn night at the 54th annual Grammy Awards last night in Los Angeles after legendary power voice Whitney Houston passed away on the eve of the awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel where she was preparing to attend the pre-Grammy party.
LL Cool J who hosted the awards opened the show with a prayer and then introduced a clip of a glowing Houston singing one of her best-known songs, “I Will Always Love You.” He then said afterward: “Whitney, we will always love you.”
Prior to Houston’s death, it was all about Adele who was slated to make her first public performance since having vocal cord surgery and was favoured to win in all six categories that she was nominated in. With such short amount of time, producers rushed to put together a tribute to the star by roping in Jennifer Hudson to perform the tribute. Ironically, it was Whitney who had presented the award of Best R&B album to Hudson at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
Grammy show producer Ken Ehrlich was quick to announce Hudson’s tribute. “It’s too fresh in everyone’s memory to do more at this time,” he said late Saturday, “but we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize Whitney’s remarkable contribution to music fans in general, and in particular her close ties with the Grammy telecast and her Grammy wins and nominations over the years.”
More tributes are expected during the show from other nominees and presenters but no matter what, the show must go on and we’re sure it is what Whitney would have wanted. Here’s how the Grammys work. The Grammys are determined by about 13,000 voting members with the eligibility period for nominated recordings was Oct. 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2011.
Kanye West who led with seven nominations and was generally known to dislike awards shows including the Grammys which he described as illogical took home the award for Best Rap Album for his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”. West has also worked with Jay-Z for “Watch the Throne” which was also contesting for the same award. Other albums in the running were from Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco and Nicki Minaj.
West placed himself in direct competition with himself as his joint effort with Jay-Z, “Watch the Throne,” was also up for rap album. Unfortunately, both were absent what with Jay-Z being a new father and since Kanye West wasn’t in the running to pick up any awards in the two major categories and with no performances scheduled for him, perhaps it seemed like a good idea for him to stay home.
Also vying for the trophy were hit albums from Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco and Nicki Minaj. West later was announced winners for Best Rap Collaboration and Best Rap Song for his “All of the Lights.”
Adele is tied with Beyonce when it comes to most awards won in a single night by a female artist. Drumroll please because powerhouse Adele won all 6 of her nominations! Her first win of the night with the Best Pop Solo Performance Award for “Someone Like You” and her video “Rolling in the Deep,” directed by Sam Brown wins Best Short Form Music Video.
Later on she picked up the trophy for Best Pop Vocal Album and ended the night by clinching the biggest awards of the night: Album of The Year and Record of The Year awards respectively.
The Foo Fighters’ “Wasting Light” came out champs in the rock album Grammy Award, with them winning the same award thrice before in previous years with many agreeing that it was the best record the band had ever produced. They also won the Best Long Form Video for turning one song into an entire career. Dave Grohl was seen handhelding internet cameras for his other band members who were not present so that they wouldn’t miss a thing.
The Foo Fighters also took home Best Hard Rock/Metal performance for “White Limo” and “Walk” took the Best Rock Song prize. That’s four Grammys tonight for the Foo Fighters, folks!
Best new artist nominee Skrillex (his real name is Sonny Moore) won for Best Remixed Recording (non-classical) for his take on Benny Benassi’s “Cinema.” He said that even though he wasn’t the first but he hoped his recognition this year would help other electronic artists score mainstream success. He said he believed Justice and Daft Punk should have garnered more Grammy acceptance than he has. “Everyone in the community, this means a lot to us … There’s a lot of people who have been here before us.”
Skrillex later won the award for Best Dance/Electronica Album for “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” beating other nominees such as David Guetta, Cut Copy and Deadmau5. He now has a total of three awards.
The Alternative Music Album award went to Bon Iver for their folk-inspired soft rock on “Bon Iver, Bon Iver” beating other favourites such as Foster The People and Radiohead.
Tony Bennett who has been crooning and charming hearts since the 50s, wins the Traditional Pop Vocal album award for his “Duets II,” in which he collaborates artistes like Norah Jones, Lady Gaga and the late Amy Winehouse. The win is Bennett’s 16th Grammy.
Bennett’s collaboration with the late Amy Winehouse for the song “Body and Soul” also won them Best Pop Duo/Group performance with Bennett citing that it was a “wonderful” moment and invited Winehouse’s parents onstage to share the moment. Mitch Winehouse, Amy’s father said, “Our darling daughter should be here. But these are the cards we’re dealt.”
What we love about Taylor Swift is that no matter how many times she goes on stage to pick up an award, she’s perpetually shocked, jaw dropped and all. Yep, her catchy hit “Mean” won the Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song awards.
Swift gushed, “This one really means a lot to me … There’s really no feeling quite like writing a song about someone who’s really mean to you and makes your life miserable and then winning a Grammy for it.”
Here’s the list of this year’s key winners:
Best R&B Album:
WINNER: F.A.M.E.— Chris Brown
Second Chance — El DeBarge
Love Letter — R. Kelly
Pieces Of Me— Ledisi
Kelly— Kelly Price
Best Rock Performance:
“Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall” — Coldplay
“Down By The Water” — The Decemberists
WINNER: “Walk” — Foo Fighters
“The Cave” — Mumford & Sons
“Lotus Flower” — Radiohead
Best Rap Performance:
“Look At Me Now” — Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
WINNER: “Otis” — Jay-Z & Kanye West
“The Show Goes On” — Lupe Fiasco
“Moment 4 Life” — Nicki Minaj & Drake
“Black And Yellow” — Wiz Khalifa
Best Pop Solo Performance
WINNER: “Someone Like You” — Adele
“Yoü And I” — Lady Gaga
“Grenade” — Bruno Mars
“Firework” — Katy Perry
“F***in’ Perfect” — Pink
Album Of The Year:
WINNER: 21— Adele
Wasting Light— Foo Fighters
Born This Way— Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans — Bruno Mars
Loud — Rihanna
Record Of The Year:
WINNER: “Rolling In The Deep” — Adele
“Holocene” — Bon Iver
“Grenade” — Bruno Mars
“The Cave” — Mumford & Sons
“Firework” — Katy Perry
Best New Artist:
The Band Perry
WINNER: Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
Song Of The Year:
“All Of The Lights” — Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
“The Cave” — Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
“Grenade” — Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
“Holocene” — Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)
WINNER: “Rolling In The Deep” — Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
WINNER: “Body And Soul” — Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
“Dearest” — The Black Keys
“Paradise” — Coldplay
“Pumped Up Kicks” — Foster The People
“Moves Like Jagger” — Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera
Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance:
“On The Backs Of Angels” — Dream Theater
WINNER: “White Limo” — Foo Fighters
“Curl Of The Burl”— Mastodon
“Public Enemy No. 1” — Megadeth
“Blood In My Eyes”— Sum 41
Best Rock Album:
Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul— Jeff Beck
WINNER: Wasting Light— Foo Fighters
Come Around Sundown— Kings Of Leon
I’m With You— Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Whole Love— Wilco
Best Alternative Music Album
WINNER: Bon Iver— Bon Iver
Codes And Keys— Death Cab For Cutie
Torches— Foster The People
Circuital — My Morning Jacket
The King Of Limbs— Radiohead
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
“Party” — Beyoncé & André 3000
“I’m On One” — DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
“I Need A Doctor” — Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
“What’s My Name?” — Rihanna & Drake
“Motivation” — Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
WINNER: “All Of The Lights” — Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Best Country Album:
“My Kinda Party” – Jason Aldean
“Chief” – Eric Church
WINNER: Own The Night – Lady Antebellum
“Red River Blue” – Blake Shelton
“Here For A Good Time” – George Strait
“Speak Now” – Taylor Swift
Best Country Solo Performance:
“Dirt Road Anthem” — Jason Aldean
“I’m Gonna Love You Through It” — Martina McBride
“Honey Bee” — Blake Shelton
WINNER: “Mean” — Taylor Swift
“Mama’s Song” — Carrie Underwood
Best Country Song:
“Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” — Jim Collins & David Lee Murphy, songwriters (Thompson Square)
“God Gave Me You” — Dave Barnes, songwriter (Blake Shelton)
“Just Fishin'” — Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell & Ed Hill, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
WINNER: “Mean” — Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
“Threaten Me With Heaven” — Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley & Dillon O’Brian, songwriters (Vince Gill)
“You And Tequila” — Matraca Berg & Deana Carter, songwriters (Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter)
Best Americana Album:
“Emotional Jukebox”— Linda Chorney
“Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down”— Ry Cooder
“Hard Bargain”— Emmylou Harris
WINNER: “Ramble At The Ryman”— Levon Helm
“Blessed”— Lucinda Williams
Best Blues Album:
“Low Country Blues” — Gregg Allman
“Roadside Attractions”— Marcia Ball
“Man In Motion”— Warren Haynes
“The Reflection” — Keb’Mo’
WINNER: “Revelator”— Tedeschi Trucks Band
Best Rock Song
“The Cave” — Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston (Mumford & Sons)
“Down By The Water” — Colin Meloy (The Decemberists)
“Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall” — Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin (Coldplay)
“Lotus Flower” — Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Phil Selway & Thomn Yorke (Radiohead)
WINNER: “Walk” — Foo Fighters
Best Traditional R&B Performance:
“Sometimes I Cry” — Eric Benét
WINNER: “Fool For You” — Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
“Radio Message” — R. Kelly
“Good Man” — Raphael Saadiq
“Surrender” — Betty Wright & The Roots
Best Pop Instrumental Album:
WINNER: The Road From Memphis —Booker T. Jones
Wish Upon A Star — Jenny Oaks Baker
E Kahe Malie — Daniel Ho
Hello Tomorrow — Dave Koz
Setzer Goes Instru-Mental! — Brian Setzer
Best Pop Vocal Album:
WINNER: 21 — Adele
The Lady Killer — Cee Lo Green
Born This Way — Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans — Bruno Mars
Loud — Rihanna
Best Dance/Electronica Album
WINNER: Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites — Skrillex
Zonoscope — Cut/Copy
4×4 = 12 — Deadmau5
Nothing But The Beat — David Guetta
Body Talk, Pt. 3 — Robyn
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
The Gift — Sussan Boyle
WINNER: Duets II — Tony Bennett & Various Artists
In Concert On Broadway — Harry Connick Jr.
Music Is Better Than Words — Seth MacFarlane
What Matters Most – Barbra Streisand Sings The Lyrics Of Alan and Marilyn Bergman — Barbra Streisand
Best R&B Performance
WINNER: “Is This Love” — Corinne Bailey Rae
“Far Away” — Marsha Ambrosius
“Pieces Of Me” — Ledisi
“Not My Daddy” — Kelly Price & Stokley
“You Are” — Charlie Wilson
Best Dance Recording:
“Raise Your Weapon” — Deadmau5 & Greta Svabo Bech
“Barbra Streisand” — Duck Sauce
“Sunshine” — David Guetta & Avicii
“Call Your Girlfriend” — Robyn
WINNER: “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites” — Skrillex
“Save The World” — Swedish House Mafia
This year’s Grammy Awards also saw a major overhaul of the categories compared to last year: 109 categories were trimmed down to 78. For the complete list of nominees and winners, log on to the Grammys’ official website here.
