If you’re anything like me, you’ve been anticipating the 2016 Grammys like getting your oil changed. Not at all. But were a nosy society, so I still stayed up three and a half hours past my 7pm bedtime and watched for you guys because, love.
Here are some of the best/most cringe-worthy moments of Monday nights Grammys.
Peak: Kendrick Lamar’s PITCH BLACK performance
Apparently there was an interoffice memo that was sent from powers that be to black entertainers with the subject line reading It’s time to show out,because 2016 is shaping up to be the year ofBlack (as hell) Pride. K.Dot fulfilled his quota last night by delivering one of the most powerful, politically charged and overall woke as hell performances of the night. I need you to understand what Im saying, though. In six minutes, he flawlessly touched on the industrial prison complex, mass incarceration, mental and literal enslavement, the Black Lives Matter movement, Radio Raheem’s death…wait, I went too far but you get the point.
The Cali fave began his performance with ‘The Blacker the Berry’, shuffling through an ominous fog while chained to a line of black men in a makeshift prison scene. Once the audiences complete attention was commanded, K. Dot shifted the energy with thunderous African drum beats and dancers, launching into a rousing rendition of Alright. He capped by repeating the songs catch phrase we gon be alright over and over, while a huge outline of the continent of Africa with the word Comptonwritten in the center displayed behind. Goosebumps on fleek.
Valley: Adele’s audibly challenged performance of “All I Ask”
We all can collectively agree that our love for Adele knows no boundaries. It runs deep, goes far and is unconditional. Its real. So real, that we can be brutally honest about the 25 singer when need be. So, on behalf of Adele fans everywhere, I have to say it. Her performance was just aight.
Where do I start? Her mic cut out towards the beginning of the song, the lights were too bright and seemed to distract the powerhouse from landing her usual core shaking runs. Not to mention, her irritation was evident throughout the entire performance. But this was none of her fault and as she put it, sh-t happens.
Peak: Lady Gaga’s David Bowie Tribute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fGBZhsa4VU
The Monsters (and whatever David Bowie’s stans are called) collectively lost their minds over Lady Gaga’s flawless execution of the late music icons tribute.
As only she can, she came through in head to toe Bowie-esque garb, lent her perfect vocals to a medley of his songs, mimicked his commanding stage presence to a tee, seasoned it with her own batch of yaaaahhhhsss and left.
Valley: Bow Wow messing up stuff
First of all, let me say, bless his heart. Shad Moss was doing a pretty good job with his Grammy Pre-Show hosting duties up to the final 20 seconds (or what was supposed to be) of the program. Apparently, whatever clock the former rapper was looking at must’ve been set to the wrong time zone because he prematurely counted down to the actual shows start not once, buttwice. Again, bless his heart.
Peak: Stevie Wonder’s everything
Legendary singer/songwriter winner knows a thing or two about the show. This was evidenced by his smooth delivery of a joke and a PSA all wrapped up in one.
Before the name of the winner was announced, which was written in Braille, Wonder teased the audience about their inability to read the contents of the envelope.
“You can’t read it, you can’t read Braille!”
He then followed up with a sobering message, reminding the audience of an important, yet repeatedly overlooked issue for many.
“We need to make every single thing accessible to every single person with a disability,” Wonder said as he opened the envelope containing the Song of the Year winner.
The 25 time Grammy award winner also performed a quietly moving tribute to recently deceased front-man of Earth, Wind and Fire, Maurice White. Joined by Pentatonix, the legacy of White and the group was honored with a beautiful rendition of Thats the Way of the World.
Valley (maybe): Taylor Swift’s Album of the Year Acceptance speech/Subtle Kanye West Shade
Depending on how you look at it, this moment is either worthy of an eye roll or a fist pump. Taylor Swift unsurprisingly won for Album of the Year, and used her acceptance speech to subtly shade respond to some controversial lines in his new song where he insinuated he had sex with her and rapped about making the b—h famous.
In her speech, she said:
I want to say to all the young women out there: There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take creditfor your accomplishments or your fame, Swift said while she accepted the award for her album “1989”. But if you just focus on the work and you dont let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where youre going, youll look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you who put you there. And that will be the greatest feeling in the world. Thank you for this moment.”
You got it, girl.
The rest of the show was, well never mind. In the meantime, heres a list of all the winners of the night. Lets see how next year goes, shall we?
Record of the Year
Really Love – D’Angelo and the Vanguard
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars WINNER
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Can’t Feel My Face – the Weeknd
Album of the Year
Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes
To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
Traveller – Chris Stapleton
1989 – Taylor Swift WINNER
Beauty Behind the Madness – the Weekend
Song of the Year
Alright – Kendrick Lamar
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Girl Crush – Little Big Town
See You Again – Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran WINNER
Best New Artist
Courtney Barnett
James Bay
Sam Hunt
Tori Kelly
Meghan Trainor WINNER
Best Pop Solo Performance
Heartbeat Song – Kelly Clarkson
Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran WINNER
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Can’t Feel My Face – the Weeknd
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Ship to Wreck – Florence + The Machine
Sugar – Maroon 5
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars WINNER
Bad Blood – Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar
See You Again – Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
Best Pop Vocal Album
Piece – By Piece Kelly Clarkson
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence + The Machine
Uptown Special – Mark Ronson
1989 – Taylor Swift WINNER
Before This World – James Taylor
Best Dance Recording
Were All We Need- Above & Beyond featuring Zo Johnston
Go – The Chemical Brothers
Never Catch Me – Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar
Runaway (U & I) – Galantis
Where Are Now – Skrillex and Diplo with Justin Bieber WINNER
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Our Love – Caribou
Born in the Echoes – The Chemical Brothers
Caracal – Disclosure
In Colour – Jamie xx
Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Skrillex and Diplo WINNER
Best Rock Performance
Dont Wanna Fight Alabama Shakes WINNER
What Kind of Man – Florence + the Machine
Something From Nothing – Foo Fighters
Exs & Ohs – Elle King
Moaning Lisa Smile – Wolf Alice
Best Metal Performance
Identity – August Burns Red
Cirice – Ghost WINNER
512 – Lamb Of God
Thank You – Sevendust
Custer – Slipknot
Best Rock Song
Dont Wanna Fight Alabama Shakes WINNER
Exs & Ohs – Elle King
Hold Back the River – James Bay
Lydia Highly – Suspect
What Kind Of Man – Florence + The Machine
Best Rock Album
Chaos and the Calm – James Bay
Kintsugi – Death Cab For Cutie
Mister Asylum – Highly Suspect
Drones Muse – WINNER
.5: The Gray Chapter – Slipknot
Best Alternative Music Album
Sound & Color Alabama Shakes WINNER
Vulnicura – Bjork
The Waterfall – My Morning Jacket
Currents – Tame Impala
Star Wars – Wilco
Best R&B Performance
If I Don’t Have You – Tamar Braxton
Rise Up – Andra Day
Breathing Underwater – Hiatus Kaiyote
Planes – Jeremih featuring J Cole
Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey) – the Weeknd WINNER
Best R&B Song
Coffee – Miguel
Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey) – the Weeknd
Let It Burn – Jazmine Sullivan
Really Love DAngelo and the Vanguard – WINNER
Shame Tyrese
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Ego Death – The Internet
You Should Be Here – Kehlani
Blood – Lianne La Havas
Wildheart – Miguel
Beauty Behind the Madness – the Weeknd WINNER
Best R&B Album
Coming Home – Leon Bridges
Black Messiah D’Angelo and the Vanguard – WINNER
Cheers to the Fall – Andra Day
Reality Show – Jazmine Sullivan
Forever – Charlie Charlie Wilson
Best Rap Performance
Apparently – J Cole
Back to Back – Drake
Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
Alright Kendrick Lamar WINNER
Truffle Butter – Nicki Minaj featuring Drake & Lil’ Wayne
All Day – Kanye West featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom and Paul McCartney
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
One Man Can Change the World – Big Sean featuring Kanye West and John Legend
Glory – Common and John Legend
Classic Man – Jidenna featuring Roman GianArthur
These Walls Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat WINNER
Only – Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil’ Wayne and Chris Brown
Best Rap Song
All Day – Kanye West featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom and Paul McCartney
Alright – Kendrick Lamar WINNER
Energy – Drake
Glory – Common & John Legend
Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
Best Rap Album
2014 Forest Hills Drive – J Cole
Compton – Dr. Dre
If You’re Reading This Its Too Late – Drake
To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar WINNER
The Pinkprint – Nicki Minaj
Best country solo performance
Burning House – Cam
Traveller – Chris Stapleton WINNER
Little Toy Guns Carrie Underwood
John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 – Keith Urban
Chances Are Lee – Ann Womack
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Stay a Little Longer – Brothers Osborne
If I Needed You – Joey+Rory
The Driver – Charles Kelley, Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay
Girl Crush Little – Big Town
Lonely Tonight – Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe
Best Country Song
Chances Are Lee – Ann Womack
Diamond Rings and Old Barstools – Tim McGraw
Girl Crush Little – Big Town WINNER
Hold My Hand – Brandy Clark
Traveller – Chris Stapleton
Best Country Album
Montevalllo – Sam Hunt
Pain Killer – Little Big Town
The Blade – Ashley Monroe
Pageant Material – Kacey Musgraves
Traveller – Chris Stapleton WINNER
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Empire: Season 1
Fifty Shades of Grey
Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
Pitch Perfect 2
Selma
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Jeff Bhasker WINNER
Dave Cobb
Diplo
Larry Klein
Blake Mills
Best Music Video
LSD – A$AP Rocky
I Feel Love (Every Million Miles) – The Dead Weather
Alright – Kendrick Lamar
Bad Blood – Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar WINNER
Freedom – Pharrell Williams
Best Music Film
Mr Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown – James Brown
Sonic Highways – Foo Fighters
What Happened, Miss Simone? – Nina Simone
The Wall Roger – Waters
Amy – Amy Winehouse WINNER
MADE by Jasmine Browley
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