The Peaks and Valleys of the Grammys

The Peaks and Valleys of the Grammys

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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