TV: The 64th Annual Grammy Awards

 

 

By Jennifer Loja

      The 64th annual Grammy Awards was a highly anticipated event for many. The previous year the 63rd annual Grammys was held in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021, and it was heavily impacted by COVID-19 regulations that had to be followed. There was no live audience, and it took place outdoors for the safety of artists and staff who were present. But, because the public health situation has gotten better, the 64th annual Grammys could again be broadcast  live… this time from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The award show took place on Sunday, April 3 starting from 8 PM – 11 PM ET. There was a live audience and the event was held indoors where artists and fans were able to interact. This year’s Grammy awards was hosted by award-winning comedian Trevor Noah for the second time in a row. 

     There were some things that were changed for this year’s event. There were two brand new categories added, specifically: Best Global Music Performance (Global Music Field) and Best Música Urbana Album (Latin Music Field). Voters could also vote for a fewer categories.

 

Red Carpet Interviews with Artists 

Below are a few interviews with nominated artists:

 

BTS

     BTS was interviewed on the red carpet. Members Kim Taehyung, Kim Seok-jin, Jeon Jungkook, Kim Namjoon, Min Yoongi, Park Jimin, and Jung Hoseok were all dressed up in neutral-colored suits. They were asked for hints about their performance. Kim Namjoon revealed that the stage they had prepared would host an amazing performance that should be looked forward to. The interviewers tried to get more hints out of the members, but they wouldn’t offer more clues.  They revealed that they were excited to be in Las Vegas. They also had four shows scheduled after the Grammys at Allegiant Stadium. 

FINNEAS 

FINNEAS is interviewed with Claudia Sulewski next to him. Interviewers liked the outfits that both FINNEAS and Claudia wore on the red carpet. FINNEAS revealed that he was honored to be a Best New Artist nominee. FINNEAS at the time was on tour and had already won an Oscar award. He was excited to see the live performances and looking forward to them. He also said that he wasn’t feeling nervous about performing with his sister, Billie Eilish.

Olivia Rodrigo

     Olivia Rodrigo revealed that she still couldn’t believe that she was at the Grammys award event. She had grown up watching the Grammys, so it felt special for her to be among other artists. She shares interesting stories about hearing her song “Drivers License” when it came out in various places. She was looking forward to many artists’ performances, especially Billie Eilish’s.

 

Nominations list / Winners

This year there were 86 categories in the 64th annual Grammy awards. Here are some of the results:

 

Record of the Year:

• (Winner) Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open

 

• (Nominees) ABBA – “I Still Have Faith in You”, Jon Batiste – “Freedom”, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga – “I Get a Kick Out of You”, Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Cesar and Giveon – “Peaches”, Brandi Carlile – “Right on Time”, Doja Cat featuring SZA – “Kiss Me More”, Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever”, Lil Nas X – “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”, Olivia Rodrigo – “Drivers License”

Album of the Year:

• (Winner) John Batiste – We Are

 

• (Nominees) Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga – Love for Sale, Justin Bieber – Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), Doja Cat – Planet Her (Deluxe), Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever, HER – Back of My Mind, Lil Nas X – “Montero”, Olivia Rodrigo – Sour, Taylor Swift – Evermore, Kanye West – Donda

 

Song of the Year:

 

• (Winner) Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”

 

• (Nominees) Ed Sheeran – “Bad Habits”, Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile – “A Beautiful Noise”, Olivia Rodrigo – “Drivers License”, HER – “Fight for You”, Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever”, Doja Cat featuring SZA – “Kiss Me More”, Lil Nas X – “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”, Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Cesar and Giveon – “Peaches”, Brandi Carlile – “Right on Time”

 

Best new artist: 

• (Winner) Olivia Rodrigo 

 

• (Nominees) Arooj Aftab, Jimmie Allen, Baby Keem, Finneas, Glass Animals, Japanese Breakfast, The Kid Laroi, Arlo Parks, Saweetie

 

Best pop/duo group performance:

• (Winner) Doja Cat featuring SZA – “Kiss Me More”

 

• (Nominees) Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga – “I Get a Kick Out of You”, Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco – “Lonely”, BTS – “Butter”, Coldplay – “Higher Power”

 

Best r&b song: 

• (Winner) Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”

 

• (Nominees) HER – “Damage”, SZA – “Good Days”, Giveon – “Heartbreak Anniversary”, Jazmine Sullivan – “Pick Up Your Feelings”

 

Best pop vocal album: 

• (Winner)  Olivia Rodrigo – Sour 

 

• (Nominees)  Justin Bieber – Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), Doja Cat – Planet Her (Deluxe), Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever, Ariana Grande – Positions

 

Best music film:

• (Winner) Various Artists – Summer of Soul 

 

• (Nominees) Bo Burnham – Inside, David Byrne – David Byrne’s American Utopia, Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever (A Love Letter to Los Angeles), Jimi Hendrix – Music, Money, Madness…Jimi Hendrix in Maui

Best gospel performance/song:

• (Winner) CeCe Winans – “Never Lost”

 

• (Nominees) Dante Bowe featuring Steffany Gretzinger and Chandler Moore – “Voice of God”, Dante Bowe – “Joyful”, Anthony Brown, Group Therapy – “Help”, and Elevation Worship Maverick City Music – “Wait on You”

 

Best regional Mexican music album:

• (Winner) Vicente Fernández – A Mis 80’s

 

•  (Nominees) Aida Cuevas – Antología de la Musica Ranchera, Vol. 2, Mon Laferte – Seis, Natalia Lafourcade – Un Canto por México, Vol. II, and Christian Nodal – Ayayay! (Súper Deluxe)

 

Best rap song:

• (Winner) Kanye West featuring Jay-Z – “Jail”

 

• (Nominees) DMX featuring Jay-Z and Nas – “Bath Salts”, Saweetie featuring Doja Cat – “Best Friend”, Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties”,  J Cole featuring 21 Savage & Morray – “​​My Life”

 

Performances on the Grammys

Silk Sonic 

 

     Silk Sonic is a duo of Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars. Silk Sonic opened the Grammys with their single “777”. The R&B duo stands in white sparkly outfits with instruments in hand while being surrounded by performers on stage. The performance started off with an electric guitar being played and lights shining brightly. The crowd cheered on through the performance. They finished the performance leaving an upbeat feeling in the air. 

Billie Eilish & FINNEAS

     Billie Eilish performed “Happier Than Ever” accompanied by FINNEAS. The performance starts off with Billie standing in water in an upside room and singing with soft vocals. The camera pans to Billie singing and FINNEAS playing the electric guitar. Billie goes through the performance showing her different vocal ranges and enjoying the stage. A new style of performing for Billie Eilish was shown on stage.

 

John Legend

 

     John Legend performed “Free” accompanied by Siuzanna Igladan, Mika Newton, and Lyuba Yakimuck. All three women who accompanied John Legend are from Ukraine. They had recently fled their nation. Both Suizanna and Mika are dressed in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. With what is going on between Ukraine and Russia John Legend performed “Free” as a tribute to Ukraine. The performance starts off with John Legend singing soulfully while playing the piano. Musician Suizanna Igladam then joins by playing the bandura, a Ukrainian musical instrument. Mika Newton sings in Ukrainian in an emotion-filled voice. Lyuba Yakimuck a poet delivers her poem “Prayer”. Throughout their performance, singers could be heard singing soulfully in the background. Images of the people of Ukraine were displayed on the giant screen.

H.E.R. 

     H.E.R. performed a medley of “Damage”, “We Made It”, and Are You Gonna Go My Way” with Lenny Kravitz, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis & Travis Barker. H.E.R. performed “Damage” in a purple sleeveless sparkly dress along with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. She does an outfit change and removes her detachable skirt to reveal a purple suit. She transitions to “We Made It” by playing the drums. Drummer Travis Barker joined in,  while H.E.R. sang  “Are You Gonna Go My Way”. Lenny Kravitz joined in with his electric guitar. H.E.R. really executed those high notes! 

Olivia Rodrigo

 

     The young artist won three Grammy awards. One being for Best Pop Solo Performance “Drivers License”. Olivia Rodrigo performed her hit song “Drivers License”. The performance starts off with Olivia in a car tuning the radio. She sings while being on a stage that was converted to look like a neighborhood, and she ends the performance with a passionate ending. Her stage presence has improved a lot.

Jon Batiste

     Jon Batiste was nominated for many categories in the Grammys. He took home five awards on that night. Jon Batiste performed “FREEDOM” on an elaborate stage set. It started off with Jon wearing a cape while immersed in playing the piano. He then joined the big stage in a blue-silver suit surrounded by dancers and other performers. The stage was decorated with many vibrant colors in ways that were fun, unique, and playful. There were harmonized voices singing in the background. Ultimately he also ended up joining in on the dancing and standing at a table in the crowd.

BTS

 

      BTS performed “Dynamite” last year in Korea. Because of COVID-19 the South Korean band was unable to perform in Los Angeles. But they made a comeback this year. Two members had tested positive near the Grammy awards but tested negative for COVID-19 before the event. They practiced their performance once with all seven members. They were nominated for the Best pop/duo group performance but didn’t win. They might have not won a Grammy award but they still stole the show with their outstanding performance. 

     Their stage set resembled a museum. The performance starts off with Kim Seok-jin hacking away at the security in the security room. Then, member Jeon Jungkook descends from the ceiling. The camera then pans to individual members Jung Hoseok, Park Jimin, Kim Namjoon, and Min Yoongi, finally setting on Kim Taehyung. Kim Taehyung is seen with Olivia Rodrigo and is chatting with her when he pulls out a card from behind her ear. The card is then thrown to Jeon Jungkook and then the museum is unlocked. They then sneak into the museum while singing and dancing. 

     Only six out of the seven members were dancing because Kim Seok-jin had undergone hand surgery. Lasers turn on and they avoid them in order to not get caught. Their dance break includes them dancing using their suits as props. The art behind them starts to disappear which means it is stolen and replaced with images of BTS from their music videos and albums. Kim Seok-jin finally joins in towards the end. This  performance of seven talented artists ended with the crowd and fellow artists clapping and screaming. They put their all into this performance, from vocals to dancing. The segment was like something out of a James Bond movie as some described it.

***

          Many viewers liked the 64th annual Grammys awards. The event was special, especially for fans who were finally able to watch their favorite artists perform or even see them attend. Everything from the different outfits, to the diverse wins and performances, got generally positive reactions from people watching in person and from home. Others, however, had mixed opinions about the 2022 Grammys awards. Many agreed that the hip-hop performances were not as good as they should have been. Some didn’t appreciate Trevor Noah’s jokes. One opinion that I have to agree with is that BTS were cheated out of their Grammy award. They have taken over the music industry worldwide. Their performances are amazing and their achievements deserved. Their fans, ARMY, believed that the Grammys once again were using BTS and ARMY to their own advantage. Nevertheless, through their charisma and hard work, BTS once again demonstrated why they are the biggest pop group in the music industry.