By Catherine Sodano
The much anticipated Grammy Awards show is the music industry’s premier event. It took place live on Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and was broadcast in HDTV and on the CBS Television Network from 8 to 11:30 p.m.
With the media being everywhere in society, the Grammy’s were virtually impossible to escape this year. In case you were unable to watch the show, it was also available on satellite radio. It’s gratifying and motivating for artists to be rewarded for their contributions to the industry throughout each passing year.
Although there were no big surprises for this show, it was still music’s biggest night. Michael Jackson never showed up, (there was no tribute to him, as rumored) and Amy Winehouse made it through her performance, despite drug problems. It was quite the entertaining show this year, with many exceptional performances from some of the industry’s biggest names. This star-studded event is traditionally one of the most-watched events on television, and there is no higher honor in music than to be invited to the Grammy Awards.
Alicia Keys started the show with a duet with “The Chairman of the Board,” Mr. Frank Sinatra. They displayed Sinatra on a screen and Keys was aptly placed at a piano next to it. The duet was an audience favorite.
Subsequent to Key’s monumental performance with a legend of the music industry, she earned her first Grammy of the night; which was presented to her by Prince. As much as Rihanna is a crowd favorite, her performance was less than desirable. With a muffled sound, her performance was, overall, ordinary.
Current eight-time nominee Kanye West won a Grammy, and current six-time nominee Amy Winehouse were among the big winners of the night and both were part of the lineup of performers. Other nominees of the night included John Mayor, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake, among many others.
Another pleasant surprise by a celebrity was Ringo Starr, of The Beatles, who arrived with his wife. It was refreshing to see that classic talent is never forgotten. Starr was promoting his new song “Back to Liverpool,” a single that deserves all the recognition it can get. Another Beatles tie-in, Yoko Ono was front row, center, for the tribute to the great British band which kicked off the show. All the big names in music stepped out for this stellar performance.
The Grammy’s are a night for audiences to be enamored with a pseudo-imitation of surreal reality. International superstar Tina Turner joined forces with modern-day diva Beyoncé in a collaboration performance: The two artists comprised a spine-chilling, fast-paced skit and were phenomenal.
Hayley Williams, the fire-engine-red haired lead singer of Paramore was also on hand. But it was not her hair that raised eyebrows but rather her barely-there, sheer dress. It certainly gained the publicity she had indeed wanted to attract and reminded viewers that you can always rely on award shows to see outlandish fashion trends.
As for Winehouse, she had a tremendously complicated and troubled year. Battling her inner demons in a race to beat her drug addiction, the British throwback start took home several highly revered awards. Despite all rumors of Winehouse’s incapability to perform, she carried out a performance live from London via satellite – one which leaft spectators in awe.
West honored his mother in a tribute song he made specifically for her. Holding his upper lip strong, the rapper had to hold back tears and was overwhelmed by a surge of emotion. At the song’s finale, he had a standing ovation.
An exceedingly engaging show, every moment of the was one not to be missed. It was a high-quality year in music and the Grammy’s were a fitting end to a marvelous year.
(smh.com.au)
(images.mirror.co.uk)