Who run the Grammys? Women. Beyoncé, Swift make historical past

By Associated Press
NEW YORK: Female performers together with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift had a record-making evening on the 2021 Grammy Awards, a jam-packed however socially distanced present highlighted by dwell music sorely absent through the pandemic period.

Four girls gained the highest 4 prizes Sunday, together with Swift, who turned the primary feminine performer to win album of the 12 months 3 times. Beyoncé — along with her twenty eighth win — turned probably the most adorned lady in Grammy historical past.

H.E.R. gained tune of the 12 months and Billie Eilish picked up her second consecutive document of the 12 months honor, telling the viewers that finest new artist winner Megan Thee Stallion deserved the award.

Though girls have gained all high 4 awards previously – together with Eilish’s sweep final 12 months – it marked the primary time 4 separate and solo girls gained the highest 4 honors.

“I really feel like there’s been a whole lot of feminine empowerment and plenty of girls profitable awards tonight. And so it’s been completely superb to simply be alongside all that, to really feel that vitality,” Dua Lipa, who gained finest pop vocal album, mentioned backstage.

Swift gained the highest prize with “folklore,” the folky, alternative album she released as a surprise last year. She previously won album of the year with “Fearless” and “1989.”

Beyoncé walked into the present with 24 wins and picked up 4 honors, together with finest R&B efficiency for “Black Parade,” finest music video for “Brown Skin Girl” in addition to finest rap efficiency and finest rap tune for “Savage,” with Megan Thee Stallion.

“As an artist I believe it’s my job, and all of our jobs, to reflect time and it’s been such a difficult time,” Beyoncé mentioned onstage as she gained finest R&B efficiency for “Black Parade,” which was launched on Juneteenth.

She went on to say she created the tune to honor the “beautiful Black kings and queens” on this planet.

She added: “I have been working my whole life … This is such a magical night.”

Beyoncé now ties producer and multi-instrumentalist Quincy Jones for second place amongst all Grammy winners. She is barely behind the late conductor Georg Solti, who’s probably the most adorned Grammy winner with 31 wins.

But Beyoncé did not solely make historical past, her entire household did. The royal household of music all gained honors Sunday: Jay-Z picked up his twenty third Grammy, sharing one of the best rap tune win along with his spouse since he co-wrote “Savage.” And 9-year-old Blue Ivy Carter — who won best music video alongside her mother — became the second youngest act to win a Grammy in the show’s 63-year history. Leah Peasall was 8 when The Peasall Sisters won album of the year at the 2002 show for their appearance on the T Bone Burnett-produced “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack.

Megan Thee Stallion, who gained three honors, additionally made historical past and have become the primary feminine rapper to win finest rap tune. She’s additionally the fifth rap-based act to win finest new artist.

Beyoncé was the evening’s high contender with 9 nominations. She did not carry out however Swift did.

She sang “cardigan” and “august” from “folklore,” in addition to “willow” from “evermore,” and was joined by the collaborators who helped her make the albums, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, who each gained album of the 12 months with Swift.

The Grammys featured pre-taped performances that helped the almost four-hour present run seamlessly — a not-so-easy feat throughout a worldwide pandemic. Host Trevor Noah advised jokes concerning the pandemic and the 12 months that was 2020, showing dwell from downtown Los Angeles with attendees carrying masks and sitting, socially distanced, at small spherical tables.

Silk Sonic, aka Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, additionally carried out, bringing a throwback R&B vibe to the present with their clean new single, “Leave the Door Open.” Lipa proved her pop star standing with a efficiency of her hits “Don’t Start Now” and “Levitating,” the place she was joined by DaBaby, who was an all-star throughout his personal efficiency of his guitar-tinged rap hit “Rockstar,” flipping the tune for an distinctive dwell rendition that includes R&B singer Anthony Hamilton, a talented violinist and background singers.

Country singer Mickey Guyton – the primary Black lady nominated for finest nation solo efficiency – gave a high notch efficiency of her tune “Black Like Me,” which she launched final 12 months as police brutality continued to devastate Black households and the coronavirus ravished Black America disproportionately. Lil Baby, joined by Killer Mike and activist Tamika Mallory, gave a political efficiency that impressed.

“Black Parade” joined a list of songs honoring the Black experience that won Sunday, including H.E.R.’s protest anthem “I Can’t Breathe” and Anderson Paak’s “Lockdown,” which was launched on Juneteenth like “Black Parade.”

Other performers Sunday included Eilish, Cardi B, Bad Bunny, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Harry Styles, who gained finest pop solo efficiency for the hit “Watermelon Sugar.”

“To everyone who made this record with me, thank you so much,” mentioned Styles, the primary member of One Direction to win a Grammy.

Double winners included H.E.R., Fiona Apple, Kaytranada and late performers John Prine and Chick Corea.