So the Grammys aired this past Sunday (1/26) and the show was very typical for me. There were some performances that stood out and some that were bland. In this review I’ll be highlighting all my favorite performances and to see all the winners of click here.
My favorite performance of the night was Imagine Dragons & Kendrick Lamar performing ‘M.A.D.D. City’ & the ‘Radioactive (Remix).’ I just can’t stop watching the performance. The energy from both Kendrick and Imagine Dragons as a whole. I love when artists feel the music and really get into it. I just want to download an unedited version of this entire performance. It was just ON POINT from start to finish. The Radioactive Remix is available on iTunes NOW!
Kendrick might not have won any Grammys last night, but this performance was a sure win in the books for another successful Hip-Hop/Rock merge. Some say he was robbed by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, but here’s what Macklemore had to say about the situation in a brief Hot 97 morning show interview (1/27):
It’s the blessing and the curse, a little bit more the curse. First and foremost, Kendrick is a friend of mine. He’s somebody that I love his music and, in my opinion, had the best Rap album of the year. And knowing how the Grammys usually go, I knew that there would be a great chance that we’d win that award and, in essence, rob Kendrick. That’s what happened tonight. It kind of sucks. I think we made a great album. I think that Kendrick made a better Rap album.
The winners of the Grammys are pretty much set in stone now, but Macklemore could not have said it any better. Although the ballot is filled out by many people in higher up positions that know music, they do not know every single artist nominated, nor all the music from that genre. With that it does boil down to popularity and who’s name was out there more along with who topped the charts. When you put those two factors together it goes to show why some artists may have gotten ‘robbed’ in the eyes of others. Overall, congrats to the winners!
Beyoncé opened up the show with, ‘Drunk In Love.’ Although I LOVE the song the performance overall was bland. Jay Z came out and it was the usual, he hugs her, touches her butt, same old same old. I wish she would’ve done something more upbeat off the album. It would’ve been dope if she did ‘Flawless.’ This performance for me was just basic. Nothing against the simplicity of performances, but on the level and pedestal that Beyonce is put on I was expecting more. Shout out to Taylor Swift’s ‘Diddy Bop’ all night long.
John Legend performed ‘All of Me’ as his wife stared on mesmerized by the performance. He did not so the entire song, but it was just enough. Classic R&B. His voice + his flawless piano playing = perfection! I am a huge John Legend fan and his ballads are always Grammy worthy.
Sara Bareilles teamed with Carol King for a medley of ‘Beautiful’ and ‘Brave.’ This comes down to being one of my favs because I love Sara Bareilles and her song ‘Brave’ is just AMAZING! Also Carol King is a legend in her own right. The medley was perfect. The two did not sing over the other making their voices complimentary of each other. It was a short performance, but it was a great to merge the past and the present.
Daft Punk teamed up with Nile Rogers, Pharrell, and Stevie Wonder for their performance. I loved how it was a recording studio theme. I see that as the mystery of whats to come out of the studio when performing a song with that of Daft Punk’s mystery personas. Pharrell got a lot of flack for his hat, but there’s no denying his talent. Stevie Wonder ended the set with his song ‘Another Star.’ What an amazing ear to segue between those two songs. My 2nd fav performance of the night.
Lastly I have to give props to the Queen of Physicality, Pink! She did her signature acrobatic set and her strength plus the ability to sing on key through all that does not go without mention. She performed ‘Try’ and the Grammy nominated song ‘Just Give Me a Reason’ with Nate Ruess. Absolutely loved the performance.
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