The Grammy Awards are typically a night to celebrate the music industry’s biggest and brightest. However, there are always turning points that make the viewing experience that tiny bit more exciting. Here’s our top 10 noteworthy moments from the night…
1. Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt’s tribute to Etta James with “Sunday Kind of Love.”
While the death of Whitney Houston may still be fresh on everyone’s minds, the unlikely duo of Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt worked surprisingly well together to give a prominent tribute to soul and blues singer, Etta James, who recently died at the age of 73.
2. Kanye West’s no-show to the awards ceremony, despite receiving seven nominations and four wins.
The headlining rapper has vowed never to return to an awards show after the incident with Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. While his partner in crime, Jay-Z, has father duties as an excuse to miss such significant industry events, we have a feeling that Kanye is working hard to focus on the music and place less emphasis on his image. Whatever he is doing, it has obviously paid off.
3. Bon Iver winning ‘Best New Artist’ award, four years after releasing their debut album.
Beating out the likes of Nicki Minaj, Skrillex, J Cole and The Band Perry was the unexpected win of Bon Iver, a band who is already well established in the independent music scene. We can’t help but feel like it’s “Who is Arcade Fire?” all over again.
4. Adele’s clean sweep of the Grammys.
The British vocalist stole the night as she took home every award she was nominated for, including major nods Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The night’s events also earned her a rapturous and lengthy standing ovation after Adele performed her hit song, “Rolling in the Deep,” her first live performance since undergoing vocal surgery.
5. Nicki Minaj outdoing Lady Gaga in the attention-grabbing stakes.
If donning a meat dress or emerging from an egg wasn’t extreme enough for Lady Gaga in previous years, I’m sure she would have stopped dead in her tracks to appreciate “Super Bass” singer, Nicki Minaj’s choice of attire, as she decided to dress up as someone resembling Little Red Riding Hood, in a custom made Versace hood dress, accompanied by a ‘Pope’.
6. Dave Grohl’s speech after the Foo Fighters takes out the ‘Best Rock Album’ award.
Every year, there is always an ambiguous acceptance speech that gets everyone talking about who the podium winner is directing their comments at. This year, it was made by the Foo Fighters’ lead singer, Dave Grohl. Hinting at the potential decline of authenticity in lyrical content and melodic substance, he pretty much said what we were all thinking.
7. Coldplay’s colourful performance of Paradise.
It was all too much aurally and visually as the combination of a great performance crossed with a room full of glowsticks made for an entertaining presentation by Coldplay.
8. Jennifer Hudson’s tribute to Whitney Houston, with “I Will Always Love You”.
Shortly after the news had surfaced of Whitney’s passing the night before, the “Dreamgirls” star was given the successful responsibility of delivering a flawless rendition of a song that has fast become an emblazoned trademark of the late R&B singer, which has recently made original singer, Dolly Parton, set to earn millions from royalties.
9. Cut Copy’s ‘close but no cigar’ moment.
As much as we would have loved our homeland heroes to have won a Grammy in their respective category of Best Dance/Electronica Album, we couldn’t be prouder of the fact that Cut Copy achieved a nomination in the first place. Well done boys! #aussiepride
10. Medley finale with Paul McCartney & Co.
You know you’re in for a treat when a bunch of legends come together and rock the house in an epic battle of guitar jamming. Joining Macca on stage were Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Joe Walsh, Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, all united in a thrilling demonstration of how a guitar should be worked. Definitely an enjoyable way to watch the send-off!
