Here on the shell we LOVE awards season. Last month, I offered up my insight on the Golden Globes and now I’m here to round up what went down on music’s biggest night at the GRAMMYs.
The Performances
Basically, the GRAMMYs are a huge concert with a few awards handed out. Literally, the winners were given like 15 seconds to say thank you before the music started playing them off the stage. Lucky for us, that meant nearly 4 hours of live performances, including some collaborations that we’ll never forget. My top 5 performances last night go to….
KATY PERRY
As much as I loved the dancing sharks from the Superbowl, last night’s version is my favourite version of Katy Perry. With all the dancing sharks, palm trees and kaleidiscopes, we can often forget that THE GIRL CAN SING. This performance was especially meaningful because it was introduced by an important message about domestic violence against women. A televised message by President Obama was aired and then Brooke Axtell, a survivor of domestic abuse, did a spoken word performance that left me with chills.
ED SHEERAN WITH JOHN MAYER AND ELO
We love Ed Sheeran’s hit “Thinking Out Loud” so when John Mayer appeared on stage as well, we were basically swooning. Can we just say that John is looking really good in those glasses. Also, all of his relationship drama really makes you forget just how good of a guitar player he is.
Ed also came back out on stage with ELO’s Jeff Lynne to perform “Mr. Blue Sky”. The audience was loving it and it’s safe to say Jess was having a fangirl moment at home. I’m pretty sure her messages were something like “GUYS. I’M DYING OVER HERE”.
RIHANNA, KANYE AND PAUL MCCARTNEY
When the fourfivesecond collabo dropped a few weeks back, we were all pleasently surprised. Seeing a stripped down version last night, with vocals on point was definitely a highlight. Kanye always brings all of the feelings to the stage with him and this was no exception. The only thing wrong with it? Paul McCartney clearly missed the “we’re not wearing shirts under our suits” memo.
BEYONCÉ
As much as it pains me not to give the Queen Bey the #1 spot in this list, it will be explained by my top choice. Speculating early in the night that she might be performing our beloved 7/11 (smack it, smack it, in the air) we were fighting sleepy eyelids for her end of the show performance. Instead of performing her own song, the Queen performed “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and literally had me shivering and tearing up. I’m fairly certain that Beyoncé is an angel sent from the heavens to make our hearts dance. That being said, I am claiming dibs on transforming her look from last night into angel Christmas tree toppers for next year. Will this make me a millionaire? Probably.
HOZIER AND ANNIE LENNOX
We were eagerly anticipating this performance but were not well enough prepared for it in the slightest. Hozier’s “Take Me To Church” was one of the songs that we heard over and over on the radio this year – but weren’t upset about it. We expected big things from him and the biggest thing he delivered: Annie Lennox. After joining him for his hit, she segued into “I Put A Spell On You” and showed the entire world that she is the baddest badass around. Literally every second of her performance was brilliant. The end of that performance was a metaphorical mic drop for the entire show. Good luck everyone else, but it’s over. LENNOX OUT. Seriously though, the woman is in her late 60’s and showed all the youngsters what they can only HOPE to be at any point. Major props to her for being the absolute coolest and making our jaws drop to the floor. #teamannieforever
Highlights and Lowlights
It wouldn’t be a proper round up unless I showed you the moments that have nothing to do with the actual winners or performers. Here are my thoughts on what went down, off-stage, last night…
1. Chrissy Tiegen Doesn’t Know The Words
Chrissy Tiegen is married to John Legend and gets to listen to him sing every day. She’s also a model. Therefore, it’s ok to point out that she’s the girl at the party who REALLY wants to sing along but doesn’t know the words. During Jessie J and Tom Jones’ underwhelming performance of “I’ve Lost That Loving Feling” she tried to sing along, but was totally off the mark. As Kaylee put it, “I live for the cuts to Chrissy Tiegen in the audience”. Check out this video to see her fail on lyrics but still have a great time.
2. Madonna is 56
Every two years, Madonna shows up to the party to confirm that she is the proud owner of the Fountain of Youth. In a performance of “Living For Love” Madonna made everyone schedule a serious leg day at the gym.
3. Taylor Swift Dancing and Pharrel NOT Feeling It
As always, Taylor Swift had a better time at the Grammy’s than anyone else. Girl does not care how much her arms flail – she feels the music and lets them go. Unfotunately, not everyone loves her moves. Especially not Pharrel.
4. Kim Kardashian Doesn’t Feel the Need to Give Standing Ovations
After Ed Sheeran’s performance, the audience stood to applaud, with the exception of Kim Kardashian. Gotta love those pans to the audience. Anyway, it’s unclear whether she just wasn’t feeling the performance or if her bejeweled bathrobe was weighing her down. All I’m saying is that she better have stood up when Annie Lennox killed the entire show.
5. Juanes is no Santana, but subtly shouts out Canada
Latin artist Juanes graced the stage at one point. I feel bad to say it, but the best thing about the performance was that he rocked a pretty sweet Canadian tuxedo.
6. Rihanna’s Dress
No one was prepared for the pink monster Rihanna wore last night. Sam Smith was especially terrified when the dress began to eat him.
7. Colour Confusion featuring Pharrel and Katy Perry
So, Pharrel walked the red carpet in a suit that changed colour when a camera flash hit it. Proving once again he must not actually be human. Not only do his suits change colour but he doesn’t age.
Also on the colour change movement: Katy Perry. She walked the Red Carpet with violet hair and then performed 5 minutes later with a sleek, jet black pony tail. Oh, to be rich and famous and change your hair as if it’s as easy as changing a sweater.
8. Can anyone tell us what’s up with Sia?
Sia has a great voice but it literally hurts our heads to try and deconstruct what is going on in any of her music videos and performances. She always has the same little-girl modern dancer wearing a wig and we don’t really know why. Speaking of wigs, Kristen Wiig joined the dancer girl last night in a strange performance of “Chandelier” that left us as confused as ever. Also, can anyone remind me what Sia looks like because she faced the wall for her entire performance.
9. Kanye the Comedian
We all remember Kanye jumping on stage and tearing the mic away from Taylor Swift after she won over Beyoncé. Well, last night Kanye was feeling nostalgic and jumped on stage when Beck won album of the year, poking fun at his previous faux pas and terrifying everyone in the audience.
BONUS: Yeezy and T. Swift hugging makes me happy. I love me some angry Kanye, but only onstage during a performance. Glad to see these two are cool and really glad to see Kanye smiling. Also, Taylor’s dress was perfection.
10. Jay Z, Genuinely terrified when Kanye jumped on Stage
The highlight of the night: Jay Z’s face when Kanye decided to prank Beck. You can just see him panicking like, “No. No. What is he doing? No. No. Not again. “. Luckily, Yeezy was just joking, so Jay Z was able to laugh along, but the moment of sheer terror on his face was everything.
Recent Comments