2021 Grammy Awards… It Worked!
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards took place on Sunday, March 14. They featured performances from many high-profile artists and a new stage set-up. This is our full review.
Alright, we have to begin with the winners, starting with the final award of the night, Record of the Year. In an upset, it went to Billie Eilish’s everything i wanted. This was a huge surprise, because everything seemed to build up to a Megan thee Stallion and Beyoncé win, and then it went to Billie two years in a row? For what it’s worth, it’s a great track, but not really a grand, year-defining song like Savage or even better, Don’t Start Now.
Next up is the coveted Album of the Year, and we think they got it exactly right. folklore is the most acclaimed, most successful, and most influential album in the line-up. It’s the quintessential quarantine album, and most other winners would have felt a bit off. With this victory, Swift picks up her third AOTY, something only Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and Paul Simon have done before. She’s solidified herself as a true albums artist, and this is her most deserving win yet.
H.E.R. picked up her first general field Grammy for Song of the Year, with her poetic memorial to George Floyd, I Can’t Breathe. While some may view this as pandering, this song’s lyrics are beautiful, and it is a songwriter’s award. This year, voters seemed to really listen to the songs, rather than give it to the biggest hit nominated as they’ve done previously.
Lastly in the general field, we have Best New Artist. We predicted this was Megan’s to lose, and we were right on the money. This was undoubtedly her year, and her night, winning 2 more Grammys for Savage. A Phoebe win would have been nice, but the look of disbelief on Megan’s face when she won was all the gratification we needed.
In other notable winners, Fiona Apple and Brittany Howard both took home trophies in the rock field, and Nas was given his first Grammy ever for best rap album. In the pop categories, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles and Dua Lipa each snagged one. Beyoncé became the most awarded woman (and singer) ever, with 28 Grammys to her name.
This year, they really decided to spread the wealth, with no one person having a clean sweep. While a few artists left empty-handed (DaBaby, Roddy Ricch, Doja Cat, Phoebe Bridgers), it happens every year, and their recognition will certainly arrive.
Time for performances. First up was Harry Styles’ rather mellow rendition of Watermelon Sugar. The performance picked up well at the end, but probably wasn’t the right choice for an opening. (And we’d argue it wasn’t the best song on his album.) In rap, both babies delivered. DaBaby appeared to have a choir of Hogwarts teachers behind him in an over-the-top performance of ROCKSTAR, while Lil Baby went for a powerful production of The Bigger Picture, complete with cop cars, fireworks, Killer Mike and more. It was easily the biggest statement of the night.
Doja Cat, performing Say So for the 90th time, brought incredible robotic dance moves and a laser light show. Megan thee Stallion and Cardi B gave a not-suitable-for-primetime performance of WAP that made even Post Malone’s jaw drop. Silk Sonic performed twice, ultra-smooth in Leave the Door Open, and high-energy in a tribute to Little Richard.
Speaking of in memoriam, we got a beautiful hybrid performance featuring Chris Martin, Brittany Howard, Brandi Carlile, Lionel Richie and more. They paid tribute to many of the greats lost this year (but apparently not Eddie Van Halen). The man changed the way the guitar is played — why didn’t the Grammys work harder to remind the world what genius sounds like?
On another note, HAIM’s rough-around-the-edges The Steps and Black Pumas’ soulful Colors certainly put them on the map for any new viewers. Finally, Taylor Swift’s magical medley of cardigan, august (!) and willow began on the roof of a mossy cabin, and ended in a lit-up forest scene, with Swift sounding better than ever.
In the end, this year’s ceremony succeeded because it was a breath of fresh air on a formula that has gone dull in the past few years. They had high expectations, both to pull off an award show in a pandemic and to redeem themselves after The Weeknd’s snub - but in the end, it worked.
C + L