52ND ANNUAL GRAMMY WRAP-UP
Beyonce and Swift rack up during an Anti-climatic evening
RAMONA ALCANTARA, LIFE AND LEISURE EDITOR
Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: Life & Leisure
The host-less Grammy award ceremony was held January 31st at the Staples Center in California. A night usually known for praising all genres of music, seemed for the most part, to be playing the same mellow tune all evening.
There were high hopes when the show began with a stellar performance by Lady Gaga doing a ballad version of "Poker Face." Halfway through her act she performed another song of hers, "Speechless" with living legend Elton John. Both played piano, wore Swarovski studded specs and incorporated John's classic, "Your Song" into the mix. Sadly, this performance would be the last time viewers saw Gaga on the stage again for the evening.
Despite Gaga not receiving any of her wins during the actual telecast (she won two awards during the pre-telecast for 'Best Dance Recording' and 'Best Electronic/Dance Album' for The Fame) it was certainly ladies' night with Taylor Swift and Beyoncé' leading the most wins.
Swift managed to receive four awards, which included 'Best Country Album' and the crème de la crème of categories, 'Album of the Year' for her Fearless release. During the ceremony Swift also performed with one of her music idols Stevie Nicks. The duo did a mash up of three songs: "Today Was a Fairytale", the Fleetwood Mac tune "Rhiannon", and Swift's chart topper "You Belong With Me."
As for Ms. Knowles (or Mrs. Carter since she publicly acknowledged her husband while receiving an award during the evening) she reached a new peak in her career by becoming the first female artist to go home with six Grammy awards in one evening. For the moment, this feat is overshadowing her disappointing performance which included Michael Jackson look-a-like military dancers, an overbearing rendition of her single, "If I Were A Boy" then adding a cover of Alanis Morissette's 1995 hit "You Oughta Know." If Morisstte were a part of this act Beyoncé for sure would have had the performance of the night.
Other somewhat memorable live acts throughout the evening came from Pink doing an aerial performance of "Have You Ever", The Black Eyed Peas singing "Imma Be" and "I Gotta Feeling", Jamie Foxx with T-Pain's "Blame It", Maxwell's "Pretty Wings, and the mostly muted performance of Lil Wayne, Eminem and Drake (with Travis Barker on drums) for the hip-hop hit "Forever".
Ultimately, the night left viewers on the edge of their seats as they waited for the tribute to Michael Jackson. Introduced by Lionel Richie and performed by Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood and Jackson himself, the King of Pop's "Earth Song" was sung and accompanied by a 3-D video that would've been shown during Jackson's This Is It concert. The tribute itself was simple yet heartwarming, but the heartbreaking moment came when Jackson's eldest children Prince and Paris (dressed in black and white suits with red arm bands and stripes on the side seam of their pants) accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on their father's behalf.
Funny to say, the night felt empty without any drama. Is it wrong to admit that Kanye West was missed? Well, his presence was definitely felt with all of his nominations; and let's not forget that Swift owes him a big one.
There were high hopes when the show began with a stellar performance by Lady Gaga doing a ballad version of "Poker Face." Halfway through her act she performed another song of hers, "Speechless" with living legend Elton John. Both played piano, wore Swarovski studded specs and incorporated John's classic, "Your Song" into the mix. Sadly, this performance would be the last time viewers saw Gaga on the stage again for the evening.
Despite Gaga not receiving any of her wins during the actual telecast (she won two awards during the pre-telecast for 'Best Dance Recording' and 'Best Electronic/Dance Album' for The Fame) it was certainly ladies' night with Taylor Swift and Beyoncé' leading the most wins.
Swift managed to receive four awards, which included 'Best Country Album' and the crème de la crème of categories, 'Album of the Year' for her Fearless release. During the ceremony Swift also performed with one of her music idols Stevie Nicks. The duo did a mash up of three songs: "Today Was a Fairytale", the Fleetwood Mac tune "Rhiannon", and Swift's chart topper "You Belong With Me."
As for Ms. Knowles (or Mrs. Carter since she publicly acknowledged her husband while receiving an award during the evening) she reached a new peak in her career by becoming the first female artist to go home with six Grammy awards in one evening. For the moment, this feat is overshadowing her disappointing performance which included Michael Jackson look-a-like military dancers, an overbearing rendition of her single, "If I Were A Boy" then adding a cover of Alanis Morissette's 1995 hit "You Oughta Know." If Morisstte were a part of this act Beyoncé for sure would have had the performance of the night.
Other somewhat memorable live acts throughout the evening came from Pink doing an aerial performance of "Have You Ever", The Black Eyed Peas singing "Imma Be" and "I Gotta Feeling", Jamie Foxx with T-Pain's "Blame It", Maxwell's "Pretty Wings, and the mostly muted performance of Lil Wayne, Eminem and Drake (with Travis Barker on drums) for the hip-hop hit "Forever".
Ultimately, the night left viewers on the edge of their seats as they waited for the tribute to Michael Jackson. Introduced by Lionel Richie and performed by Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood and Jackson himself, the King of Pop's "Earth Song" was sung and accompanied by a 3-D video that would've been shown during Jackson's This Is It concert. The tribute itself was simple yet heartwarming, but the heartbreaking moment came when Jackson's eldest children Prince and Paris (dressed in black and white suits with red arm bands and stripes on the side seam of their pants) accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on their father's behalf.
Funny to say, the night felt empty without any drama. Is it wrong to admit that Kanye West was missed? Well, his presence was definitely felt with all of his nominations; and let's not forget that Swift owes him a big one.
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