Grammys 2020 – What You Missed

Grammys+2020+%E2%80%93+What+You+Missed

Mariana Razo, Staff Writer

A night of celebration of music and artistry, the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards were held this Sunday, January 27th. This ceremony was full of many performances, including many tributes to Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle, and much more. As Alicia Keys took the stage as the host for this year’s ceremony, here are the top moments and highlights of the night…

 

Courtesy of Shutterstock

 

Performers included Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Lizzo, H.E.R., Lil Nas X with BTS, Mason Ramsey , Diplo, and Billy Ray Cyrus, Tyler, the Creator, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, Jonas Brothers, Aerosmith and many more.

Lizzo had the most nominations this night with 8, followed by Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X with 6.

Here are the main general categories and their winners:

Best New Artist: Billie Eilish

Record of the Year: Bad Guy by Billie Eilish

Song of the Year: Bad Guy by Billie Eilish

Album of the Year: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? –Billie Eilish

 

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images of the Recording Academy

Billie Eilish is the first artist to do a sweep of all 4 of the general categories in the same year since 1981, including Best Pop Vocal Album, winning 5 Grammys. She is the youngest female to do so at the age of 18. Her career skyrocketed this year with the release of her new album. Her brother, Finneas O’Connell, also won 5 Grammys with his involvement in the production of his sister’s music.

Another event is the tributes to Kobe Bryant starting off with Lizzo saying “This is for Kobe” before her performance of her top hits. Following Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men’s small performance after Bryant and 8 other passengers, including his daughter, passed in a helicopter crash. The camera pointed to many emotional artists. The awards ceremony was held in the Staples Center, home to the Lakers, and Bryant’s jerseys were hung as a light shined upon them.

 

“Here we are together, on music’s biggest night, celebrating the artists that do it best; but, to be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now,” Keys said. “Because earlier today, Los Angeles, America, and the whole wide world lost a hero.”

 

Photo Courtesy of NBC News

 

Although the setting was off because of this tragedy, Keys added, “There’s one thing that has the power to bring us all together, and that’s music. It’s the most healing thing in the world, so let us get some healing going on right now with two beautiful people who want to share their love with all of us.” Despite this sadness, Keys expressed that this night will honor his presence with the joy of coming together with music.

Tyler, the Creator set a moment during this award show with his performance in a striking outfit. Charlie Wilson and Boyz II Men sang “Earfquake” while Tyler waited for his moment in the spotlight. His performance was so energetic that even the camera couldn’t keep up. Fans cheers echoed and he delivered. He also won his first Grammy of Best Rap Album with his album, “Igor.”

Later on, despite being happy,  he expressed his opinion on being nominated in this category stating, “It sucks that whenever we — and I mean guys that look like me — do anything that’s genre-bending or that’s anything they always put it in a rap or urban category.”  This follows the same controversy held in the Recording Academy that many people call out today. Overall, he is still excited to serve new music this year and return to the stage.

 

Photo Courtesy of Recording Academy

 

More moments to highlight:

  • Ariana Grande served a fiery stage performing her top songs that blasted throughout 2019.
  • Camila Cabello performed an emotional song to her father as childhood pictures of her were shown in a slideshow.
  • Demi Lovato performed her new song “Anyone” that she wrote before her near-fatal overdose as “a cry for help,” according to Lovato. She will also sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl LIV on Sunday, February 2nd.
  • John Legend, Meek Mill, DJ Khaled and more came together to present a Grammys’ tribute to Nipsey Hussle who was shot and killed in 2019. Hussle was also nominated for a Grammy in Best Rap Album and won Best Rap/Sung Performance.
  • Lil Nas X brought the remixes of Old Town Road together with superstar group BTS as the first Korean performers on the Grammys, along with Mason Ramsey being the youngest to perform, Diplo, and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Top 5 Most Tweeted about Musicians during the Grammys:

  1. BTS
  2. Demi Lovato
  3. Ariana Grande
  4. Camila Cabello
  5. Billie Eilish

 

Photo Courtesy of CNN

 

The Grammys this year was full of tributes and celebrations but most of all, unity. A night full of ballads, vocals echoed through the Staples Center. Alicia Keys ended the show with, “We’ve got a lot to change. We’ve got a lot to do,” Keys said. “Keep speaking the truth.”

“God bless Kobe’s family,”