That was the Grammys 2016
2016 will not be remembered as a stellar year for the Grammys.
Adele struggled with technical issues; Rihanna and Lauryn Hill didn’t show up due to illness; Gaga paid tribute or butchered Bowie depending on your point of view; Pitbull recreated Benny Hill with Sofia Vergara and Taylor Swift put Kanye in his place. Lamar didn’t completely clean up either, beaten by the twin pop powers of Taylor Swift and Mark Ronson.
Here’s a snippet from our wrap:
Taylor Swift’s 1989 took the album of the year awards at the 58th Grammy awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday night. Having opened the show with a version of her hit Out of the Woods, the singer made a defiant acceptance speech which seemed to allude to her argument with Kanye West earlier in the week. The rapper’s new song Famous, referring to Swift, claims: “I made that bitch famous.”
Swift pointed out in her speech that she is the first woman to win album of the year twice and added: “I want to say to all the young women out there –there are going to be people along the way who are going to try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame.”
Thanks so much for your comments and tweets and see you next year for more performances from Adele. Byeeeee!
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Pitbull! It's Pitbull time!
Mr Worldwide is here to perform El Taxi, ostensibly a cover of Murder She Wrote by Chaka Demus and Pliers. He’s doing a Benny Hill-style chase across the stage featuring Sofia Vergara. Robin Thicke is here, as is Joe Perry and Travis Barker.
This is so random I honestly don’t know what is in front of my eyes. It’s like the producers just pulled names of no-longer-relevant white male musicians out of a hat and couldn’t be bothered to think about how it would look.
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WINNER: Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson - record of the year
Ronson thanks George Clinton, Earth, Wind and Fire and all the other funksters.
Beyoncé is here to do the honours for record of the year:
Really Love – D’Angelo
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
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WINNER: 1989 – Taylor Swift - album of the year
She thanks Max Martin, and then talks about how being a woman in the industry is difficult because people will try to take credit for putting you where you are. A clear reference to Kanye? Yeah and a more general legitimate comment on the state of music. Björk said something very similar last year.
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Earth, Wind and Fire are here now to celebrate the life of Maurice White. “Maurice, we love you,” they say and they’re presenting album of the year. Surely Lamar will win …
Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes
To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
Traveller – Chris Stapleton
1989 – Taylor Swift
Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd
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Bowie, Maurice White, Lemmy and co all get a mention but they choose to finish on Natalie Cole this year.
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Neil Portnow, the academy’s CEO, and Common are here to talk about letting nothing stop people making music. Portnow references the Paris attacks, and now Common – who has made a habit of meaningful speeches at awards shows – introduces Joey Alexander, a pianist who is about 5 years old and is impressing Herbie Hancock, Jidenna and everyone else. It was great, but a solo piano performance with 20 minutes to go is a strange call.
Now they’re making the case for streaming services to pay more. They say young Joey wants to have a future, so give musicians more money! That was like a terrible Ted talk. We’re into the In Memoriam section now.
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Hollywood Vampires' Lemmy tribute
Dave Grohl is talking about the importance of Lemmy now, he’s got an Ace of Spade tattoo, and says the influence of the band can’t be overstated. Now it’s Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, and the Hollywood Vampires.
Alice Cooper is wearing a white shirt splattered with what looks like blood, while Johnny Depp’s sideburns are taking over a part of the stage. Joe Perry quite happy noodling away, and this is ... strangely compelling.
Ok, they’re doing Ace of Spades now and this isn’t good. Half a dozen men in clothes that don’t fit them singing songs from the 70s. It sounds like Vinyl.
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LL Cool J is back.
He’s shown his face about three times tonight and now he’s talking about how Brittany Howard was working as a mail delivery worker a few years ago and now they’re performing at the Grammys.
Dreams come true, people. They’re playing Don’t Wanna Fight, for which they’ve one a Grammy tonight.
The show producers really need to have a look at the way tonight has panned out. There were five ballads in a row until the Lionel Richie tribute. Then there were more plodding performances until Lamar, and Gaga’s flawed but fun tribute. If so much of the emphasis is going to be on live performances, surely they need to show more facets of live performances?
So there’s a performance from the Alabama Shakes to come, plus MR WORLDWIDE aka Pitbull, and the Hollywood Vampires. We’re about 45 minutes away from this thing being over.
Again, it’s a nice enough rendition, but there’s not a lot going on and it’s not as if they couldn’t have picked a BB King song that had more to it. Bring back the Gaga free-for-all!
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They’re doing the Thrill Is Gone, which sounds like this:
Bonnie Raitt gives the lifetime award to R&B star Ruth Brown and also introduces Chris Stapleton and Gary Clark Jr. Got a feeling this one might be good …
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The Pitbull Cometh
Photograph: Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP
They’re using this Pitbull finale as an instrument of torture, teasing it during every ad break. Chris Stapleton and Gary Clark Jr are coming up with their tribute to BB King as well.
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Lady Gaga's monster Bowie medley
Break over and here’s Ed Sheeran to introduce Lady Gaga and Nile Rodgers. She’s got some sort of projection on her head and the Aladdin Sane flash is on there, and a GIANT SPIDER while she sings Space Oddity, and segues into Changes and Ziggy Stardust.
Rodgers is very much in the background … for now. Suffragette City now and this is breathless and, well, completely bonkers. On we go to Rebel Rebel and Gaga is projected on to a huge screen.
It’s a whistle-stop tour through Bowie’s career. We’re on to Fashion now, and there’s a little reference to Cracked Actor before she fires into Fame. There’s a mashup of Under Pressure and Let’s Dance now. This feels like it’s going downhill fast. Did they try to take on too much?
Heroes is in full swing and there’s a touch of Andrew Lloyd Webber finale here – it’s about as subtle as a brick.
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Our Scott Bixby has written about the sensational Kendrick Lamar performance which you can also watch here. He writes:
Introduced by actor Don Cheadle as the author of “a hip-hop masterpiece,” Lamar’s performance was the night’s highlight. Walked onstage while shackled in chains with a prison-set performance of The Blacker the Berry - “Everything black, I don’t want black / I want everything black, I ain’t need black / Some white some black, I ain’t mean black / I want everything black” - a celebration of black identity, Lamar shifted to an African motif for a well-applauded rendition of Alright, joined by tribal drummers and dancers in front of a bonfire the size of a house.
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WINNER: Meghan Trainor – best new artist
She’s very emotional. Thanking just about everyone including LA Reid, before starting to cry. That’s the first crier tonight. Lady Gaga is going to do Changes, by the way, so we were both wrong. Pitbull is leading the finale (Lord), and Beyoncé is giving the award for album of the year – aka the biggie.
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Even some salsa steps from Bieber can’t mask the deficiencies there. The best new artist award is up now. Sam Smith is introducing the noms.
Courtney Barnett
James Bay
Sam Hunt
Tori Kelly
Meghan Trainor
OK, he’s finished Love Yourself and he’s sprinted over to do Where Are U Now with Skrillex (who is playing guitar) and Diplo (who is banging some drums). It’s a rock version of one of the biggest songs of last year and you’d be hard pressed to recognise it. The dance energy is gone, replaced by some noodling and guitars drenched in effects.
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Kaley Cuoco is here to introduce Justin Bieber, Diplo and Skrillex. This should be interesting? Surely? PLEASE. Oh, Bieber is playing an acoustic guitar.
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Rihanna update
Here’s our Nigel with more info:
Rihanna was set to perform up until a few hours before Grammys showtime, it was revealed backstage by a publicist tasked with explaining the star’s absence.
She was slated to sing Kiss It Better from her new album, ANTI. “Rihanna’s doctor put her on vocal rest for 48 hours because she was at risk of hemorrhaging her vocal cords,” read the statement. “The antibiotics she’s been on for three days couldn’t kill her infection adequately, therefore she could not perform safely.”
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She’s on that little stage which I’m beginning to think is cursed.
Adele is here now, introduced by Bruno Mars who co-wrote All I Ask, the song she’s performing.
She’s backlit and stood next to a piano. There’s probably a bit too much reverb on the mic but it’s a great example of why people bought 8 million of her records and why some people call her Adull. If you like powerful ballads about heartbreak, this is as big as it gets in 2016.
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WINNER: Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes – best rock performance
Howard says she started the band in high school and never thought they’d win awards. Well, they’re cleaning up tonight.
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We’re back and Miguel is doing his Michael Jackson tribute, singing She’s Out of My Life from Off The Wall, which is being reissued. He’s stopped after about 8 bars and is now just talking about Michael Jackson and the importance of Off The Wall. Now it’s the best rock performance noms:
Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes
What Kind Of Man – Florence + The Machine
Something From Nothing – Foo Fighters
Ex’s & Oh’s – Elle King
Moaning Lisa Smile – Wolf Alice
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WINNER: Hamilton - best musical theater album
Miranda is rapping the acceptance speech. Hamilton has definitely stolen the limelight tonight.
This is probably the most intense performance the Grammys have seen. He’s performing straight down the barrel of the camera now with strobes flashing. Someone is doing a black power salute. And now, here’s Seth MacFarlane …
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Things start in a jailhouse. Lamar is in chains. It’s a jazz version of The Blacker The Berry. This isn’t exactly accessible. More like experimental theatre than awards performance. He’s wearing glow-in-the-dark paint over his prison jump suit. There’s a drumming section as he segues into Alright. The crowd are paying attention but the smiles are long gone. Dancers make their away around a huge camp fire.
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“Sometime you have to play for a long time, to play like yourself,” Don Cheadle quotes Miles Davis as he introduces Kendrick Lamar. He calls his latest album a “hip-hop masterpiece”. Don’t nod off quite yet …
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It’s Kendrick Lamar up next, apparently. He’s doing Alright and The Blacker the Berry.
Standing ovation in the theatre – Pharrell Williams clapped a lot at the Staples Center. The last two performances were definitely better, but wow, has this been pedestrian so far.
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This is the number:
It tells the origin story of Alexander Hamilton (surprise, surprise). Lin-Manuel Miranda is there too. Huge cheer for him. Here’s more on the show.
Stephen Colbert is here now, to talk about the show’s track Alexander Hamilton. “It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced,” he says.
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Spare a thought for poor Nigel backstage.
The #GRAMMYs have been on for 1.5 hours and NO ONE has graced us with their presence backstage. At least they now have water.
— Nigel M. Smith (@nigelmfs) February 16, 2016
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From the comments
You might be right, but we’re off to see the Hamilton cast perform. Things are looking up …
Photograph: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
They segue into Kelly’s Hollow fairly seamlessly. It’s probably been the best low-key performance of the night.
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Here is Anna Kendrick, an actor and “a wonderful singer”, we’re told. She’s paying tribute to Irving Azoff, the entertainment executive who represented the Eagles, and introducing Tori Kelly and James Bay. They’re here to make a “Grammy moment”. They’re singing Bay’s Let It Go:
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It’s the Glenn Frey tribute by the Eagles now. They’re singing Take It Easy. I bloody love this song. This is really endearing – they’re belting it out.
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WINNER: Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran - song of the year
Stevie Wonder read the winner in braille and tells the world people need to work harder to make life more accessible. Sheeran thanks his family who have come every year (he’s never won) and now he’s got a gong. Charming as ever.
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Now they’re introing song of the year. Here are the noms:
Alright – Kendrick Lamar
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Girl Crush – Little Big Town
See You Again – Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
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Stevie Wonder and warblers Pentatonix are here to pay tribute to Maurice White, who died earlier this month. Apparently, this was put together fairly last minute, and you can kind of tell.
Pentatonix are giving Stevie Wonder a beat box backing as he belts out That’s the Way of the World. Janelle Monae is loving it.
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Ryan Seacrest is here to present the music educator award. It’s very worthy and goes to Phillip Riggs who has been teaching for more than 25 years.
Now he’s introducing the sleeper hit Girl Crush by Little Big Town. Overheard in the office: “Is the Grammys a funeral no one told me about”. There’s definitely been a funereal touch to tonight so far.
Rihanna reportedly cancels
Apparently, Rihanna has pulled out of her live performance. More on this when we get it – TMZ are saying she has laryngitis. In fairness, I don’t how anyone could follow that Lionel tribute.
UPDATE:
"Rihanna has been struggling with bronchitis...doctor on site recommended that she pull the plug on the performance" https://t.co/vxrXPMUciO
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 16, 2016
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OKKKKKKKK! Lionel is on the stage doing All Night Long and finally my cynical heart has thawed. This is ridiculous. Dave Grohl is singing his heart out! Beck looks close to tears! Lionel Richie could cause world peace.
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Tyrese has shown up now. Nice moment there when Mark Ronson was seen singing along right into the back of Lionel Richie’s head. He’s doing this classic:
Luke Bryan just finished doing an impression of Barry Manilow and now here’s Trainor to probably send Lionel to an early grave by singing this …
So it’s Demi Lovato, John Legend, Meghan Trainor and Luke Bryan. Legend starts by firing into Easy. This sounds exactly like you might imagine: smooth as silk. Richie is loving it, nodding along like one of those dogs you can put in the back of your car. Here’s Demi Lovato, she’s doing Hello. They cut to Lionel, who is hating this loving this and holding a mic …
This is so cheesy. It’s like something from a cruise ship. Get in there, Lionel, and stop this. Lord, get Sinise back out here to sing Night Train, anything but this!
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A reminder that Democratic presidents tend to do well at the Grammys – Jimmy Carter got best spoken word album award tonight.
Hillary Clinton won a Grammy in 1996 for the spoken word version of 'It Takes A Village.' (Bill Clinton has two). pic.twitter.com/EsBoaAUnaL
— Mental Floss (@mental_floss) February 16, 2016
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James Corden is here. Does he have a show on CBS? Nah … oh yeah. He does! It’s the Lionel Richie tribute which sounds very suspect. Here’s to hoping.
Lady Gaga dread
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Recording artist Lady Gaga attends The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage) Photograph: Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Commenters aren’t looking forward to Lady Gaga’s performance. Why not, guys? Remember this?
Oh please no Gaga tribute to Bowie - it will just end up being all about her.
So. Much. Boring. Lady Blah Blah is a poseur -- why does she get to do the Bowie tribute? Because she can play at being Bowie/Madonna and others and lift all their original ideas and pass them off to a younger, dumber generation who falls for it? Dang. I just lauded Madonna, that's how much I dislike Shady Paw Paw.
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WINNER! Traveller - Chris Stapleton - best country album
He thanks his band and his crew, and Taylor Swift for glitter bombing him earlier on. Short and sweet, and – more importantly – not a ballad.
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Sinise is here! He’s presenting and thanking the military. They’re presenting best country album.
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For those interested in the geography of this, they’re on the platform bit Swift wandered over to. That is the most interesting thing about this performance. Sorry.
They’re doing a rendition of Rise Up.
If you’re nodding off a bit, perk yourself up with some dramatic/glamorous/awful looks from the red carpet earlier here.
We’re back and Selena Gomez is on the stage to introduce Andra Day and Ellie Goulding who are doing … another sultry ballad. This is going to be a long night.
How television works
Gary Sinise is backstage, apparently. I wonder if his appearance has got anything to do with him featuring in CBS’s Criminal Minds spin-off?
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We’re taking bets in the office about which Bowie numbers Gaga will do. Alex reckons it’ll be Life on Mars at the piano, I’m going for Heroes.
Right on cue: Adele stands up to applaud as does that man Robin Thicke, who must have paid a camera man or something.
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All three performers have gone for sultry ballads so far and it really doesn’t translate. There’s one person who is the queen of sultry ballads. She’s called Adele and she’ll show them how to do it later on.
He’s wearing a tux, and dancing in an LED cage, while doing Michael Jackson-style feet shuffling. Hang on, he’s leaving the LED area and walking down towards a piano, where there’s a pianist and a cello player. He’s doing In the Night as well, which is, well, a bit boring.
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Ok, we’re back. Ariana Grande - aka doughnut licker - is here. She’s introducing the Weeknd and sounds tired after walking the stairs. She made a terrible joke as well. He’s performing Can’t Feel My Face.
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The Weeknd, that dreadful sounding Lionel Richie tribute and the Eagles are coming up after the break. I’m going to use the time to eat some pizza.
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They’re singing Heartbeat, which might sound ace driving down the highway after a breakup but it’s not really lighting up the Grammys.
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Hunt is sat on a stool, wearing a white t-shirt and not really hitting the notes on this one. He seemed pretty nervous on the red carpet. The stage looks like something from a Bonnie Tyler video as well. This isn’t very impressive. It’s been quite a tentative start all around.
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Von Miller is here now to introduce Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood.
WINNER: To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar - Best rap album
Lamar wins, again. He thanks God, and gets huge nods of appreciation from Don Cheadle. He thanks his family and his management company. Then we cut to Robin Thicke for no apparent reason. “This for hip-hop,” he says.
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Best rap album
Here are the nominees for the first award. Ice Cube and son presenting.
2014 Forest Hills Drive - J Cole
Compton - Dr Dre
If Youre Reading This Its Too Late - Drake
To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar
The Pinkprint - Nicki Minaj
LL Cool J is here!
Ok, here comes LL Cool J. “Welcome to the 58th annual Grammy awards!” he shouts. They’re here to celebrate the “awesome power of music”. “With all that divides music unites us,” he adds. We need to take a leaf out the musicians book, he says. He references Adele’s last performance in 2012, and Lionel Richie - oh, he made a Hello joke. He’s talking about Kendrick Lamar’s performance with Imagine Dragons - he mentions his “powerful statement” for later on. David Bowie gets a big cheer as does Gaga.
She’s wandering into the crowds now, parting the celebs, Moses-like as she strides on to one of those platforms that are only ever used for U2 tours or awards shows. This is hardly exciting if I’m honest.
Swift is on stage surrounded by some leaf-less trees. It’s all a bit Wuthering Heights, or maybe like Castle Black from GoT. She’s performing Out of the Woods, so that explains everything.
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Ok, Little Bow Wow has introduced the show and we’re just about to start. … Taylor Swift is on first.
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Bieber and James Corden recorded a carpool special. Here it is, sing along:
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Who is performing?
The reason so many of the awards aren’t actually dished out on Grammy night is so they can cram in more live performances and the calibre is usually impressive. This year is no different with big names unveiling their latest work and paying tribute to the stars who have died this year. Here’s who is playing:
Lady Gaga’s David Bowie tribute
Miguel pays tribute to Michael Jackson (singing She’s Out Of My Life)
Glenn Frey tribute by the Eagles (singing Take it Easy)
Maurice White tribute from Pentatonix and Stevie Wonder
BB King is honoured by Chris Stapleton
Demi Lovato, John Legend, Meghan Trainor, Luke Bryan pay homage to Lionel Richie
Justin Bieber, Diplo and Skrillex perform Where Are U Now
Kendrick Lamar
Taylor Swift
Adele
Hollywood Vampires’ Lemmy tribute
A performance that has already generated huge amounts of fear in the CBS executive upper echelons buzz is Kendrick Lamar’s rendition of Blacker the Berry and Alright, which has become a protest song adopted by the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Host LL Cool J has deemed it “very controversial” and back stage pics appear to show a cage, so get ready for some Beyonce Super Bowl halftime levels of outrage and consternation.
Speaking about the Lamar performance, show producer Ken Ehrlich told Billboard: “Controversial… I’m not sure that’s the right word. Certainly it’s provocative.” (Read: it’s controversial and provocative).
Here are some backstage shots of the Lamar set:
Tonight.. Kendrick Lamar @ The Grammys pic.twitter.com/7yMLSpgcqX
— Jermaine (@brainfeeder_) February 15, 2016
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Nigel’s seen Mark Ronson backstage. He writes:
Uptown Funk, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ Grammy-winning hit for best pop duo/group performance took a whopping seven months to create, according to Ronson, who spoke backstage. He said that the track was born out a of jam session with Mars and grew from there. “Jeff [Bhasker] came up with the ‘This hit, that ice cold Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold’ line - and then we thought we were on to something. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to meet something’s potential.” The song is also up for record of the year.
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Who is up for an award?
For those who haven’t been keeping up here’s a list of the major nominees. Kendrick Lamar leads the way with 11 and has already picked up a few of the non-televised gongs.
Record of the year
Really Love – D’Angelo and the Vanguard
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Can’t Feel My Face – the Weeknd
Album of the year
Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes
To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
Traveller – Chris Stapleton
1989 – Taylor Swift
Beauty Behind the Madness – the Weeknd
Song of the year
Alright – Kendrick Lamar
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Girl Crush – Little Big Town
See You Again – Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Best new artist
Courtney Barnett
James Bay
Sam Hunt
Tori Kelly
Meghan Trainor
Best pop solo performance
Heartbeat Song – Kelly Clarkson
Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran - WINNER
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Can’t Feel My Face – the Weeknd
Best pop duo/group performance
Ship to Wreck – Florence + The Machine
Sugar – Maroon 5
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars - WINNER
Bad Blood – Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar
See You Again – Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
Best pop vocal album
Piece By Piece – Kelly Clarkson
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence + The Machine
Uptown Special – Mark Ronson
1989 – Taylor Swift - WINNER
Before This World – James Taylor
Best dance recording
We’re All We Need – Above & Beyond featuring Zoë Johnston
Go – the Chemical Brothers
Never Catch Me – Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar
Runaway (U & I) – Galantis
Where Are Ü Now – Skrillex and Diplo with Justin Bieber – WINNER
Best dance/electronic album
Our Love – Caribou
Born in the Echoes – the Chemical Brothers
Caracal – Disclosure
In Colour – Jamie xx
Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü – Skrillex and Diplo - WINNER!
Best rock performance
Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes
What Kind of Man – Florence + the Machine
Something From Nothing – Foo Fighters
Ex’s & Oh’s – Elle King
Moaning Lisa Smile – Wolf Alice
Best metal performance
Identity – August Burns Red
Cirice – Ghost - WINNER!
512 – Lamb Of God
Thank You – Sevendust
Custer – Slipknot
Best rock song
Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes - WINNER
Ex’s & Oh’s – Elle King
Hold Back the River – James Bay
Lydia – Highly Suspect
What Kind Of Man – Florence + The Machine
Best rock album
Chaos and the Calm – James Bay
Kintsugi – Death Cab For Cutie
Mister Asylum – Highly Suspect
Drones – Muse – WINNER
.5: The Gray Chapter – Slipknot
Best alternative music album
Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes - WINNER
Vulnicura – Björk
The Waterfall – My Morning Jacket
Currents – Tame Impala
Star Wars – Wilco
Best R&B performance
If I Don’t Have You – Tamar Braxton
Rise Up – Andra Day
Breathing Underwater – Hiatus Kaiyote
Planes – Jeremiah featuring J Cole
Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey) – the Weeknd - WINNER
Best R&B song
Coffee – Miguel
Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey) – the Weeknd
Let It Burn - Jazmine Sullivan
Really Love – D’Angelo and the Vanguard - WINNER
Shame – Tyrese
Best urban contemporary album
Ego Death - the Internet
You Should Be Here – Kehlani
Blood – Lianne La Havas
Wildheart – Miguel
Beauty Behind the Madness – the Weeknd - WINNER
Best R&B album
Coming Home – Leon Bridges
Black Messiah – D’Angelo and the Vanguard - WINNER
Cheers to the Fall – Andra Day
Reality Show – Jazmine Sullivan
Forever Charlie – Charlie Wilson
Best rap performance
Apparently – J Cole
Back to Back – Drake
Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
Alright – Kendrick Lamar
Truffle Butter – Nicki Minaj featuring Drake & Lil Wayne
All Day – Kanye West featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom and Paul McCartney
Best rap/sung collaboration
One Man Can Change the World – Big Sean featuring Kanye West and John Legend
Glory – Common and John Legend
Classic Man – Jidenna featuring Roman GianArthur
These Walls – Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat - WINNER
Only – Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown
Best rap song
All Day – Kanye West featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom and Paul McCartney
Alright – Kendrick Lamar - WINNER
Energy – Drake
Glory – Common & John Legend
Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
Best rap album
2014 Forest Hills Drive – J Cole
Compton – Dr Dre
If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late – Drake
To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
The Pinkprint – Nicki Minaj
Best country solo performance
Burning House – Cam
Traveller – Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Little Toy Guns – Carrie Underwood
John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 – Keith Urban
Chances Are – Lee Ann Womack
Best country duo/group performance
Stay a Little Longer – Brothers Osborne
If I Needed You – Joey+Rory
The Driver – Charles Kelley, Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay
Girl Crush – Little Big Town
Lonely Tonight – Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe
Best country song
Chances Are – Lee Ann Womack
Diamond Rings and Old Barstools – Tim McGraw
Girl Crush – Little Big Town - WINNER
Hold My Hand – Brandy Clark
Traveller – Chris Stapleton
Best country album
Montevallo – Sam Hunt
Pain Killer – Little Big Town
The Blade – Ashley Monroe
Pageant Material – Kacey Musgraves
Traveller – Chris Stapleton
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media
Empire: Season 1
Fifty Shades of Grey
Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
Pitch Perfect 2
Selma
Producer of the year, non-classical
Jeff Bhasker - WINNER!
Dave Cobb
Diplo
Larry Klein
Blake Mills
Best music video
LSD – A$AP Rocky
I Feel Love (Every Million Miles) – The Dead Weather
Alright – Kendrick Lamar
Bad Blood – Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar - WINNER
Freedom – Pharrell Williams
Best music film
Mr Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown – James Brown
Sonic Highways – Foo Fighters
What Happened, Miss Simone? – Nina Simone
The Wall – Roger Waters
Amy – Amy Winehouse – WINNER
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I take it back about the lack of a Madonna moment. I hadn’t seen Manika and Denicia at that point. Ladies with an attitude, you might call them.
This is pretty adorable – Justin Bieber and his grumpy little brother Jaxon hit the red carpet.
Also in pink, it’s Florence going for bohemian vibes via her Gucci gown.
.@flo_tweet stuns at the 58th #GRAMMYs Red Carpet #GRAMMYLive https://t.co/5vTtaAZOcn pic.twitter.com/rM3h4rm42n
— The GRAMMYs (@TheGRAMMYs) February 16, 2016
Ellie Goulding’s dress is currently being analysed in forensic detail. It’s pink and by Stella McCartney – so now you know.
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There’s high glamour in the press room too:
Overheard backstage at the #GRAMMYs: "We are out of water but we do have decaf." The show hasn't even begun yet. :/
— Nigel M. Smith (@nigelmfs) February 16, 2016
Demi Lovato could be providing that moment: she’s “edging it up” (her words) in a tuxedo jacket with a jewelled chain disappearing into her nether regions. The edginess is somewhat countered by the fact that she’s here to perform a tribute to Lionel Richie – and she’s doing Hello. A better tribute, IMO, would be if Lionel sang Adele’s Hello and she sang his back. Then maybe it could end in a medley of the two ... just spitballing here.
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I feel that this year the red carpet could do with a Madonna moment, where she turned up dressed like a Napoleonic pole dancer and flashed her backside. It’s all been rather polite so far.
Newsflash! Adele is wearing Givenchy. Meanwhile, Big Sean, in a white tuxedo, is being interrogated on E! in a slightly awkward manner.
And in case you missed it, here’s Taylor Swift arriving with #squad member Selena Gomez earlier.
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Nigel, who has been trapped backstage since midday, writes:
Making Taylor Swift’s blockbuster Bad Blood video was like going to a rave, according to the video’s producer, Ron Mohrhoff. Speaking backstage following the video’s Grammy win for best music video, Mohrhoff said his favorite moment on set was shooting the final explosive sequence, during which Swift and her girl squad fiercely strut as explosions erupt behind them. “It was this magic feeling of a rave or something,” he recalled. “Everyone was relaxed and focused on the work – there was a refrain from the process. I remember it being a really potent moment in the production.”
Here’s the award-winning video in question.
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Charlie Puth, last seen sucking Meghan Trainor’s lungs out at the American Music awards, is on the red carpet. Have you wiped this from your memory yet?
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The country contingent are looking pretty great in pink.
GRAMMY nominee @SamHuntMusic & GRAMMY-winner @KaceyMusgraves take a moment for a 📷 before the 58th #GRAMMYs telecast pic.twitter.com/wI6ntRyHnF
— The GRAMMYs (@TheGRAMMYs) February 16, 2016
Kanye is still at it!
only problem I got with Good Fridays is I got more songs than I got old pictures!!!! Lol!!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 16, 2016
If he decides to live tweet the Grammys then Lanre and I are going home for the night and leaving him to it.
It was Bella Hadid! So much beauty in one family. And they’ve also got a talented auntie, Zaha (note: this is a joke).
Mark Ronson meanwhile, who has already won best pop duo/group performance, has just materialised on the red carpet wearing a nice blue suit and showing plenty of he-vage. And while we’re on the Brits, Adele is also here:
10-time GRAMMY winner and performer tonight @Adele sparkles on the 58th #GRAMMYs Red Carpet https://t.co/hzacRtF3hp pic.twitter.com/QsnSRzovg4
— The GRAMMYs (@TheGRAMMYs) February 16, 2016
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The Weeknd just appeared on the red carpet with a beautiful woman in a plunging neckline. Some debate in the Guardian office about whether it’s Gigi Hadid ... but surely she can’t be doing the dirty with Zayn Malik, Bradford’s finest?
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Meanwhile we’ve updated our list of who’s won what, in the major-ish categories anyway. It’s already been a great night for Alabama Shakes, Kendrick, Ed Sheeran, Mark Ronson and the Weeknd, who has a couple under his belt already.
Justin Bieber is celebrating his first ever Grammy win, for best dance recording for Where Are U Now with Skrillex and Diplo.
Lol. Just playin. It's mine 😜 pic.twitter.com/BkjuckjZNe
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) February 15, 2016
It’s Travis Barker, the drummer from Blink-182, on the red carpet with his kids. They’re being asked about their Instagram followings by Giuliana Rancic, which all feels very modern. And not a little icky.
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Life advice from Reverend Run
“Don’t go to bed with an argument in your heart,” that’s the advice of Reverend Run, who is on the carpet now. Along with DJ Khaled’s CEO tips, there’s now a growing list of self-improvement advice from the red carpet guests. What next? How to learn a foreign language with Pentatonix? Increasing mindfulness with Bieber? Stay tuned, folks.
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'He drank himself right out'
That quote came straight out of the mouth of Alice Cooper, who along with Johnny Depp and Joe Perry (the Hollywood Vampires) are talking to Seacrest about their tribute to Lemmy. They are one of the many, many all star tribute squads on offer tonight, including one for Lionel Richie (who isn’t dead) that involves Demi Lovato, John Legend, Meghan Trainor and Luke Bryan.
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Meanwhile, on Twitter …
Some guy called Kanye West is on Twitter again, typing things. Here’s a selection:
Pitchfork, the album is a 30 out of 10
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 15, 2016
To Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, New York Times, and any other white publication. Please do not comment on black music anymore.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 15, 2016
This was made with love. Only God can judge me. So I only expect love back!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 15, 2016
Also all Good Fridays songs will be on Tidal. Me and Kendrick got 40 songs and me and Young Thug got 40 songs. 40/40 club!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 15, 2016
We’ll keep an eye on this as it progresses.
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Kendrick Lamar and Alabama Shakes win, plus DJ Khaled's life advice
As we mock Giuliana Rancic, there are actually awards being dished out. Here’s a list of what’s been won, so far:
Muse – Drones: best rock album
Alabama Shakes – Sound & Colour: best alternative album
Alabama Shakes – Don’t Wanna Fight: best rock song
Kendrick Lamar: best rap performance
Kendrick Lamar – Alright: best rap song
Breaking away from this list because DJ Khaled, aka the king of Snapchat, aka Rick Ross’s best mate for life, aka THE MAN (according to Ryan Seacrest). He’s writing a book, and has some advice for the kids: “Be a CEO, be like Ryan Seacrest,” he shouts. Thanks, DJ Khaled!
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So Courtney Barnett, how are you feeling?
Giuliana Rancic is talking to Courtney Barnett inside the big marquee. This is quite an awkward conversation, a bit like when you get cornered by someone you don’t like at a bar. Rancic asks Barnett “How are you feeling?” at least four times, seemingly because her answer of “Yeah, OK, really” isn’t satisfactory.
I’ve seen Rancic do about 20 of these red carpets now and she really does like repeating questions until she gets an answer she likes, which is usually the same as the first answer. Anyway, here’s an interview with Barnett for you to peruse.
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James Bay is here!
James Bay is currently on the red carpet talking to Ryan Seacrest who just asked him: “Do you ever write a song and just … go … wow?”. To Bay’s credit he didn’t laugh in Seacrest’s face and instead said something about music “coming out the way it comes out”, tautology is the best way to deal with inane questions it seems. Here’s some James Bay if you’re not sure who he is.
It’s the biggest music night of the year! Or at any rate, the night where the American music industry gathers together, from country stars to pop stars to the winner of best contemporary Christian music performance (which this year went to Francesca Battistelli’s Holy Spirit, congrats to her), and gives out awards, while watching the biggest pop stars of the moment do their thing.
This year, Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations pack – he’s up for 11 awards, and just won his first, for the video to Bad Blood in which he guests with Taylor Swift. She, meanwhile, picked up the best pop vocal album earlier, although she couldn’t accept it in person as she was rehearsing. She’s nominated for seven awards, so getting two gongs already suggests that tonight could be her night.
In other words, a lot of the awards will have been given out by the time the telecast starts at 5pm LA time, and with 83 to get through, no wonder. Strap yourself in and watch it all unfold with me and Lanre Bakare in New York and Nigel M Smith in Los Angeles. He’s backstage at the ceremony, which takes place at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles.
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The most boring Grammy's ever.