Bruno Mars was the man of the night. AFP PHOTOS
Singer Bruno Mars was this year’s biggest winner in music’s most controversial night, the Grammy Awards. The 24K magic star ran over the night with a ‘Finesse’ performance and later taking home the accolades for Song and Record of the Year for That’s What I Like and 24K Magic respectively before bagging the ultimate Album of the Year award.
Over the past few years, the Grammy Awards have produced a number of stunning moments. Who can forget that Michael Jackson tribute in 2010? What about the rap pack of Kanye West, Jay-Z, T.I and Lil Wayne performing Swagger Like Us or those performances of Pink flying in the air.
But in the same way, the Grammy Awards have had controversial moments that range from giving awards to the wrong people to speeches that hit home.
This year’s award ceremony took place in New York, literally the home of rap. A number of rap acts were nominated for big accolades – Jay-Z for instance was leading the pack with eight nominations while Kendrick Lamar closely followed.
It was the first time in more than fifteen years that a white male wasn’t one of the nominees for the Album of the Year accolades and one of the few times that two rap albums were in this category.
But that wasn’t the selling point for this year’s Grammy Awards. The ceremony was trending because after several years, it was coming back to New York, which is Donald Trump and Jay-Z’s back yard.
On Saturday CNN aired an interview of Jay-Z during the very intimate talk with Van Jones in which the rapper addressed US president Donald Trump’s shithole comments and eventually calling him a ‘superbug’.
Jay Z
Well the president wasn’t amused and he responded with his favourite app, Twitter. Just like that Jay-Z became a trend that even when he kept losing awards to Kendrick Lamar. His name popped up more than once during the event and shouts of ‘Jay for President’ were heard.
The show, however had more to offer for example Hillary Clinton reading out lines from Fire and Fury, a Miley Cyrus and Elton John collaboration and a politically charged opening by Kendrick Lamar’s that featured comedian Dave Chappelle and U2’s Bono.
As expected #MeToo somehow stole the night with the biggest performance of the night thanks to Keisha’s Praying featuring Andra Day, Camilia Cabello and Cyndi Lauper among others.
Black Smith Mambazo won the Best World Music album for their Shaka Zulu Revisted.
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Full list of winners
GENERAL FIELD
Album of the Year: 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
Record of the Year: 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
Song of the Year: That’s What I Like – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Best New Artist:
Ed Sheeran bagged the accolades for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance
POP FIELD
Best Pop Solo Performance: Shape Of You – Ed Sheeran
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 – (Various Artists) Dae Bennett, Producer
Best Pop Vocal Album:÷ (Divide) – Ed Sheeran
DANCE/ELECTRONIC FIELD
Best Dance Recording: Tonite— LCD Soundsystem
Best Dance/Electronic Album: 3-D The Catalogue — Kraftwerk
CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL FIELD
Prototype – Jeff Lorber Fusion
ROCK FIELD
Best Rock Performance: You Want It Darker— Leonard Cohen
Best Metal Performance: Sultan’s Curse – Mastodon
est Rock Song: Run – Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
Best Rock Album: A Deeper Understanding – The War On Drugs
Kendrick Lamar scooped the awards for Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Album
ALTERNATIVE FIELD
Best Alternative Music Album: Sleep Well Beast – The National
R&B FIELD
Best R&B Performance: That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Redbone – Childish Gambino
Best R&B Song: That’s What I Like – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Best Urban Contemporary Album: Starboy – The Weeknd
Best R&B Album: 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
Jay Z and Beyonce with their daughter Blue Ivy (C)
RAP FIELD
Best Rap Performance: HUMBLE – Kendrick Lamar
Best Rap/Sung Performance: LOYALTY – Kendrick Lamar Featuring Rihanna
Best Rap Song: HUMBLE — Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & M. Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)
Best Rap Album: DAMN – Kendrick Lamar
COUNTRY FIELD
Best Country Solo Performance: Either Way – Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Better Man – Little Big Town
Best Country Song: Broken Halos – Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton)
Best Country Album: From a Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton
Alessia Cara accepts the award for best new artist at the 60th annual Grammy Awards.
NEW AGE FIELD
Best New Age Album: Dancing On Water – Peter Kater
JAZZ FIELD
Best Improvised Jazz Solo: “Miles Beyond” – John McLaughlin, soloist
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Dreams and Daggers — Cécile McLorin Salvant
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: Rebirth — Billy Childs
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Bringin’ It – Christian McBride Big Band
Best Latin Jazz Album: Jazz Tango — Pablo Ziegler Trio
GOSPEL/ CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC FIELD
Best Gospel Performance/Song: Never Have To Be Alone – CeCe Winans
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song: What A Beautiful Name — Hillsong Worship
Best Gospel Album: Let Them Fall in Love – CeCe Winans
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: Chain Breaker – Zach Williams
Best Roots Gospel Album: Songs of Faith & Hope – Reba McEntire