Beyonce wows as Bowie wins
UNITED STATES: In glittery gown, gilded crown and gold choker, a pregnant Beyonce took the Grammy stage yesterday in a lengthy performance of two songs from her critically acclaimed album Lemonade.
Beyonce sang on top of a long table, even leaning back on a chair while singing Love Drought. She later sang Sandcastles while sitting down, hitting high notes.
She earned a loud applause from the audience at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, including daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay Z. Earlier, Beyonce won best music video for Formation.
David Bowie, who died last year from cancer, won all four awards he was nominated for. He won three in the pre-telecast, and took home best rock song for Blackstar during the live show.
Blackstar, his final album released days after he died, also won best alternative music album, rock performance, and engineered album, non-classical (Bowie is listed as one of the engineers on Blackstar.)
In the latter category, he beat out Prince, who also died last year.
Saxophonist Donny Mccaslin was profoundly honoured to accept a posthumous Grammy Award for Bowie’s Blackstar.
‘‘I’m just so happy for him and his family and his fans,’’ Mccaslin told reporters backstage after picking up his third golden gramophone.
‘‘This means a lot to his fans. And we’re fans, too.’’
Mccaslin explained that Blackstar arose from Bowie’s collection of demos, on which he played various instruments and sang in different voices.
‘‘We used that as a starting point. When we got into the studio, we listened to the demo and just started recording,’’ Mccaslin said.
‘‘David created this environment that was very collaborative. He encouraged us to try anything . . . he just really created this environment where we affirmed and encouraged.
‘‘That being said, the songs were pretty complete as we got them.’’
Mccaslin said the band knew that Bowie was ill when they started recording, but his health was never an impediment to their progress.
‘‘He was incredibly enthusiastic every day and was really determined to make this record on his own terms,’’ Mccaslin said.
‘‘It was an inspiration for all of us to see him do that.’’
Bowie was still writing new music up to his death on January 10, 2016, Mccaslin said.
’’We were going to go back in the studio in January to record new music.’’
Katharine Mcphee helped present the rock song award and accepted it on Bowie’s behalf.
‘‘Like all our music heroes,’’ she said, ‘‘his music will live forever.’’
Adele kicked off the Grammys with a live rendition of her comeback anthem, Hello, which helped her win two early Grammys, and may put her on track to win album, song and record of the year.
Adele’s Hello won best pop solo performance and 25 won pop vocal album in the pre-telecast ceremony.
James Corden, hosting the Grammys for the first time, rapped felt some of his monologue at the top of the show, name-dropping Prince, Rihanna and Drake.
Twenty one pilots won best pop duo/group performance for the hit Stressed Out.
They removed their pants when accepting the award in homage to their earlier days when they watched the Grammys at home in their boxers.
In the pre-telecast, Beyonce’s younger sister, critical R&B darling Solange, won her first Grammy for best R&B performance (it was her first nomination). Drake, who did not attend the live show, won best rap song and rap/ sung performance for the smash hit, Hotline Bling.
Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling! – which is nominated for an Oscar – won best song written for visual media. His No1 hit is from the Trolls soundtrack. Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott won two Grammys in the Christian category for the album she recorded with her family.
Scott, who has won seven Grammys with Lady A, cried onstage both times when accepting the wins.
``We’ve been crying since this project started,’’ her father, Lang Scott, said.
Best new artist nominees The Chainsmokers won best dance recording for the pop hit Don’t Let Me Down, while album of the year nominee Sturgill Simpson won best country album award for
ASailor’s Guide to Earth.
The country music rebel thanked his wife, who he said told him to quit his job on the railroad years ago and move to Nashville.
Joey + Rory won best roots gospel album for Hymns, and Rory Feek was emotional onstage as he remembered his wife Joey, who died last year from cancer.
‘‘My wife’s dream was to make a hymns album. She didn’t have the chance to do it until she’d been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, so she’d sing in hotel rooms while she did chemotherapy and radiation,’’ said Rory, who added that his wife said if they were nominated he had to attend the Grammy awards. ``She got a big smile on her face and she said, `Remember, if we win, I’ll know before you will’.’’
Some actors won Grammys, too: Don Cheadle picked up best compilation soundtrack for visual media for Miles Ahead, where he is credited as a compilation producer, and Carol Burnett won the best spoken word album Grammy.
The Color Purple won best musical theatre album, giving Jennifer Hudson her second Grammy and earning Tony winner Cynthia Erivo and Orange Is the New Black actress Danielle Brooks their first Grammys.
There were tributes for Prince and George Michael, while Demi Lovato, Andra Day and Tori Kelly honoured the Bee Gees and the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Fever. – AP