Adele’s evening
Adele celebrates after winning Album of the Year for “25” at the 59th Grammy Awards on Sunday. She also won Record and Song of the Year for “Hello.” Among other winners were new artist Chance the Rapper and the late David Bowie, who was honored for his album “Blackstar.”
Though he was denied album of the year, which went to Adele for “25,” Chance the Rapper made Grammy history Sunday.
The 23-year-old Chicago artist beat out his primary inspiration, Kanye West, and Drake for best rap album for “Coloring Book,” and also won best new artist. He praised his parents, his home city and his keyboardist-producer Peter Cottontale and manager Patrick Corcoran, the core of his homegrown musical mini-empire.
Chance’s first Grammy, for best rap performance (“No Problem”), broke an invisible barrier. The rapper has never sold a single piece of recorded music, instead making his music available for free streaming online while developing a worldwide following.
Recordings that were not commercially sold were previously banned from Grammy consideration, but the academy relaxed its eligibility standards last year, paving the way for Chance’s victory.
Chance also solidified the bond between 20th-century Chicago gospel and 21stcentury Chicago hip-hop in a fervent performance with a white-robed choir.
Adele also won for song and record of the year (“Hello”) among her five Grammys. But even she seemed surprised to best Beyonce for album of the year. Beyonce’s “Lemonade” “was monumental,” she said.
As for the nationally televised broadcast, its first hour could be divided into two categories: before Beyonce and everything else. The performances were largely benign and banal, not once approaching the fervor of Kendrick Lamar’s showcase from last year.
Schizophrenic opening: First there was Adele alone on a circular stage ringed in lights saying “Hello” to the nationwide audience. She was dignified, stately and on key. And then host James Corden charged into a series of Chris Farley pratfalls on a flight of golden stairs. “This is a disaster!” he proclaims. Who are we to argue?
Queen Bey is a mother: A pregnant Beyonce went into full-on dreamscape mode on “Sandcastles,” meditating on motherhood, nature, God and love instead of diving into one of the more pop-oriented tracks from her “Lemonade” album. One imagines a large portion of America wondering, “What just happened?” and hoping that Adele would come back soon.
The night’s best music criticism award goes go … Rihanna: As Bruno Mars embarrassed himself with a second-tier bump-andgrind bedroom come-on, the dismissive chuckle from Rihanna spoke volumes.
Make no small plans: In an acceptance speech, Beyonce said her aim with “Lemonade” was to “give a voice to our pain, our struggles … our history.”
At least now we know she doesn’t lip-sync: Adele messed up her tribute to George Michael and began again, apologizing profusely.
Don’t laugh, it makes sense: That Lady GagaMetallica collaboration wasn’t as far-fetched as it seemed — I’ve met hardcore Slayer fans at her shows. Besides, when singer James Hetfield’s microphone took a nap, the image of Gaga and Hetfield screaming into each other’s faces underlined the boldness that most of the awards ceremony was lacking.
Biggest letdown: They held a “Saturday Night Fever” 40th anniversary tribute and they didn’t bring John Travolta strutting onstage in a white suit? He was in the house presenting an award, after all. On second thought … nah.
Best kind of Prince tribute: Just let the Time do its thing. The next best thing to Prince in ’80s Minneapolis was Morris Day, whose mighty Time put some swag into funk and was a kicking band to boot, with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and their performance affirmed they haven’t lost an ounce of pizazz.