Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock (10095018en) Drake - Best Rap Song 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Show, Los Angeles, USA - 10 Feb 2019
The Grammy Awards 2019 opened with five powerful women recounting how music transformed their lives.
The Grammy Awards 2019, which aired live on February 11 at 9am (Singapore time), was the 61st edition of the annual awards show. As you’d expect, it was a spectacle that saw the biggest personalities in music gathered to celebrate and recognize each other’s achievements. But this year, perhaps we got a little more than we bargained for. From a diss cut short on live television, a show of girl power, to surprising award winners, here are the best bits and drama that went down at the Grammy Awards 2019.
1. Who run the world?
Girls – as Beyoncé famously puts it. The Grammy Awards 2019 was hosted by 15-time Grammy winner, Alicia Keys, who stole the show playing two pianos at the same time. Earlier she opened the show with these four amazing women – Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Jada Pinkett Smith.
2. BTS made history as the first Korean act to present at the Grammys
The K-pop phenomenon has well and truly taken Hollywood by storm. While the group was not in the running to win, they had the honor of presenting H.E.R with the Best R&B Album award. If the appearance itself was iconic, perhaps we could say the same for H.E.R’s speech. “It’s not even an album. It’s an E.P,” she said. But a win is a win and she definitely had H.E.R moment up there.
3. Cardi B and Offset stun on the red carpet and on stage
So are they back together? The tongue action seems to confirm it. But the highlight, of course, was Cardi B taking home the award for Best Rap Album – dragging Offset along on stage too. The win was a historic moment as she became the first female solo artist to be honored with this achievement. While the late Mac Miller lost out on the award, Cardi B was a class act by going on the record to share the win with him.
4. The internet made a meal out of Katy Perry’s Grammy outfit
Ah, now we know where Katy Perry got her outfit inspiration from. But, this is just one out of a hundred theories spreading all over the internet. Social media can be a very dark place sometimes. We think it’s probably best for Katy Perry to steer clear of her mobile device for now.
5. Double wins for A Star Is Born
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper won the first Grammy of the night: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Shallow,” their song from A Star Is Born. Lady Gaga addressed mental health issues in a powerful speech as she accepted the award solo. “I wish Bradley was here with me right now,” she said. Her co-star Bradley Cooper was, in fact, representing the movie at the BAFTAs in London, where he took home the award for Original Music. The critically-acclaimed film has already garnered a number of awards and nominations. This double win in two cities seems like the icing on the cake.
6. Travis performed a medley of hits from Astroworld
All eyes were on Travis Scott’s feet last night as he debuted the unreleased Air Jordan 1 Low collaboration. But despite missing out on Best Rap Album, the rapper still put on quite a show last night with James Blake and Earth, Wind & Fire in tow. Here’s another image of Travis’ Grammy performance.
7. Drake called out the Grammys with Best Rap Song win speech
Drake’s passionate speech while accepting the award for Best Rap Song was perceived as a critique on the Grammys. The speech was abruptly cut off, which the producers later said was a “misunderstanding”. Oof, drama.
8. Did the Grammy Awards 2019 disappoint?
Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Drake, and Ariana Grande certainly thought so, even before this year’s show got underway. The marginalization of hip-hop over the years has caused this rift, while Ariana’s beef with Grammy producer, Ken Ehrlich, was all over Twitter anyway. Each of them picked up awards last night, however, their refusal to perform, in addition to Kendrick, Gambino, and Ariana’s absences, goes to show how far the Recording Academy has fallen off its perch.
9. Best Album of The Year goes to…
Country music singer Kacey Musgraves won the biggest prize of the night for her album, Golden Hour. The singer beat Drake’s hit album, Scorpion, Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer and even the Black Panther album, among others.
10. Grammy Awards 2019: overall reaction
Rhonda Ross sums it best. In fact, it’s a whole mood.
Did you catch the Grammy Awards 2019 live on TV? Let us know your thoughts on this year’s edition in the comments below.
Featured image: Rolling Stone
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