Several memorable and somewhat strange performances made for a unique and interesting Grammy Awards telecast tonight, the annual excellence in music feast as bestowed by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences: Lady GaGa being born out of an egglike cocoon for her new dance song, “Born This Way”; Justin Bieber and Usher selling up their creepy boy love, but threw in some amazing dance moves; Arcade Fire scorching the stage with their indie cred; and Cee-Lo Green’s wacked-out, headtripping, head-scratching Muppet performance with Gwyneth Paltrow. But the Grammys usually start out the evening with a knockout opening performance. It delivered that with a fifteen minute performance tribute to Aretha Franklin by a diva summit consisting of Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welch of Florence & the Machine.
A major win by Canadian indie-rock band Arcade Fire ended the ceremony for their album, “The Suburbs”, as Album of the Year. It unexpectedly trumped multiple previous winners Lady Antebellum and established industry favorites Eminem and Lady GaGa.
Here were the ten winners as they were announced on the live telecast Sunday, February 13, 2011.
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group – “Hey, Soul Sister”, Train
Best Female Country Vocal – “The House That Built Me”, Miranda Lambert
Best Rock Album – “The Resistance”, Muse
Best Pop Vocal Album – “The Fame Monster”, Lady GaGa
Best Country Album – “Need You Now”, Lady Antebellum
Song of the Year – “Need You Now”, Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (LadyAntebellum)
Best New Artist – Esperanza Spalding
Best Rap Album – “Recovery”, Eminem
Record of the Year – “Need You Now”, Lady Antebellum & Paul Worley, producers; Clarke Schleicher, engineer/mixer (Lady Antebellum)
Album of the Year – “The Suburbs”, Arcade Fire
For the complete categorical list of winners (109 total), visit the Grammy website at: www.grammy.com/nominees.
CulturElixir 