Girl Power
Outrageous outfits, top music performers and a sweep from Beyoncé best describe the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. This year’s award show celebrated top music talent. It began with a dynamic performance by cutting-edge artist Lady Gaga. Gaga started the awards with a highly choreographed version of one of her top hits, ‘Poker Face,’ then quickly transitioned into a duet with the legendary Elton John with ‘Speechless.’
The 2009 music scene could be defined as ‘the year of the ladies,’ as artists Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Fergie and her group the Black Eyed Peas took most major awards. The female success was quickly solidified with the first two awards given to Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’ for Song of the Year and Taylor Swift’s ‘Fearless’ for Best Country Album.
It was a good night for country music fans, as Grammy Award-nominated band Lady Antebellum performed its smash hit ‘Need You Now’ and the ‘Best New Artist’ award went to newcomer Zac Brown Band, also a country band. Zac Brown Band beat out Keri Hilson, MGMT, Silversun Pickups and The Ting Tings. One of the best performances of the night was also one that country music lovers would appreciate. Grammy performers Bon Jovi and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles sang top hits, including ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home.’
One of the biggest upsets of the night was Kings of Leon winning Record of the Year for the single ‘Use Somebody.’ Kings of Leon beat out favored artists like the Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. Another upset was Green Day’s ’21st Century Breakdown’ winning Rock Album of the Year.
By far the best moment of the night was the Michael Jackson 3-D tribute of ‘Earth Song,’ sung by Smokey Robinson, Celine Dion, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood and the King of Pop himself. The five artists singing backup verses against Jackson was the most powerful performance of the night, and if the tribute didn’t bring enough tears, what should have done the trick was Michael’s children, Prince Michael and Paris, accepting their late father’s lifetime achievement award.
Even after George Clooney’s ‘Hope for Haiti’ telethon, artists still set time aside to support relief efforts for the tragedy in Haiti. Fifteen-time Grammy winner Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige delivered a powerful performance of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ in an effort to raise money for Haiti.
While nothing completely out of the ordinary happened at this year’s Grammys, it was definitely a year for the female artist, especially Beyoncé, who walked away with six awards: Song of the Year (‘Single Ladies’), Female Pop Vocalist of the Year (‘Halo’), Female R&B Artist (‘Single Ladies’), Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (‘At Last’ from ‘Cadillac Records’), Best R&B Song (‘Single Ladies’) and Best Contemporary R&B Album (‘I Am… Sasha Fierce’).
BOX: The fashion! One of the highlights of any awards show is watching to see what the attendees are wearing, both the good and the bad.
Top 3 fashion violators: 1. Lady Gaga 2. Jennifer Lopez 3. Adam Sandler
Published on January 31, 2010 at 12:00 pm
