Another Sunday, another award show. However, The Grammy Awards, which aired its 57th annual ceremony last night, is always unlike the rest.
Artists have free range to take risks and try something different on the red carpet; the majority of the show consists of musical collaborations and performances, and there are always a few surprises.
Music’s biggest night began yesterday afternoon on the red carpet. Unlike film and television award ceremonies, the Grammy’s is an event for artists to showcase a little creativity and can usually promise some pretty out-there looks.
Katy Perry, a nominee, rocked a new lavender hair color and wore a sheer dress dripping with rhinestones and crystals. A couple other pop stars, Rihanna and Taylor Swift, chose gowns with huge pops of color. Swift wore a turquoise gown with a mini skirt in the front that turned into a long gown around the sides and in the back. Rihanna wore one of the more, um, interesting looks of the night. Her bubble gum pink, poofy gown had a major princess vibe to it and probably could have fit a few people underneath the huge circumference of its skirt. Very un-@BadGalRiRi.
Two colorful looks of the night, Rihanna and Taylor Swift.
The fashion world was on pins and needles waiting to see what haute couture Kim Kardashian-West and her husband, Kanye West, would wear for the night. Kanye opted for a blacked-out suit by Balmain Paris, and Kim wore a Jean Paul Gautier dress, which resembled an all gold, bedazzled bathrobe. The Queen, aka Beyonce, went for a low-cut black dress, as did Nicki Minaj, making for two of my favorite looks of the night.
Back in black; Nicki Minaj and Beyonce.
Of course, there was also an actual award ceremony. Sam Smith was by far the big winner of the night. The British crooner took home four golden statues for best new artist, best pop vocal album, and record of the year and song of the year for his hit “Stay With Me.” In his acceptance speech, he gave thanks to the man who broke his heart “because now [he] has four Grammy’s” to show for it, which basically makes him 2015’s Adele.
Beyonce was snubbed for album of the year, losing to Beck’s Morning Phase album. Kanye West enticed laughs around the room when walked up to the stage during Beck’s acceptance speech, jokingly reenacting the infamous 2009 incident when he took over Taylor Swift’s speech and said Beyonce should have won instead. Though, maybe he wasn’t joking. In an interview from E Online at an after-party last night, Kanye made remarks about the Grammy’s not recognizing true artists and said Beck should have given his award to Beyonce instead. If you say so, Mr. West…
Kimye showing off some major PDA on the Grammy’s red carpet.
The show seemed to have more performances than awards given out. Sia did a rather strange performance of her nominated hit, “Chandelier,” with lyrical dancers in bleach blonde wigs throwing themselves around a disheveled room while she sang with her back to the audience. There were also a ton of collaborations, including Rihanna’s new song “FourFiveSeconds” with Kanye West and Paul McCartney as well as performances by Hozier and Annie Lennox, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige, and Beck and Chris Martin.
Big winner Sam Smith with Mary J. Blige after their performance.
Things got emotional during a few of the musical performances. A PSA from President Obama about the “It’s On Us” campaign and a speech by a domestic abuse survivor preceded Katy Perry’s haunting performance of “By the Grace of God,” that she sing while dressed in a solid white gown. Later, Beyonce closed the show down by singing one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s favorite gospel songs, followed by the Academy Award-nominated song from the movie “Selma,” “Glory,” performed by John Legend and Common.
Note: All photos are courtesy of the Grammy’s official website.
About Nicole Crites
