The 56th Grammy Awards

Music’s biggest event was a whirlwind from beginning to end. LL Cool J reprized his hosting duties for the 56th Grammy Awards broadcasted live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on the CBS Television Network.

The opening performance was none-other-than Beyoncé in a very new look for her. A short, cute bob hairdo, performing one of her latest hits, Drunk in Love with husband Jay z. Jay-Z and Beyoncé both hold 17 Grammys each coming into these awards, with more to come. The power-couple tore it up!

Jay Z received the most Grammy nods this year with nine, and Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Justin Timberlake, and Pharrell Williams all received seven nominations each.

LL Cool J threw to Anna Kendrick and Pharrell Williams to introduce the first award of the evening for Best New Artist, and the Grammy went to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. He said they made his album without a record label, and he appreciates all the support.

Lorde followed with a performance of their smash hit Royals, and they were followed by a performance from country star Hunter Hayes.

The next category was Best Pop Duo or Group Performance, and the Grammy went to Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell

Grammy winner Gregory Porter and Tanya Hart

Williams and Nile Rodgers for Get Lucky. Of course Daft Punk appeared in their helmets. Pharrell spoke for them since they don’t speak, and comically said, “of course the robots would like to thank their families.”

Next up was Katy Perry in a dramatic performance of her hit Dark Horse featuring Juicy J. LL Cool J came back to introduce Chicago and Robin Thicke performing the classic Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, and a medley of songs. They even mixed in Robin’s hit Blurred Lines. Interesting pairing them together, but it was a great mix.

They went into a performance by Keith Urban, and after a break to a performance by John Legend singing one of his newest releases, All of Me.

Comedian Kevin Hart and the renown Charlie Wilson, Uncle Charlie introduced the next award for Best Rock Song, and the Grammy went to Paul McCarthy for Cut Me Some Slack. Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear, songwriters.

Next up was Taylor Swift performing her hit All Too Well. Her fans guessed right, they took a poll that she would perform this song on the show. She got a standing ovation. Nice job Taylor.

Bruno Mars took the stage to introduce the one-and-only Pink performing aerial acrobatics to her song Try. Your vocals are truly tested when you are trying to sing while spinning upside down and suspended from the ceiling. Great job Pink. She moved smoothly into her second number with lead singer Nate Ruess of Fun, singing Just Give Me a Reason.

The next category was Best Pop Solo Performance, and the Grammy went to Lorde for Royals.

Ozzy and his band Black Sabbath introduced the next performance. I didn’t understand a word Ozzy said, and he did appear a bit out of it as they introduced Ringo Starr.

Jamie Foxx introduced the next category, Best Rap Sung Collaboration, and the Grammy went to Jay-Z’s track from Magna Carta – Holy Grail featuring Justin Timberlake. Jay-Z expressed his affection for his wife Beyoncé, very emotional, and said he’s going to tell Blue Ivy that this Grammy is for her saying, “Look, Daddy got a gold sippy cup for you.”

LL Cool J kept the show moving and introduced the next performance – together for the first time anywhere – Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons. Another interesting mix. At one point they had so much smoke on the stage you could barely see them but still brought the audience on their feet.

Grammy winner Terri Lyne Carrington and Tanya Hart

Next up, country singer Kacey Musgraves sang Follow Your Arrow.  And at the top of hour two, LL Cool J brought Julia Roberts to the stage to introduce a performance by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who will receive the 2014 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award for The Beatles. How good to see Paul and Ringo holding hands, and even hugging after the performance. That was a true Grammy moment.

Best Pop Vocal Album was the next category, and the Grammy went to Bruno Mars for Unorthodox Jukebox. Good to see Bruno win. His speech was a little emotional, but short and sweet as he thanked his family.

The next performance was another combination of icons featuring Willie Nelson and Chris Christopherson, followed by Merle Haggard and Blake Shelton. These old boys received a standing O as well, and the Best Country Album Grammy went to Kacey Musgraves.

The next Grammy mash-up was a performance by Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder, Daft Punk with Nile Rodgers of Chic, and the RAM performing Get Lucky. Pharrell Williams won Producer of the Year Award earlier in the off-camera Grammy Awards. This was another great musical combination that brought the crowd to their feet.

Cyndi Lauper came out to make the next introduction. She seemed to lose her way a bit, but who cares. She’s Cyndi, we love her. She introduced Sara Bareilles with 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year Carole King singing Sara’s hit Brave.

They also presented the Song of the Year Award, and the Grammy went to Lorde for Royals. A really big Grammy win for them. Joel Little and Ella Yelich O’Connor, songwriters.

The next performers to take the stage were Metallica and Grammy Cultural Ambassador to China, Lang Lang. Again, another musical combination that would only happen at the Grammys.

Smokey Robinson and Steven Tyler came out to introduce, Record of the Year, but Steven started sing Smokey’s song You Really Got a Hold on Me. He must have adlibbed this bit because Smokey seemed really surprised by it.

The Record of the Year Grammy Award went to Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers for Get Lucky. Surprise! Again, Pharrell said “the robots would like to thank,” but he stopped joking and ended up giving a very humble and surprised acceptance speech.

Queen Latifah introduced Macklemore and Ryan Lewis performing their hit Same Love. It’s a big song for Macklemore, and he gave it his all as 33 couples were married during the song as Queen Latifah officiated. Yes, married in the audience. Surprise! And then came Madonna. What’s with the cane Madonna? It’s another incredible Grammy moment. It will certainly be one they pull out of the archives.

The Grammys took a moment to award teachers and music educators. It’s the first time they honored the music.

Tanya Hart and Grammy winner Lahah Hathaway

teachers and will continue this award in future award shows. The Grammys also remembered the performers that the music world lost last year. It always seems to be many more than we realize. Miranda Lambert and Billie Joe Armstrong followed with a performance of When Will I Be Loved.

To present the Grammy for the Album of the Year – Aliza Keys, Yoko Ono and George Harrison’s wife Olivia Harrison took the stage. Record Of The Year went to Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers for Random Access Memories.  Another surprise! It was certainly their night!

The broadcast closed with a high-energy performance by Nine Inch Nails, Queens Of The Stone Age, Dave Grohl, and Lindsey Buckingham.

The whole show was an incredible mix of outstanding performances and pure musical moments. If you can catch a rerun, do so.

You can also catch up with my Red Carpet coverage of the Grammys at American Urban Radio, a Networks’ 300 affiliate stations nationwide, online at www.aurn.com and on Hollywood Live with Tanya Hart.

See You Next Year!
Tanya Hart

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