Daft Punk and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were the big winners at 56th Grammy awards held last night in Los Angeles.
Daft Punk dominated the awards with five total wins including Album of the Year for ‘Random Access Memories’. The first general category win for a dance-orientated album since ‘Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack won it back in 1978. They also won ‘Pop Duo’, dance / electronica album and engineered album, non-classical…it was quite a memorable evening for the non-speaking, helmeted pair!
Pharrell Williams of course, shared in their wins and was also named Producer of the Year, non-classical. “Dude, on behalf of the robots, thank you, thank you, thank you…They want to thank their families, and of course, the incredible Nile Rodgers” said Pharrell. Performing live on national television for the first time in 6 years Daft Punk performed alongside Pharrell, Nile Rodgers and Stevie Wonder playing a fantastic medley of Get Lucky, Freak Out (Chic) and Another Star – it was one of the best ever performancea at the Grammy’s. When the camera swung out into the crowd Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono could be seen geeting down to the groove – as could Taylor Swift for most of the evening..
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis followed closely behind Daft Punk with four wins, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance – a win that did not go down very well with the hip-hop purists who stated that “Thrift Shop” broke on pop radio. “Macklemore said about “The Heist”. “I want to say we made this album without a record label, we made it independently and we appreciate all the support.”
Lorde surprised everyone by beating Timberlake, Perry, Sara Bareilles and Bruno Mars to win Song of the Year for “Royals” – the youngest artist to win in a general category (aside from Best New Artist). “This is the one thing I didn’t expect the most about tonight, so thank you so much,” said Lorde.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6OVxPiZQDc
This Grammy ceremony will forever be remembered for a marriage of 33 couples – straight and gay, presided over by Queen Latifah. The marriage ceremony took place, very appropriately, duing the performance of “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – a song that talks about attitudes to homosexuality. Queen Latifah was only told about being a commissioner a couple of weeks before the ceremony: “It’s something that I took very seriously,” she said. “I had to be sworn in as a commissioner by the state of California. I think these couples should be celebrated tonight … to have your wedding in front of a million people is really momentous.” Then, to top it all off, just as Queen Latifah pronounced the couples married, Madonna swung open the doors of the stage and sung “Open Your Heart”.
The Beatles had a steady presence throughout the show. Paul and Ringo performed ‘Queenie Eye’ from Paul’s ‘New’ album and Ringo also sung ‘Photograph’ (his Billboard Hot 100 Nº1 back in 1973). The Beatles celebrate the 50th anniversary of their arrival in the US with a special show to be aired on CBS February 9th. Paul McCartney won the Rock Song award for ‘Cut Me Some Slack’ with Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear.
There were other veteran stars that won prizes – Led Zeppelin took home the Rock Album award for ‘Celebration Day’ – their first-ever Grammy and Black Sabbath won Metal Performance, their second Grammy, for ‘God is Dead?’
There were many memorable moments to report – and one of them has to be Pink flying 100 feet above the audience with no safety net.
Another was Katy Perry who gave a brilliant performance of “Dark Horse” turning the stage into a goth party – with real flames, plenty of thunder and lightning and dancers galore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpJ1npMCyqE
GENERAL
Album Of The Year: “Random Access Memories” — Daft Punk
Record Of The Year: “Get Lucky” — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Song Of The Year: “Royals” — Joel Little & Ella Yelich O’Connor, songwriters (Lorde)
Best New Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
POP
Best Pop Solo Performance: “Royals” — Lorde
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Get Lucky” — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Best Pop Vocal Album: “Unorthodox Jukebox” – Bruno Mars
Best Pop Instrumental Album: “Steppin’ Out” – Herb Alpert
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: “To Be Loved” – Michael Bublé
DANCE
Best Dance/Electronica Album: “Random Access Memories” – Daft Punk
Best Dance Recording: “Clarity”– Zedd Featuring Foxes
ROCK
Best Rock Performance: “Radioactive” — Imagine Dragons
Best Rock Album: “Celebration Day” — Led Zeppelin
Best Metal Performance: “God Is Dead?” – Black Sabbath
Best Rock Song: “Cut Me Some Slack” – Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic & Pat Smear, songwriters
ALTERNATIVE
Best Alternative Music Album: “Modern Vampires Of The City” – Vampire Weekend
R&B
Best R&B Performance: “Something” – Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway
Best Urban Contemporary Album: “Unapologetic” – Rihanna
Best R&B Album: Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys
Best Traditional R&B Performance: “Please Come Home – Gary Clark Jr.
Best R&B Song (A Songwriters Award): “Pusher Love Girl” – James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)
RAP
Best Rap Performance: “Thrift Shop” — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: “Holy Grail” — Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake
Best Rap Album: The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Best Rap Song: “Thrift Shop” – Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz)
COUNTRY MUSIC
Best Country Solo Performance: “Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker
Best Country Album: “Same Trailer Different Park” – Kacey Musgraves
Best Country Duo/Group Performance: “From This Valley” – The Civil Wars
Best Country Song (A Songwriters Award): “Merry Go ‘Round” – Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
NEW AGE
Best New Age Album: “Love’s River” – Laura Sullivan
JAZZ
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: “Money Jungle: Provocative In Blue” – Terri Lyne Carrington
Best Improvised Jazz Solo: “Orbits” – Wayne Shorter, soloist
Best Jazz Vocal Album: “Liquid Spirit” – Gregory Porter
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: “Night In Calisia” – Randy Brecker, Włodek Pawlik Trio & Kalisz Philharmonic
Best Latin Jazz Album: “Song For Maura” – Paquito D’Rivera And Trio Corrente
GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC
Best Gospel Album: “Greater Than” (Live) — Tye Tribbett
Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance: “Break Every Chain [Live]” – Tasha Cobbs
Best Gospel Song: “If He Did It Before… Same God [Live]” — Tye Tribbett
Best Contemporary Christian Music Song: “Overcomer” – David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: “Overcomer” – Mandisa
LATIN
Best Latin Pop Album: “Vida” – Draco Rosa
Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album: “Treinta Días” – La Santa Cecilia
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano): “A Mi Manera” – Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
Best Tropical Latin Album: “Pacific Mambo Orchestra” – Pacific Mambo Orchestra
AMERICAN ROOTS
Best Americana Album: “Love Has Come For You” – Steve Martin & Edie Brickell
Best Bluegrass Album: “The Streets Of Baltimore” – Del McCoury Band
Best Blues Album: “Get Up!” – Ben Harper With Charlie Musselwhite
Best Folk Album: “My Favorite Picture Of You” – Guy Clark
Best Regional Roots Music Album: “Dockside Sessions” – Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
REGGAE
Best Reggae Album: “Ziggy Marley In Concert” – Ziggy Marley
WORLD MUSIC
Best World Music Album (tie):
“Savor Flamenco” _ Gipsy Kings
“Live: Singing For Peace Around The World” – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
CHILDREN’S
Best Children’s Album: “Throw A Penny In The Wishing Well” – Jennifer Gasoi
SPOKEN WORD
Best Spoken Word Album: “America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren’t” — Stephen Colbert
- Beyoncé and husband Jay Z opened the ceremony with ‘Drunk In Love’
COMEDY
Best Comedy Album: “Calm Down Gurrl” — Kathy Griffin
MUSICAL THEATER
Best Musical Theater Album: “Kinky Boots”
MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: Sound City: Real To Reel
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: “Skyfall” – Thomas Newman, composer
Best Song Written For Visual Media: “Skyfall” from “Skyfall”– Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
COMPOSING/ARRANGING
Best Instrumental Composition: “Pensamientos For Solo Alto Saxophone And Chamber Orchestra” – Clare Fischer, composer (The Clare Fischer Orchestra)
Best Instrumental Arrangement: “On Green Dolphin Street”– Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): “Swing Low” – Gil Goldstein, arranger (Bobby McFerrin & Esperanza Spalding)
PACKAGE
Best Recording Package: “Long Night Moon” – Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds
Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: “Wings Over America (Deluxe Edition)” – Simon Earith & James Musgrave, art directors (Paul McCartney And Wings)
NOTES
Best Album Notes: “Afro Blue Impressions (Remastered & Expanded)” – Neil Tesser, album notes writer (John Coltrane)
HISTORICAL
Best Historical Album (tie):
“Charlie Is My Darling” – Ireland 1965
“The Complete Sussex And Columbia Albums”
PRODUCTION, Non-Classical
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: “Random Access Memories” – Peter Franco, Mick Guzauski, Florian Lagatta & Daniel Lerner, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Daft Punk)
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical: Pharrell Williams
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: “Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix)” – Cedric Gervais, remixer (Lana Del Rey)
SURROUND SOUND
Best Surround Sound Album: “Live Kisses” – Al Schmitt, surround mix engineer; Tommy LiPuma, surround producer (Paul McCartney)
FIELD: PRODUCTION, CLASSICAL
Best Engineered Album, Classical: “Winter Morning Walks” – David Frost, Brian Losch & Tim Martyn, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Dawn Upshaw, Maria Schneider, Australian Chamber Orchestra & St. Paul Chamber Orchestra)
Producer Of The Year, Classical: David Frost
CLASSICAL
Best Orchestral Performance: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 – Osmo Vänskä, conductor (Minnesota Orchestra)
Best Opera Recording: Adès: The Tempest
Best Choral Performance: Pärt: Adam’s Lament — Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor (Tui Hirv & Rainer Vilu; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Sinfonietta Riga & Tallinn Chamber Orchestra; Latvian Radio Choir & Vox Clamantis)
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance: Roomful Of Teeth – Brad Wells & Roomful Of Teeth
Best Classical Instrumental Solo: Corigliano: Conjurer – Concerto For Percussionist & String Orchestra — Evelyn Glennie; David Alan Miller, conductor (Albany Symphony)
Best Classical Vocal Solo: “Winter Morning Walks” – Dawn Upshaw (Maria Schneider; Jay Anderson, Frank Kimbrough & Scott Robinson; Australian Chamber Orchestra & St. Paul Chamber Orchestra)
Best Classical Compendium: Hindemith: Violinkonzert; Symphonic Metamorphosis; Konzertmusik — Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Best Contemporary Classical Composition: Schneider, Maria: Winter Morning Walks — Maria Schneider, composer
MUSIC VIDEO/FILM
Best Music Video: “Suit & Tie” – Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay Z (David Fincher, video director; Timory King, video producer)
Best Music Film: “Live Kisses” – Paul McCartney (Jonas Akerlund, video director; Violaine Etienne, Aron Levine & Scott Rodger, video producers)
