One of the year’s most nominated artists, Lipa performed a medley of her song Levitating featuring DaBaby’s rap, which gave her time for a racy costume change.She switched from a floor-length gown into a lilac jacket before stripping down to a glittering pink bikini for her party anthem Don’t Stop Now.Her dancers performed in masks just to make sure in future years we’ll know this happened in 2021.Meantime, Best Pop Solo Performance was won by Harry Styles, who had changed into a Gucci jacket with a lilac fluffy scarf, for Watermelon Sugar.Styles beat Justin Bieber’s Yummy, Doja Cat’s Say So, Billie Eilish’s Everything I Wanted, Dua Lipa’s Don’t Start Now and Taylor Swift’s Cardigan.Dropping the night’s first F-bomb, Styles said of his fellow nominees: “All of these songs are f***king massive” as the cameras did a shady cross to his ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift.Silk Sonic, the soulful new collaboration between Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, made their live premiere on the Grammy Awards.Their first single Leave The Door Open looked (and sounded) like a Soul Train performance from 1974 – and was all the better for it. Indeed, this is the most music-driven Grammy Awards in years – no shady camera cutaways to whatever musician might be feuding with another and no loud audiences just more time for more songs.One hour in and there’s only been one award presented – Best New Artist for Megan Thee Stallion.The Grammys arranged American small venue owners, who have lost their income over the last year, to present some awards, including the owner of Nashville’s the Station Inn. Best Country Album, one of the categories dominated by female performers, was won by Miranda Lambert for Wild Card. Lambert said “We’re such a family in country music, I feel like I’m holding it for all of us, especially for us girls.”Then it was time for Taylor Swift’s live performance – she’s up for six awards this year.Joined by Aaron Dessner of the National and Jack Antonoff, Swift performed Cardigan from Folklore, starting on the moss-covered roof of a shed.Swift then moved into the shed, where her musician mates morphed into another Folklore song, August, as she joined on guitar. Swift ditched her instrument to finish her medley with Willow.‘HE’LL STEAL YOUR HEART’The 63rd Grammy Awards kicked off from downtown Los Angeles, with organisers aiming to move away from the Zoom-oriented feel of recent award shows taking place in COVID.The awards were deliberately pushed back from January this year in the hope more performers could sing in the studio not remotely.Host Trevor Noah threw in some jokes about the Los Angeles air being as dangerous as COVID and walked around socially-distanced stars in an outdoor tent.“This is the rare award show where the white stuff going up peoples’ noses is cotton swabs,” Noah joked about following COVID safe protocols.The inside of the awards has no audience except for cast and crew, with five stages spread around in a socially distanced manner. It resembled Jools Holland’s TV show, with the performers all facing each other in the round.The first performer was Harry Styles who Noah introduced by saying: “He’ll steal your heart and your dress and look damn good doing it”.Styles sang his hit Waterman Sugar wearing a fluffy scarf over his shoulder in a sartorial reference to his friend, Stevie Nicks.The former One Direction star tossed the scarf off mid song, revealing no shirt under his leather suit and showing off some lithe dance moves.As the camera cut to Billie Eilish nodding along to Harry Styles’ Watermelon Sugar, the Grammy Awards kept on ticking.“I would have worn a short for my first Grammys but each to his own,” Noah said about Styles.“It’s crazy to think someone that talented and handsome is from the same place that gave us Boris Johnson. Man the UK is diverse.”Harry Styles has picked up a Grammy for Best Solo Pop Performance with Watermelon Sugar. Eilish and brother Finneas sang their Grammy nominated hit Everything I Wanted in a suitably moody setting – the singer climbing over a car with the smoke machine working overtime – Eilish blitzed last year’s event with her debut album scooping the pool.Styles returned the favour by nodding along to Eilish’s tune, US band Haim were also on screen looking impressed. The Grammys usually have an audience full of celebrities to cut to for reaction shots, this year it seems they have just the handful of musicians performing in front of each other to rely on.It’s a good feel so far, more about the music than whipping up audience applause and it’s refreshing seeing artists perform in person, not remotely.And it’s three songs in a row, with the Haim sisters playing The Steps in the round, in front of their peers. The night’s first award, after 15 minutes of music, was Best New Artist.Noah pointed out the award has been won by the Beatles, Christina Aguilera and lost by Kendkrick Lamar, Drake and Elton John.Elton John was quoted on the weekend saying he would “hit someone” if Phoebe Bridgers didn’t win a Grammy.The award went to rapper Megan Thee Stallion, so Elton – or those around him – better hope Bridgers wins something else.Megan stated “It’s been a hell of a year but we made it.”The award was presented by Lizzo, who won three Grammys last year, stating “Bitch I’m back” before fearing she’d upset viewers.Lizzo accidentally let a swear word slip on television as she was presenting an award at the Grammys. KANYE’S SHOCK WIN Controversial rapper Kanye West – who has previously criticised the Grammys – claimed an early gong for his religious album Jesus is King, which was named Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. Last year Canadian musician The Weeknd called the Grammys “corrupt” after his global hit Blinding Lights missed out on a single nomination.On the weekend, The Weeknd doubled down on his criticism, and going forward won’t even let his record label put his music forward for nominations.He told the New York Times “because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys”.As with most music awards, record labels and managers submit their artists’ music to the relevant categories, by the cut off date, in the hope the Grammy voting panel will like the music enough to include in the nomination list.Grammy wins usually result in increased sales and credibility, and performing on the show is instant global publicity.However in the last years artists including Drake, West and now The Weeknd have called the Grammys out.This year they have made sure female artists have led the nominations – in the past the event has been slammed for being male focused.However this year’s main nominee, Beyonce, will be another no show – at least among the performers. Beyonce declined an invitation to perform.Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Childish Gambino declined invitations to perform in 2019.Taylor Swift is tipped to be performing with the team behind her Folklore album, but from a remote location where they have all been isolating in preparation.With an incredibly large amount of awards, some categories have already been handed out ahead of the official awards shows. Harry Styles has opened the 2021 Grammys with a performance of his hit song Watermelon Sugar.Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s Rain on Me has won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Australia’s Flume has lost Best Dance Recording to Kaytranada’s 10% (Kaytranada’s Bubba also won Best Dance/Electronic Album), Fiona Apple’s Shameika has won Best Rock Performance, The Strokes have won Best Rock Album for The New Abnormal and Australia’s other main contender, Tame Impala, lost Best Alternative Album to Fiona Apple’s comeback release Fetch the Bolt Cutters.Megan Thee Stallion’s Savage (featuring Beyonce) won Best Rap Performance, Nas’ King’s Disease won Best Rap Album and the Dan and Shay/Justin Bieber collaboration 10,000 Hours won Best Country Group/Duo Performance.Kanye West’s Jesus is King beat Hillsong to Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, Tiffany Haddish won Best Comedy Album and Billie Eilish’s Bond theme No Time To Die won Best Song Written for Visual Media.GRAMMY NOMINATIONS AND WINNERSRecord of the Year“Black Parade” — Beyoncé“Colors” — Black Pumas“Rockstar” — DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch“Say So” — Doja Cat“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish“Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa“Circles” — Post Malone“Savage” — Megan Thee Stallion featuring BeyoncéAlbum of the Year“Chilombo” — Jhené Aiko“Black Pumas” (Deluxe Edition) — Black Pumas“Everyday Life” — Coldplay“Djesse Vol. 3” — Jacob Collier“Women in Music Pt. III” — Haim“Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa“Hollywood’s Bleeding” — Post Malone“Folklore” — Taylor SwiftSong of the Year“Black Parade” — Beyoncé“The Box” — Roddy Ricch“Cardigan” — Taylor Swift“Circles” — Post Malone“Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish“I Can’t Breathe” — H.E.R.“If the World Was Ending” — JP Saxe featuring Julia MichaelsBest New ArtistIngrid AndressPhoebe BridgersNoah CyrusChikaD SmokeDoja CatKaytranadaMegan Thee Stallion – WINNERBest Pop Solo Performance“Yummy” — Justin Bieber“Say So” — Doja Cat“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish“Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa“Watermelon Sugar” — Harry Styles – WINNER “Cardigan” — Taylor SwiftBest Pop Duo/Group Performance“Rain on Me” — Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande — WINNER“Un Dia (One Day)” — J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy“Intentions” — Justin Bieber featuring Quavo“Dynamite” — BTS“Exile” — Taylor Swift featuring Bon IverBest Traditional Pop Vocal Album“American Standard” — James Taylor — WINNER“Blue Umbrella” — Burt Bacharach & Daniel Tashian“True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter” — Harry Connick Jr.“Unfollow the Rules” — Rufus Wainwright“Judy” — Renée ZellwegerBest Pop Vocal Album“Changes” — Justin Bieber“Chromatica” — Lady Gaga“Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa“Fine Line” — Harry Styles“Folklore” — Taylor SwiftBest Dance Recording“10%” — Kaytranada featuring Kali Uchis — WINNER“On My Mind” — Diplo & Sidepiece“My High” — Disclosure, Aminé and Slowthai“The Difference” — Flume featuring Toro y Moi“Both of Us” — Jayda GBest Dance/Electronic Album“Bubba” — Kaytranada — WINNER“Kick I” — Arca“Energy” — Disclosure“Planet’s Mad” — Baauer“Good Faith” — MadeonBest Rock Performance“Shameika” — Fiona Apple — WINNER“The Steps” — HAIM“Stay High” — Brittany Howard“Not” — Big Thief“Kyoto” — Phoebe Bridgers“Daylight” — Grace PotterBest Metal Performance“Bum-Rush” — Body Count — WINNER“Underneath” — Code Orange“The In-Between” — In This Moment“Bloodmoney” — Poppy“Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)” — Power TripBest Rock Song“Stay High” — Brittany Howard — WINNER“Kyoto” — Phoebe Bridgers“Lost in Yesterday” — Tame Impala“Not” — Big Thief“Shameika” — Fiona AppleBest Rock Album“The New Abnormal” — The Strokes — WINNER“A Hero’s Death” — Fontaines D.C.“Kiwanuka” — Michael Kiwanuka“Daylight” — Grace Potter“Sound & Fury” — Sturgill SimpsonBest Alternative Music Album“Fetch the Bolt Cutters” — Fiona Apple — WINNER“Hyperspace” — Beck“Punisher” — Phoebe Bridgers“Jaime” — Brittany Howard“The Slow Rush” — Tame ImpalaBest R&B Performance“Lightning & Thunder” — Jhené Aiko featuring John Legend“Black Parade” — Beyoncé“All I Need” — Jacob Collier featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign“Goat Head” — Brittany Howard“See Me” — Emily KingBest Traditional R&B Performance“Anything for You” — Ledisi — Winner“Sit On Down” — The Baylor Project featuring Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor“Wonder What She Thinks of Me” — Chloe x Halle“Let Me Go” — Mykal Kilgore“Distance” — YebbaBest R&B Song“Better Than I Imagined” — Robert Glasper featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello — Winner“Black Parade” — Beyoncé“Collide” — Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG“Do It” — Chloe x Halle“Slow Down” — Skip Marley & H.E.R.Best Progressive R&B Album“It Is What It Is” — Thundercat — Winner“Chilombo” — Jhené Aiko“Ungodly Hour” — Chloe x Halle“Free Nationals” — Free Nationals“F*** Yo Feelings” — Robert GlasperBest R&B Album“Bigger Love” — John Legend — Winner“Happy 2 Be Here” — Ant Clemons“Take Time” — Giveon“To Feel Love/D” — Luke James“All Rise” — Gregory PorterBest Rap Performance“Savage” — Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé — WINNER“Deep Reverence” — Big Sean featuring Nipsey Hussle“Bop” — DaBaby“Whats Poppin” — Jack Harlow“The Bigger Picture” — Lil Baby“Dior” — Pop SmokeBest Melodic Rap Performance“Rockstar” — DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch“Laugh Now Cry Later” — Drake featuring Lil Durk“Lockdown” — Anderson .Paak“The Box” — Roddy Ricch“Highest in the Room” — Travis ScottBest Rap Song“The Bigger Picture” — Lil Baby“The Box” — Roddy Ricch“Laugh Now Cry Later” — Drake featuring Lil Durk“Rockstar” — DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch“Savage” — Megan thee Stallion featuring BeyoncéBest Rap Album“King’s Disease” — Nas — Winner“Black Habits” — D Smoke“Alfredo” — Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist“A Written Testimony” — Jay Electronica“The Allegory” — Royce da 5’9”Best Country Solo Performance“When My Amy Prays” — Vince Gill — Winner“Stick That in Your Country Song” — Eric Church“Who You Thought I Was” — Brandy Clark“Bluebird” — Miranda Lambert“Black Like Me” — Mickey GuytonBest Country Duo/Group Performance“10,000 Hours” — Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber — Winner“All Night” — Brothers Osborne“Ocean” — Lady A“Sugar Coat” — Little Big Town“Some People Do” — Old DominionBest Country Song“Crowded Table” — The Highwomen — Winner“Bluebird” — Miranda Lambert“The Bones” — Maren Morris“More Hearts Than Mine” — Ingrid Andress“Some People Do” — Old DominionBest Country Album“Nightfall” — Little Big Town“Wildcard” — Miranda Lambert“Never Will” — Ashley McBryde“Lady Like” — Ingrid Andress“Your Life Is a Record” — Brandy Clark
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