Grammys Recap: Sam Smith Wins Big, Beck Shocks, and Kristen Wiig Dances
Lauren Feeney ‘15 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
The 57th Grammy Awards this past Sunday night on CBS was a night filled with Sam Smith, Sam Smith and Sam Smith. Did I mention Sam Smith? The 22-year old British crooner took home a whopping four Grammys making it the “best night of his life.” But that’s not all that happened folks. Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett were “cheek to cheek.” Madonna danced in a burlesque ensemble to “Living for Love.” (Would you expect anything less from Madonna?) A Capella group Pentatonix won a Grammy for a song they performed in a closet! And Kanye West burst onto the stage (Again)!
Let’s head on over to my top five Grammys categories and see who came out on top! (Be warned- a certain left shark does not make an appearance.)
Lauren’s Top Five:
Category One – Record of the Year
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“Chandelier” – Sia
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)” – Sam Smith
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
My pick: “All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
Winner: “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)” -Sam Smith
I was really rooting for Meghan here! She looked so beautiful on the red carpet in her all black lace ensemble and her Hollywood glamour blonde tresses. I guess she just wasn’t as perfect from the bottom to the top when compared to Sammy boy.
Category Two – Album of the Year
Morning Phase – Beck
Beyonce – Beyonce
X – Ed Sheeran
In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
Girl – Pharrell Williams
My pick: In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
Winner: Morning Phase – Beck
Who saw this one coming? Apparently Kanye West didn’t. As Beck graciously went to accept his Grammy for Album of the Year, West ran onto the stage towards Beck and then as an afterthought, ran back off the stage. A lot of artists have been pegging West as rude and a disgrace for his little joke, but I seriously thought West was just trying to be funny. His wife, Kim Kardashian, was laughing when the cameras panned to West once he (thankfully) retreated back to his seat. All in good fun people! But still, T. Swift, keep your past Grammys near.
Category Three – Song of the Year
“All About That Bass” – Kevin Kadish & Meghan Trainor, songwriters
“Chandelier” – Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin, songwriters
“Shake It Off” – Max Martin, Shellback, & Taylor Swift, songwriters
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)” – James Napier, William Phillips, & Sam Smith, songwriters
“Take Me To Church” – Andrew Hozier-Byrne, songwriter
My pick: “Chandelier” – Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin, songwriters
Winner: “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)” – James Napier, William Phillips, & Sam Smith
Shocker. *Drops mic*
Also, on a side note – Kristen Wiig dances?! Wiig joined Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler in a riveting performance of Sia’s “Chandelier.” I think my mouth dropped from the chandelier when I found out it was the SNL star-turned-Bridesmaids-turned-dancer Wiig. Is there anything she can’t do?
*Drops mic again*
Category Four
*Best New Artist
Iggy Azalea – Def Jam Recordings
Bastille – Virgin Records
Brandy Clark – Slate Creek Records
Haim – Columbia Records
Sam Smith – Capitol Records
My pick: Sam Smith – Capitol Records
Winner: Sam Smith – Capitol Records
Ding Ding Ding we have a winner! Is anyone still surprised by this point?
Category Five – Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“A Sky Full Of Stars” – Coldplay
“Say Something” – A Great Big World With Christina Aquilera
“Bang Bang” – Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj
“Dark Horse” – Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J
My pick: “Bang Bang” – Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj
Winner: “Say Something” – A Great Big World With Christina Aquilera
Girl power was still in full force with Christina Aguilera winning a Grammy for being featured in A Great Big World’s “Say Something.” But still, I was looking forward to Jessie, Ariana, and Nicki bang bang their way onto the stage. I guess we’ll just have to love them harder next time.
With a new trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 making waves across the a Capella universe, an Aca-awesome congratulations is in order for my all time favorite a Cappella group, Pentatonix! The group won a Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or a Capella for “Daft Punk.” The best part of this recognition is that the group recorded the medley in a closet. You never know what Grammy Awards can come out of the closet! (And PTX is even making a cameo in Pitch Perfect 2! How perfect can they be?!) Avi, you beautiful person you, I would happily congratulate you in person for your amazing bass voice. Have you met Meghan Trainor?
Also, its that time of the article where I just have to praise the wonderment of Lady Gaga. Can I just take a moment to reflect on Lady Gaga’s incredible duet with Tony Bennett? The duo ended up taking home a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for their rendition of “Cheek to Cheek.” The versatility in her voice, man! That duo can croon to me any day. And that slinky silver mermaid dress? Rock it, Gaga!
Well, it’s safe to say the 57th Grammy Awards was three-and-a-half hours filled with lots of surprises, toe tapping, and move busting. Keep on dancing, Emertainers!
– Lauren