Usually, the Grammys are like a go to out of your mother and father: Acquainted, comforting, maudlin, not that humorous, features a sequence of speeches, and goes on just a little too lengthy. Over time, the telecast has turn into a predictable parade of tributes, medleys, and artist showcases, all sandwiched between award shows that appear to please nobody however the one that wins them—and even then, that’s not assured. Due to all this, we usually wish to poke enjoyable on the Grammys in these recaps. Make a couple of jokes about not understanding who Teddy Swims is, have amusing at Benson Boone’s backflips, one thing one thing “music brings us all collectively,” and name it music’s greatest evening.
However this 12 months, the longtime Los Angeles ceremony befell lower than a month after the Eaton and Palisades wildfires devastated a number of of the town’s residential neighborhoods. It remodeled the Grammys from a glamorous pop spectacle to a heartfelt telethon to boost cash by way of MusicCares Hearth Aid (late within the night, they introduced $7 million in donations from individuals watching at dwelling). The telecast stored L.A. on the forefront, highlighting native companies, bringing out metropolis firefighters for a standing ovation, giving Kendrick seven Grammys for “Not Like Us,” and letting supergroups cowl Randy Newman. It’s decidedly tougher to take low cost pictures at a telethon.
This all gave the almost four-hour ceremony an air of impenetrable seriousness. However when host Trevor Noah was not soliciting donations or delivering his trademark mid zingers, the Grammys leaned into its blockbuster music performances, more and more the one true cause to tune in to the Grammys. Possibly it was the smooth anti-Trumpian rebukes, the reined-in power, or the overall lack of shenanigans, however the performances had been the spotlight of the entire present: The Weeknd ended his years-long boycott and lit up the stage; Cynthia Erivo blew the roof off Crypto.com enviornment; Sabrina Carpenter va-va-voomed throughout an Outdated Hollywood set; Stevie Surprise ripped by way of “We Are the World”; Doechii left a famous person.
And so are 11 actually nice moments that we’re nonetheless enthusiastic about the following morning.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Oopsie-Daisy
