Kendrick Lamar's fiery, political performance
Kendrick Lamar won big at the Grammys, taking home five awards, including best rap album, but it was his live performance that stood out for its powerful political message.
Lamar and his dancers emerged onstage dressed as prisoners in a chain gang as he performed a medley of "The Blacker the Berry," "Alright," and ended the performance with the debut of a new song. Midway through his mashup, Lamar and the dancers broke free from the chains to join African dancers and drummers around a blazing fire. He ended the performance standing in front of an image of Africa with Compton written inside. Lamar is from Compton in Los Angeles.
Watch the performance below:
Lady Gaga's David Bowie tribute
Lady Gaga channeled David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust in a moving tribute to the late pop icon who died January 10 after a battle with cancer. She performed a mashup of some of Bowie's hit songs, including "Space Oddity" and "Heroes." Video projections recreated the lightning bolt from his 1973 "Aladdin Sane" album on her face, and she played on a mechanical keyboard that moved on robotic legs. She was joined by Nile Rodgers, who produced Bowie’s 1983 "Let’s Dance" album. And even before she performed, her red-carpet look was an homage to the legendary musician.
Watch the performance below:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/3fGBZhsa4VU
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All things "Hamilton"
If you were unfamiliar with "Hamilton," the hit Broadway musical that's nearly impossible to get tickets for, Monday night changed that. The cast performed the opening number "Alexander Hamilton" via satellite from the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York and included Lin Manuel-Miranda, the musical's creator, as the titular character. The musical won the Grammy for best musical album, and Miranda rapped his acceptance speech.
Watch the performance below:
Taylor Swift's acceptance speech
Taylor Swift became the first woman to win a Grammy for album of the year twice and gave a powerful acceptance speech targeted at young women.
"There will be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame," she said, "but if you just focus on the work and you don't let those people sidetrack you, some day when you get where you're going, you'll look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you that got you there, and that will be the greatest feeling in the world."
The speech could also be taken as a dig at Kanye West — particularly with her inflection on fame — after he released a new song, "Famous," which references Swift. One lyric in particular says, "I made that b---- famous."
Watch her speech below:
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Dave Grohl's red Solo cup
Monday night's awards show had one unlikely fan favorite: a red Solo cup held by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.
During the performance of "All Night Long (All Night)," part of the Lionel Richie tribute, the camera panned to Grohl dancing and singing along and holding a red Solo cup. No one knows what was in it, but his enthusiasm was infectious — and everyone's a fan.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/699411932160380928
Dave Grohl with the red solo cup for best accessory. #Grammys
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/699412150050160641
Dave Grohl drinking from a red solo cup to keep the spirit of ROCK AND ROLL ALIVE #GRAMMYs
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/699411912400969729
Dave Grohl singing along with Lionel Richie while holding a red solo cup is a beautiful thing. #GRAMMYs
AND THE WORST: Adele's bad sound
The British singer doesn't deserve this, but at least she got tasty In-N-Out afterward.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/699457178717958145
The piano mics fell on to the piano strings, that's what the guitar sound was. It made it sound out of tune. Shit happens. X
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/699457767896002561
Because of it though... I'm treating myself to an in n out. So maybe it was worth it.