African musicians flop at 2014 Grammy Awards

Spread the love

Pic: Beyoncé and Jay-Z opened the Grammy Awards ceremony.

No African musician was considered worthy of winning the Grammy Awards for this year, instead newcomers, establishment stars and even a pair of French “robots” shared the spotlight at the 56th annual Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday night, reflecting a changed music business in which top celebrities command constant attention yet a monster hit can come from anywhere.

Daft Punk, a French duo who hide their faces under robot-like helmets and have become elder statesmen of the electronic dance music, won four prizes including album of the year for “Random Access Memories” and record of the year for “Get Lucky,” their ubiquitous hit with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, a hip-hop duo from Seattle who quickly went from the indie fringe to the top of the charts, were the biggest winners of the night with four awards, including best new artist and most of the Grammys’ rap categories, beating giants like Jay Z and Kanye West.

Related Coverage

And Lorde, a 17-year-old New Zealander who in less than a year went from uploading songs to the Internet in obscurity to a nine-week run at No. 1, won song of the year and best pop solo performance for “Royals,” a stark and sensuous sendup of the fantasies of conspicuous consumption in pop. (Record of the year recognizes a recording of a song; song of the year is for songwriting.)

“Thank you everyone who has let this song explode,” Lorde, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor, said when accepting the prize for song of the year. “Because it’s been mental.”

Yet the incumbent stars of the music world were also very much part of the show. It opened with Beyoncé and Jay Z performing a steamy version of “Drunk in Love,” from Beyoncé’s new album. That album, “Beyoncé,” caused a sensation in the music business when it was released by surprise last month, instantly becoming a major news story around the world.

And in keeping with the Grammys’ focus on flashy live spectacle, the show included 21 performances, often in special or unusual combinations. Metallica played its classic “One” with the piano virtuoso Lang Lang; Pink sang while performing acrobatics suspended above the stage; and Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard and Blake Shelton smirked their way through “Okie From Muskogee” and “Highwayman.”

In what Grammy organizers hoped would be a heartwarming showstopper, 33 gay and straight couples were officially married — by Queen Latifah, deputized by Los Angeles County — during a performance of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s marriage-equality anthem “Same Love,” which also featured Madonna.

The wedding segment led to some criticism from conservatives. On Sunday afternoon, after news of the weddings was reported by The New York Times, Bryan Fischer, the director of issue analysis of the conservative American Family Association, said on Twitter that the Grammys were featuring “sodomy-based wedding ceremonies.”

Among the other big winners of the night, Bruno Mars, whose rising pop profile will bring him to the Super Bowl halftime show next Sunday, took best pop vocal album for “Unorthodox Jukebox.”

Jay Z won his 19th Grammy for best rap/sung collaboration for “Holy Grail,” featuring Justin Timberlake. Accepting it, he said he wanted to thank God “a little bit for this award,” and, holding up the trophy, sent a message to his 2-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy: “Look, Daddy got a gold sippy cup for you!”

Vampire Weekend won best alternative music album for “Modern Vampires of the City,” and Imagine Dragons, a young alternative band that had one of the biggest hits of the year with “Radioactive,” won best rock performance for that song.

But in keeping with the Grammys’ reverence for older rock acts, most of the awards in that field went to graying heroes from decades ago. Led Zeppelin won its first Grammy ever for “Celebration Day,” a concert recording from its reunion in 2007, and Black Sabbath took best metal performance for the song “God Is Dead?” Best rock song went to “Cut Me Some Slack,” a jam between Paul McCartney and the surviving members of Nirvana.

Accepting the award, Mr. McCartney, described the origins of the song in a phone call from Dave Grohl.

“He said to me, ‘Come to me, come along and we’ll do a jam on “Long Tall Sally,” ’ ” Mr. McCartney said. “I said: ‘No, we’ve been there, we’ve done that. We should just make something up.’ And this was it.”

The show was also drenched in Beatlemania as part of the music industry’s celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Ringo Starr, introduced by a blabbering Black Sabbath, sang his song “Photograph,” and later joined Mr. McCartney during his performance of “Queenie Eye.” Projects by Mr. McCartney won three more awards: best boxed set (“Wings Over America”), best surround sound album and best music film (both for “Live Kisses”).

As the music industry has struggled over the last decade, the importance of the Grammy ceremony has only grown, offering invaluable media promotion and an avenue for minting a new pantheon of young pop stars.

The performances also featured Imagine Dragons with the rapper Kendrick Lamar for a hard-charging and surprisingly cohesive set that had stars in the audience like Steven Tyler singing along, and Taylor Swift dancing with awkward abandon.

Mr. Lamar, a rap protégé of Dr. Dre, was nominated for seven awards but shut out of them all. The night’s other big losers included Taylor Swift, who had been up for four awards, and Drake, who had been nominated for five.

Justin Timberlake won three prizes, including best R&B song for “Pusher Love Girl” and two in conjunction with Jay Z. But while Mr. Timberlake’s comeback album, “The 20/20 Experience,” was last year’s biggest-selling album, he was shut out of the top categories.

Mr. Williams, who was a prominent guest on Daft Punk’s album — and acted as spokesman for the band in accepting most of its awards, calling them “the robots” — won producer of the year, nonclassical, for his work on records by Jay Z, Robin Thicke, Jennifer Hudson and Mayer Hawthorne.

All but 10 of the 82 awards of the night were given out in a nontelevised ceremony on Sunday afternoon, which was more glamorous than it has been in the past, but as ever was plagued with no-shows by many winners.

Still, records were broken and significant achievements were also made in the early segment. Terri Lyne Carrington became the first woman to win the best jazz instrumental album category for “Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue,” based on a classic 1963 album by Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach.

And in a twist, three classical categories were won by Maria Schneider, a composer renowned for her work in jazz. Her album “Winter Morning Walks” took best contemporary classical composition, best classical vocal solo (for the soprano Dawn Upshaw) and best engineered album, classical. (It was also cited as one of the projects by David Frost, who won producer of the year, classical.)

Accepting the composition prize, Ms. Schneider spoke passionately about how technology has both hurt musicians and given them new tools. She complained about the continuing piracy problem but also pointing out that her album, which cost $200,000 to record, was paid for with the help of crowd funding.

“We need a sustainable business so we can continues as music creators,” Ms. Schneider said.

THE LIST OF WINNERS
……………..
Record of the Year

“Get Lucky,” Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers

Album of the Year

“Random Access Memories,” Daft Punk

Song of the Year

Joel Little and Ella Yelich-O’Connor (“Royals,” Lorde)

New Artist

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Pop Solo Performance

“Royals,” Lorde

Pop Performance, Duo or Group

“Get Lucky,” Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers

Pop Instrumental Album

“Steppin’ Out,” Herb Alpert

Pop Vocal Album

“Unorthodox Jukebox,” Bruno Mars

Dance Recording

“Clarity,” Zedd and Foxes

Dance/Electronica Album

“Random Access Memories,” Daft Punk

Traditional Pop Vocal Album

“To Be Loved,” Michael Bublé

Rock Performance

“Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons

Metal Performance

“God Is Dead?,” Black Sabbath

Rock Song

Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear (“Cut Me Some Slack,” Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear)

Rock Album

Related Coverage

Grammys Laud Giants and UpstartsJAN. 27, 2014

Lorde performing “Royals” at the 56th annual Grammy Awards.

Critic’s Notebook: A Night of Music Marked by Some Wild Mood SwingsJAN. 27, 2014

Macklemore, right, and Ryan Lewis were named best new artists.

ArtsBeat: Daft Punk, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Lorde Prevail at the GrammysJAN. 26, 2014

“Celebration Day,” Led Zeppelin

Alternative Music Album

“Modern Vampires of the City,” Vampire Weekend

R&B Performance

“Something,” Snarky Puppy and Lalah Hathaway

Traditional R&B Performance

“Please Come Home,” Gary Clark Jr.

R&B Song

James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley and Justin Timberlake (“Pusher Love Girl,” Justin Timberlake)

R&B Album

“Girl on Fire,” Alicia Keys

Rap Performance

“Thrift Shop,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Wanz

Rap/Sung Collaboration

“Holy Grail,” Jay Z and Justin Timberlake

Rap Song

Ben Haggerty and Ryan Lewis (“Thrift Shop,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Wanz)

Rap Album

“The Heist,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Urban Contemporary Album

“Unapologetic,” Rihanna

Country Solo Performance

“Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker

Country Performance, Duo or Group

“From This Valley,” the Civil Wars

Country Song

Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne (“Merry Go ’Round,” Kacey Musgraves)

Country Album

“Same Trailer Different Park,” Kacey Musgraves

New Age Album

“Love’s River,” Laura Sullivan

Improvised Jazz Solo

“Orbits,” Wayne Shorter

Jazz Vocal Album

“Liquid Spirit,” Gregory Porter

Jazz Instrumental Album

“Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue,” Terri Lyne Carrington

Large Jazz Ensemble Album

“Night in Calisia,” Randy Brecker, Wlodek Pawlik Trio and Kalisz Philharmonic

Latin Jazz Album

“Song for Maura,” Paquito D’Rivera and Trio Corrente

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

“Break Every Chain (Live),” Tasha Cobbs

Gospel Song

Tye Tribbett (“If He Did It Before … Same God (Live),” Tye Tribbett)

Contemporary Christian Music Song

David Garcia, Ben Glover and Christopher Stevens (“Overcomer,” Mandisa)

Gospel Album

“Greater Than (Live),” Tye Tribbett

Contemporary Christian Music Album

“Overcomer,” Mandisa

Latin Pop Album

“Vida,” Draco Rosa

Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

“Treinta Días,” la Santa Cecilia

Regional Mexican or Tejano Album

“A Mi Manera,” Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea

Tropical Latin Album

“Pacific Mambo Orchestra,” Pacific Mambo Orchestra

American Roots Song

Edie Brickell and Steve Martin (“Love Has Come for You,” Steve Martin and Edie Brickell)

Americana Album

“Old Yellow Moon,” Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell

Bluegrass Album

“The Streets of Baltimore,” Del McCoury Band

Blues Album

“Get Up!,” Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite

Folk Album

“My Favorite Picture of You,” Guy Clark

Regional Roots Music Album

“Dockside Sessions,” Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience

Reggae Album

“Ziggy Marley in Concert,” Ziggy Marley

World Music Album

“Savor Flamenco,” Gipsy Kings

“Live: Singing for Peace Around the World,” Ladysmith Black Mambazo (tie)

Children’s Album

“Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well,” Jennifer Gasoi

Spoken Word Album

“America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t,” Stephen Colbert

Comedy Album

“Calm Down Gurrl,” Kathy Griffin

Musical Theater Album

“Kinky Boots,” Billy Porter and Stark Sands, artists; Sammy James Jr., Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Oremus and William Wittman, producers; Cyndi Lauper, composer/lyricist

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

“Sound City: Real to Reel,” Butch Vig, compilation producer

Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

“Skyfall,” Thomas Newman, composer

Song Written for Visual Media

Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth, “Skyfall,” from “Skyfall” (Adele)

Instrumental Composition

“Pensamientos for Solo Alto Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra,” Clare Fischer (the Clare Fischer Orchestra)

Instrumental Arrangement

“On Green Dolphin Street,” Gordon Goodwin (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)

Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

“Swing Low,” Gil Goldstein (Bobby McFerrin and Esperanza Spalding)

Producer of the Year, Nonclassical

Pharrell Williams

Producer of the Year, Classical

David Frost

Remixed Recording, Nonclassical

“Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix),” Cedric Gervais, remixer

Orchestral Performance

“Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4,” Osmo Vänskä, conductor (Minnesota Orchestra)

Opera Recording

“Adès: The Tempest,” Thomas Adès, conductor; Simon Keenlyside, Isabel Leonard, Audrey Luna and Alan Oke; Jay David Saks, producer (the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; the Metropolitan Opera Chorus)

Choral Performance

“Pärt: Adam’s Lament,” Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor (Tui Hirv and Rainer Vilu, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Sinfonietta Riga and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Latvian Radio Choir and Vox Clamantis)

Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

“Roomful of Teeth,” Brad Wells and Roomful of Teeth

Classical Instrumental Solo

“Corigliano: Conjurer — Concerto for Percussionist and String Orchestra,” Evelyn Glennie

Classical Vocal Solo

“Winter Morning Walks,” Dawn Upshaw (Maria Schneider; Jay Anderson, Frank Kimbrough and Scott Robinson; Australian Chamber Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra)

Classical Compendium

“Hindemith: Violinkonzert; Symphonic Metamorphosis; Konzertmusik,” Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

Contemporary Classical Composition

“Schneider, Maria: Winter Morning Walks,” Maria Schneider (Dawn Upshaw, Jay Anderson, Frank Kimbrough, Scott Robinson and Australian Chamber Orchestra)

Music Video

“Suit & Tie,” Justin Timberlake and Jay Z

Music Film

“Live Kisses,” Paul McCartney

Recording Package

“Long Night Moon,” Sarah Dodds and Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)

Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

“Wings Over America (Deluxe Edition),” Simon Earith and James Musgrave, art directors (Paul McCartney and Wings)

Album Notes

“Afro Blue Impressions (Remastered & Expanded),” Neil Tesser (John Coltrane)

Historical Album

“Charlie Is My Darling — Ireland 1965,” Teri Landi, Andrew Loog Oldham & Steve Rosenthal, compilation producers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (the Rolling Stones)

“The Complete Sussex and Columbia Albums,” Leo Sacks, compilation producer; Joseph M. Palmaccio, Tom Ruff and Mark Wilder, mastering engineers (Bill Withers) (tie)

Engineered Album, Nonclassical

“Random Access Memories,” Peter Franco, Mick Guzauski, Florian Lagatta and Daniel Lerner, engineers; Antoine Chabert and Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Daft Punk)

Surround Sound Album

“Live Kisses,” Al Schmitt, surround mix engineer; Tommy LiPuma, surround producer (Paul McCartney)

Best Engineered Album, Classical

“Winter Morning Walks,” David Frost, Brian Losch and Tim Martyn, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Dawn Upshaw, Maria Schneider, Australian Chamber Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra)