Rapper Kendrick Lamar (C) performs onstage during The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS)
Peter Blackstock and I tag-teamed Grammy tweets yesterday. Here’s a broad overview of a ceremony that started slow but went on to feature well-deserved awards, disturbing, yet predictable upsets and a few incredibly impressive performances.
In the early part of the night, folks were not impressed with the Grammy’s decision to pair Stevie Wonder and Pentatonix.
In one of the first upsets (or predictable safe choices, depending on how you look at it) Ed Sheeran took home his first Grammy for Song of the Year for “Thinking Out Loud.”
His BFF Taylor Swift was appropriately psyched (or fake psyched, as the case may be.)
Technical difficulties made Adele’s highly anticipated performance difficult to watch. After the performance she explained the problems came when the piano mics fell on the piano strings causing the sound of a guitar and making her sound out of tune.
The first early hit was the cast from “Hamilton.” In a first for the ceremony, they performed the intro to the award-winning musical live from Broadway and it was incredible.
Kendrick Lamar’s stunning performance was easily the most talked about of the night.
And even though he didn’t win the big awards many folks thought he deserved, his wins still mattered.
And his performance drew praise from all corners of the internet.
Lady Gaga as David Bowie drew a mixed reaction from the internet.
This is the most valid criticism.
Alabama Shakes owned the massive stage they rightfully deserve.
The debut of the Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper vehicle Hollywood Vampires in a tribute to Lemmy Kilmister was uneven, and could have used a bit more pirate.
But we’d be totally down for this.
The tribute to B.B. King with Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark Jr. and Bonnie Raitt was inspired. The thrill was not gone.
And the evening’s fabulous female guitarists had fans in high places.
Of course, we were happy for the hometown hero.
It was Clark’s birthday and we’re happy to hear it was a great one all around.
The hardest moment of the night for many, including yours truly, was Swift besting Lamar for Album of the Year.
But Taylor Swift, unfazed went all in on her biggest detractor.
Oh yeah, and Beyonce came out at the end to award Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson Record of the Year, but she didn’t perform.
And we’re not talking about Pitbull.
