The Police steal the show at Grammys
The 49th annual Grammy Awards, held last night (Sunday, February 11th) in Los Angeles, kicked off as expected with a heavily hyped performance by the reunited Police. But the show was all about the Dixie Chicks, whose five wins, including the top three awards, were vindication for a band that was shunned by country fans and radio stations just a few years ago for their courageous stand against George W. Bush and his invasion of Iraq.
The Police opened the broadcast with their classic "Roxanne" and sounded like they had never left, with Sting leading the trio in a slightly jazzier run through the tune. Despite that opening excitement, however, the show settled into a moderately energetic and fairly predictable pattern, alternating between competent-to-electric performances and safe acceptance speeches.
With eight nominations, Mary J. Blige was expected to be the night's big winner. Although she did score three prizes, the Dixies walked away with Record and Song of the Year for "Not Ready To Make Nice" and Album of the Year for Taking The Long Way. Despite getting up several times to collect their awards, the group's outspoken Natalie Maines stayed away from political rhetoric last night, commenting only indirectly on the group's troubles.
Other multiple winners included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose four wins included Best Rock Album for Stadium Arcadium and Best Rock Song for "Dani California," and Carrie Underwood, who counted Best New Artist among her three trophies. Justin Timberlake, Ludacris, John Legend, Bob Dylan and Gnarls Barkley all ended the night with two awards each.
The Dixie Chicks were second to perform, delivering a passionate rendition of "Not Ready To Make Nice," while Beyonce and Mary J. Blige both brought the house down with soaring vocal acrobatics. Shakira proved once again that her hips don't lie as she and Wyclef Jean unleashed a smoldering version of their hit tune. A confusing medley by Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts somehow linked the music of country great Bob Wills to the Eagles. A similar tribute to male R&B artists saw restrained performances by Smokey Robinson and Lionel Richie give way to Chris Brown's costumes, fire, hydraulic platforms, dancers and explosions. Christina Aguilera closed that segment out by paying homage to the late James Brown with a fiery "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World."
Justin Timberlake appeared twice, first to play his own "What Goes Around" and later dueting with 18-year-old Houston, Texas resident Robyn Troup, winner of the "My Grammy Moment" contest in which the grand prize was a chance to share the stage with the "Sexy Back" singer.
Rockers Booker T and the MGs, the Doors and the Grateful Dead, folk singer Joan Baez, opera star Maria Callas, Bob Wills, and jazz master Ornette Coleman were all bestowed with lifetime achievement awards, while Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, New Orleans engineer Cosimo Matassa and Stax Records co-founder Estelle Axton were recipients of the Trustees Award.
This year's show, like last year's, did not have a host, and the presenters' introductions were very straightforward, with much of the telecast focused on the musical performances. Presenters included Jamie Foxx, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Common, Kanye West, Scarlett Johansson, Terrence Howard, Don Henley, Natalie Cole, the Black Eyed Peas, Samuel L. Jackson, Pink, Rihanna, LeAnn Rimes, Seal, David Spade and the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger.
The 49th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and broadcast on CBS. Photos and video of the event can be found at grammy.com.
PERFORMANCE SET LIST
The Police - "Roxanne"
The Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready to Make Nice"
Beyonce - "Listen"
Justin Timberlake - "What Goes Around"
Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend, John Mayer - "Like A Star"/"Coming Home"/"Gravity"
Shakira w/Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"
Gnarls Barkley - "Crazy"
Mary J. Blige - "Be Without You"
Carrie Underwood - "Rose of San Anton"
Rascal Flatts - "Hotel California"
Carrie Underwood - "Desperado"
Rascal Flatts w/Carrie Underwood - "Life in the Fast Lane"
Smokey Robinson - "Tracks Of My Tears"
Lionel Richie - "Hello"
Chris Brown - "Run It"
Christina Aguilera - "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World"
Ludacris w/Mary J. Blige and Earth, Wind & Fire - "Runaway Love"
James Blunt - "You're Beautiful"
Justin Timberlake with Robin Troup and T.I. - "Ain't No Sunshine" / "My Love"
The Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Snow (Hey Oh)"
THE SCENE BACKSTAGE
Veteran performer Peter Frampton picked up his first Grammy Award, with his album Fingerprints earning the best pop instrumental album honors. Frampton said that he'd always wanted to make an instrumental set but was sidetracked by pop success as a singer: "I think the reason for doing this record is that I should have done it a long time ago because my passion has always been guitar playing. And I guess once I got put into that sort of category as more pop than musician, it was very difficult to convince people that I was the player I had always been, you know. So it was very important that I do this--for me."
Rapper Ludacris, who took home best rap album, said he was happy Grammy voters noticed the new direction he'd taken on his fifth album: "I mean it feels great. It's just something that comes with maturity, it just comes over time, you know, I'm getting a little older now. This is my fifth studio album, so it was time for a change, time to start talking about different things, and I'm glad that people recognized that."
Australian hard rock trio Wolfmother's track "Woman" earned them their first Grammy in the best hard rock performance category. Guitarist Andrew Stockdale expressed his surprise while drummer Myles Heskett agreed: "(Stockdale) It's funny, like you do have ideas that it's sounding good and, you know, maybe the gigs will get bigger and things will happen. But a Grammy, like, that was the last thing on my mind at least. (Heskett) Me too. (Stockdale) I thought that was reserved for the permanent residents of Bel Air."
John Legend picked up two Grammy Awards for best R&B collaboration and best R&B male vocal performance in the pre-telecast portion of the ceremony. During the show he performed with Corinne Bailey Rae and John Mayer. Asked about the performance, he said: "It felt good! It felt really good, it was already feeling comfortable and relaxed, my awards had already been announced earlier so I didn't have to think about that. So we just went out there and tried to sing and give everybody a good show. So I felt like, I was really happy to be on stage with Corinne and John. They're really cool people, I got to hang out with them a little bit, they're professionals and they're really talented and we had a good time."
After winning five awards in major categories, the Dixie Chicks were jubilant. Asked if the multiple wins felt like vindication for the backlash they received after criticizing President Bush at a U.K. concert three years ago, singer Natalie Maines said: "No. I think for other people it was and that's sort of why I made the Simpsons comment, was for everyone else who was feeling that way, because we got a lot of phone calls from people. You know, I think for a lot of people I think it was a statement, like I said. It's been a long time for us, it's been three years and we're used to it."
Carrie Underwood became just the second country artist in Grammy history to earn the best new artist award after Bobbie Gentry in 1967. She said: "It feels great. I mean, I've always hoped that I'd be a good representative for country music. That's what I grew up listening to, and I feel so honored to be around all the people that I'm around in that genre of music. And to stand up before all genres of music, you know, artists and music lovers, accepting that award on behalf of country music was awesome. "
Rapper T.I. joked about how he would celebrate his Grammy win for best rap performance, but also talked about his next project: "I'm going to drink myself into a stupor. No, I'm just joking, I'm just joking. I'm just gon' go out, man, you know ... I'm working on my album right now so I'm only gonna party so much because you know I got a lot of more work to do tomorrow, tonight, in the days to come. Just look out for T.I. Versus T.I.P., coming this July.
Lucky Houston native Robin Troup was named the winner from among three finalists of the My Grammy Moment competition by Jennifer Hudson just seconds before she jumped on stage to perform "Ain't No Sunshine" and "My Love" with Grammy nominee Justin Timberlake. Afterward, she said: "Jennifer Hudson 's doing the talking, I'm like shaking, but I swear to God I thought I was not gonna get my name called. I was so ready, I had my game face on for being the loser. And then she calls my name and she says it so fast, and I'm like, who? And then, you know, nobody else was getting up. So I was like, Oh my God, it's me!"
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The Police opened the broadcast with their classic "Roxanne" and sounded like they had never left, with Sting leading the trio in a slightly jazzier run through the tune. Despite that opening excitement, however, the show settled into a moderately energetic and fairly predictable pattern, alternating between competent-to-electric performances and safe acceptance speeches.
With eight nominations, Mary J. Blige was expected to be the night's big winner. Although she did score three prizes, the Dixies walked away with Record and Song of the Year for "Not Ready To Make Nice" and Album of the Year for Taking The Long Way. Despite getting up several times to collect their awards, the group's outspoken Natalie Maines stayed away from political rhetoric last night, commenting only indirectly on the group's troubles.
Other multiple winners included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose four wins included Best Rock Album for Stadium Arcadium and Best Rock Song for "Dani California," and Carrie Underwood, who counted Best New Artist among her three trophies. Justin Timberlake, Ludacris, John Legend, Bob Dylan and Gnarls Barkley all ended the night with two awards each.
The Dixie Chicks were second to perform, delivering a passionate rendition of "Not Ready To Make Nice," while Beyonce and Mary J. Blige both brought the house down with soaring vocal acrobatics. Shakira proved once again that her hips don't lie as she and Wyclef Jean unleashed a smoldering version of their hit tune. A confusing medley by Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts somehow linked the music of country great Bob Wills to the Eagles. A similar tribute to male R&B artists saw restrained performances by Smokey Robinson and Lionel Richie give way to Chris Brown's costumes, fire, hydraulic platforms, dancers and explosions. Christina Aguilera closed that segment out by paying homage to the late James Brown with a fiery "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World."
Justin Timberlake appeared twice, first to play his own "What Goes Around" and later dueting with 18-year-old Houston, Texas resident Robyn Troup, winner of the "My Grammy Moment" contest in which the grand prize was a chance to share the stage with the "Sexy Back" singer.
Rockers Booker T and the MGs, the Doors and the Grateful Dead, folk singer Joan Baez, opera star Maria Callas, Bob Wills, and jazz master Ornette Coleman were all bestowed with lifetime achievement awards, while Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, New Orleans engineer Cosimo Matassa and Stax Records co-founder Estelle Axton were recipients of the Trustees Award.
This year's show, like last year's, did not have a host, and the presenters' introductions were very straightforward, with much of the telecast focused on the musical performances. Presenters included Jamie Foxx, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Common, Kanye West, Scarlett Johansson, Terrence Howard, Don Henley, Natalie Cole, the Black Eyed Peas, Samuel L. Jackson, Pink, Rihanna, LeAnn Rimes, Seal, David Spade and the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger.
The 49th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and broadcast on CBS. Photos and video of the event can be found at grammy.com.
PERFORMANCE SET LIST
The Police - "Roxanne"
The Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready to Make Nice"
Beyonce - "Listen"
Justin Timberlake - "What Goes Around"
Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend, John Mayer - "Like A Star"/"Coming Home"/"Gravity"
Shakira w/Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"
Gnarls Barkley - "Crazy"
Mary J. Blige - "Be Without You"
Carrie Underwood - "Rose of San Anton"
Rascal Flatts - "Hotel California"
Carrie Underwood - "Desperado"
Rascal Flatts w/Carrie Underwood - "Life in the Fast Lane"
Smokey Robinson - "Tracks Of My Tears"
Lionel Richie - "Hello"
Chris Brown - "Run It"
Christina Aguilera - "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World"
Ludacris w/Mary J. Blige and Earth, Wind & Fire - "Runaway Love"
James Blunt - "You're Beautiful"
Justin Timberlake with Robin Troup and T.I. - "Ain't No Sunshine" / "My Love"
The Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Snow (Hey Oh)"
THE SCENE BACKSTAGE
Veteran performer Peter Frampton picked up his first Grammy Award, with his album Fingerprints earning the best pop instrumental album honors. Frampton said that he'd always wanted to make an instrumental set but was sidetracked by pop success as a singer: "I think the reason for doing this record is that I should have done it a long time ago because my passion has always been guitar playing. And I guess once I got put into that sort of category as more pop than musician, it was very difficult to convince people that I was the player I had always been, you know. So it was very important that I do this--for me."
Rapper Ludacris, who took home best rap album, said he was happy Grammy voters noticed the new direction he'd taken on his fifth album: "I mean it feels great. It's just something that comes with maturity, it just comes over time, you know, I'm getting a little older now. This is my fifth studio album, so it was time for a change, time to start talking about different things, and I'm glad that people recognized that."
Australian hard rock trio Wolfmother's track "Woman" earned them their first Grammy in the best hard rock performance category. Guitarist Andrew Stockdale expressed his surprise while drummer Myles Heskett agreed: "(Stockdale) It's funny, like you do have ideas that it's sounding good and, you know, maybe the gigs will get bigger and things will happen. But a Grammy, like, that was the last thing on my mind at least. (Heskett) Me too. (Stockdale) I thought that was reserved for the permanent residents of Bel Air."
John Legend picked up two Grammy Awards for best R&B collaboration and best R&B male vocal performance in the pre-telecast portion of the ceremony. During the show he performed with Corinne Bailey Rae and John Mayer. Asked about the performance, he said: "It felt good! It felt really good, it was already feeling comfortable and relaxed, my awards had already been announced earlier so I didn't have to think about that. So we just went out there and tried to sing and give everybody a good show. So I felt like, I was really happy to be on stage with Corinne and John. They're really cool people, I got to hang out with them a little bit, they're professionals and they're really talented and we had a good time."
After winning five awards in major categories, the Dixie Chicks were jubilant. Asked if the multiple wins felt like vindication for the backlash they received after criticizing President Bush at a U.K. concert three years ago, singer Natalie Maines said: "No. I think for other people it was and that's sort of why I made the Simpsons comment, was for everyone else who was feeling that way, because we got a lot of phone calls from people. You know, I think for a lot of people I think it was a statement, like I said. It's been a long time for us, it's been three years and we're used to it."
Carrie Underwood became just the second country artist in Grammy history to earn the best new artist award after Bobbie Gentry in 1967. She said: "It feels great. I mean, I've always hoped that I'd be a good representative for country music. That's what I grew up listening to, and I feel so honored to be around all the people that I'm around in that genre of music. And to stand up before all genres of music, you know, artists and music lovers, accepting that award on behalf of country music was awesome. "
Rapper T.I. joked about how he would celebrate his Grammy win for best rap performance, but also talked about his next project: "I'm going to drink myself into a stupor. No, I'm just joking, I'm just joking. I'm just gon' go out, man, you know ... I'm working on my album right now so I'm only gonna party so much because you know I got a lot of more work to do tomorrow, tonight, in the days to come. Just look out for T.I. Versus T.I.P., coming this July.
Lucky Houston native Robin Troup was named the winner from among three finalists of the My Grammy Moment competition by Jennifer Hudson just seconds before she jumped on stage to perform "Ain't No Sunshine" and "My Love" with Grammy nominee Justin Timberlake. Afterward, she said: "Jennifer Hudson 's doing the talking, I'm like shaking, but I swear to God I thought I was not gonna get my name called. I was so ready, I had my game face on for being the loser. And then she calls my name and she says it so fast, and I'm like, who? And then, you know, nobody else was getting up. So I was like, Oh my God, it's me!"
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