The 2025 Grammys: variations and similar ol’
I’m a day late as a result of I needed to observe the Grammys final evening and speak about them this morning. They have been each the identical and completely different…however the variations have been most necessary.
First, was the give attention to the LA fires. As a former resident of Pacific Palisades I used to be saddened to be taught that my former home is gone, together with my complete neighborhood. I used to be extra saddened for the household that purchased it earlier than I moved to Mexico. Whereas they weren’t within the music trade – as many individuals who misplaced properties in each the Palisades and Altadena have been – they possible misplaced every part.
So I used to be very comfortable to see the Grammys flip themselves so right into a fund raiser for the organizations serving to households, and particularly musicians who usually hire and haven’t any insurance coverage, and even gave a few of their promoting time to companies that misplaced every part. I liked the advertisements the place the enterprise homeowners talked to us and have been then joined by a rock star, who pressed the message residence.
What else was completely different? Properly, for one, Taylor Swift didn’t win any awards final evening. Regardless of being nominated in six classes for her album The Tortured Poets Division and the tune “Fortnight. ” However, for those who have been watching, she was a category act, cheering for the winners, standing for each applause, speaking with different singers, and handing Beyonce’ the award for Greatest Nation Album . Since Swift received Album of the Yr final yr for Midnight, it was elegant for her to step again and cheer others, even Sabrina Carpenter, who received within the Greatest Pop Vocal Album for Quick and Candy, ( which I really feel was misplaced – The Tortured Poets Division was gentle years higher in my view).
The Beyonce’ win – effectively deserved – for Cowboy Carter, was completely different. 5 years in the past for those who predicted a black lady would win Greatest Nation Album, you’ll have been laughed out of the barroom. I really like nation music, however it’s so good to see it transfer out of the pickup- truck-beer-whiskey-she left- me field it has been in (in equity, it has been climbing out of over the previous few years). Artists like Beyonce and Shaboozey deliver a recent outlook and themes to one in all America’s music types. It does make me recall that Black cowboys have been current within the American West from the mid-Nineteenth century accounting for an estimated 25% of cowboys from the 1860s to Eighties, no less than 5,000 people.
It additionally made me take into consideration how the Academy responded to The Weekend’s request that it expanded its range, including over 3,000 ladies voting members since 2019, exceeding their authentic aim of including 2,500 ladies voting members by 2025. The Academy has elevated its racial range since 2019, with a 65% enhance in folks of coloration since 2019, together with a 90% enhance in Black or African American members and 100% progress in Asian or Pacific Islander voting membership.
There have been many different variations like Charli XCX’s rave get together on stage with boldface names, Chappell Roan’s very direct criticisms of the report labels for making thousands and thousands on their stars whereas paying them a pittance (though I’m not certain about her princess hat), the publicity given Raye within the Greatest New Artist section which is often an afterthought, and Doechii’s choice for Greatest Rap Album, solely the third lady to win the distinction in a heavy male surroundings.
Talking of heavy male surroundings, it was not there final evening. The vast majority of the televised awards went to ladies. Apart from Kendrick Lamar’s wins for Document and Track of the Yr males have been barely seen within the present, because the creativity of the ladies overwhelmed them, no less than within the eyes of the Academy voters. (I did like Benson Boone’s flip over the piano – no marvel he wanted a jumpsuit.) My preliminary depend is 14 ladies took residence main awards in comparison with 7 males. And did you discover the massive variety of feminine guitarists within the stage bands, particularly St. Vincent.
What was the identical ol’ factor? Trevor Noah’s internet hosting, which was superb ,however didn’t stray from the standard mannequin, apart from when he mentioned that Sabrina Carpenter was funnier than he was and possibly ought to host subsequent yr’s present. The tribute to Quincy Jones, which was great, did remind of earlier tributes. However I nonetheless liked it. There have been outrageous and flattering outfits, as normal. And it was filled with advertisements, no less than within the stream I watched.
The Latin Awards weren’t particularly shocking, no less than to me. Shakira within the Greatest Latin Pop Album, Carin Leon for Boca Chueca, Vol1 in the Greatest Musica Mexican Album (not my alternative, I’d have picked Chiquis or Peso Pluma), and Rawayana for Greatest Latin Rock Various Album, though I’d have chosen Hold Me Fed by The Warning.
All in all, the Recording Academy is to be congratulated for present with only some headscratchers, effectively deserved awards throughout, and the dedication of the efficiency to elevating cash for folks made homeless by the fires. I’m glad I waited a day and watched it.
Patrick O’Heffernan
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