GRAMMYs Recap: Taylor Swift Wins Album of the Year, Adele Performs and More

(Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com)

The 58th Grammys sparkled with a plethora of talent, some extremely fresh to the mainstream music industry in the past year. Taylor Swift opened the grandiose show; her blue bejeweled jumpsuit dazzled and complimented her cool-color rendition of “Out of the Woods” that showed off the pop star’s vocal range. Swift arrived at the red carpet with best friend Selena Gomez after Instagramming a video of the two getting ready for the show and excitedly screaming after they found out they won the Grammy for the “Bad Blood” music video. Quickly after her performance, Ice Cub and his son presented the award for Best Hip-Hop Album that rightfully belonged to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. Lamar is breaking barriers with his racially relevant lyrics, and we at Roman’s Rap-Up agreed with the award, as Lamar was named our 2015 Album of the Year.

Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood were the next highlight performance, singing a mash-up of “Take Your Time” and “Heartbeat.” Their country combo was strong and represented the genre well. Hunt is new to the scene and will continue to explode due to this unique combination of spoken and melody lyrics. Underwood has consistently given well-received music to the country fans – the Grammys couldn’t have picked a better duo to shoulder up their genre. The Weeknd also performed in the beginning of the show singing “Can’t Feel My Face” and “In the Night.” The male pop/R&B has dropped fire single after fire single; however, his live rendition is only a little above lukewarm in comparison to the other early Grammy powerhouse performers. 

Lionel Richie’s tribute as he sat in the audience was filled to the brim with a range of musical favorites; John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, and Meghan Trainor are only a handful involved in the tribute. Legend’s piano skills and rich voice did not disappoint, and Demi Lovato’s fierce black and white pantsuit was overshadowed by her stellar range of Richie’s “Hello” that proved, once again, she’s grown past her shallow Disney Channel roots. Richie seemed to highly enjoy the performances from the audience and eventually joined the group onstage. Stevie Wonder and Penatonix performed a a-capella rendition that was absolutely breathtaking and created a standing ovation from the audience chock full of talent.  

Ed Sheeran won Song of the Year for “Thinking Out Loud,” a beautiful love song about wanting to spend the rest of his life with his significant other and wanting to love her the same as when they were young. Sheeran has never won a Grammy until this year, and he is now the winner of multiple in one night including Best Pop Performance for “Thinking Out Loud.” In a parallel mood, Tori Kelly and James Bay performed a duo with a subtly beautiful tone that highlighted both of their unique tones. After, the Grammys panned to New York City to view a live performance of Hamilton, the musical that is using hip-hop in a unique way instead of the normal Broadway music. They proved why the musical is so hot right now; it’s so vastly different from the ‘typical’ play in so many ways.

Kendrick Lamar took the stage, and the performance level took to another level. It began in a jail with all African American men in a line chained together, referencing the movement of slaves. Lamar then switched to “Alright” with culturally dressed and painted dancers in front of a large fire. Lamar ended the performance solo with precise light and camera work that finished off a five-minute experience even from viewing on the couch at home. If viewers had any doubts of this rapper’s limit-pushing potential, they were squashed when the scenery altering, lyrically electrifying performance. If it wasn’t enough to hear Lamar, Adele followed up, coming out in a red, glittery dress that sparkled from head-to-toe. It was thrilling to hear her begin with a song other than “Hello;” the icon sang “All I Ask” with a simple pianist and guitar accompaniment. She was stunning in every way that a star in the music industry should be. 

Justin Bieber began with an acoustic version of “Love Yourself” that quickly changed into a dramatic band version of “Where Are Ü Now?” It’s not that either of the performances was poor; more so that the combination of the acoustic with the changed-up version of “Where Are Ü Now?” was a lot to handle in the same performance. After Bieber, Meghan Trainor won New Artist of the Year, and she became really emotional onstage as she rocked her new brunette locks. Lady Gage followed up the award with the late David Bowie tribute that was the evolution of his musical career. It included a large- scale performance including intense lighting effects on her face as well as throughout the entire stage. Outfit changes also took pace onstage, and Gaga changed between multiple songs with rapidity. 

B.B. King’s tribute exceeded expectations with a mix of old and new artists such as Bonnie Raitt and Chris Stapleton. Afterwards, Alabama Shakes made a solid indie rock performance in addition to Hollywood Vampires’ heavy metal performance with incorporated flames and intense face makeup. The Grammys did a lengthy tribute to those deceased over the past year per usual to an awards show. 

Album of the Year went to Taylor Swift for 1989. Though the album is well done and a wonderful transition into the pop genre, Kendrick Lamar was short-changed with only the award for hip-hop album and not overall album. His music did something arguably more socially important than Swift’s transition. Record of the Year went to “Uptown Funk,” which became a huge dance classic over the past year with its groovy beat and fun lyrics. Pitbull closed the show with a fun, light performance featuring Sofia Vergara and Robin Thicke. It was confetti-bombed and brightly lit, creating a happy vibe to end the performance-packed night. The Grammys stage did not disappoint as another year of musical celebration comes to a close. 

GRAMMYs 2014 Coverage: See Full Winners List and the Best Performances

Last night, the biggest stars in the Music Industry gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the 56th Grammy Awards Show.  The show, which aired on CBS, was full of performances and long acceptance speeches, but there were two performances that stood out: Beyoncé and Jay Z, and Kendrick Lamar with Imagine Dragons. Jay and Bey opened the show with a knockout performance of Drunk In Love (seen below). However, Imagine Dragons and Kendrick stole the show. Their performance consisted of a melody of "Radioactive" and "M.A.A.D City". Peep both performances below:

Check the full winner list below:

Album Of The Year:
"Random Access Memories" — Daft Punk

Record Of The Year:
"Get Lucky" — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams

Song Of The Year:
"Royals" — Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor, songwriters (Lorde)

Best New Artist:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best Pop Solo Performance:
"Royals" — Lorde  

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Get Lucky" — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams

Best Pop Vocal Album:
"Unorthodox Jukebox" -- Bruno Mars

Best Pop Instrumental Album:
"Steppin' Out" -- Herb Alpert

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
"To Be Loved" -- Michael Bublé

Best Dance/Electronica Album:
Random Access Memories — Daft Punk

Best Dance Recording
"Clarity" -- Zedd Featuring Foxes

Best Rock Performance:
"Radioactive" — Imagine Dragons

Best Rock Album:
"Celebration Day" — Led Zeppelin

Best Metal Performance
"God Is Dead?" -- Black Sabbath

Best Rock Song
"Cut Me Some Slack" -- Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic & Pat Smear, songwriters (Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear)

Best Alternative Music Album
"Modern Vampires Of The City" -- Vampire Weekend

Best R&B Performance:
"Something" — Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway 

Best Urban Contemporary Album:
"Unapologetic" — Rihanna

Best R&B Album:
Girl On Fire — Alicia Keys

Best Traditional R&B Performance
"Please Come Home -- Gary Clark Jr.

Best R&B Song (A Songwriters Award)
"Pusher Love Girl" -- James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)

Best Rap Performance:
"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
"Holy Grail" — Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake  

Best Rap Album:
The Heist — Macklemore  & Ryan Lewis

Best Rap Song
"Thrift Shop" -- Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz)

Best Country Solo Performance:
"Wagon Wheel" — Darius Rucker

Best Country Album:
Same Trailer Different Park — Kacey Musgraves

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
"From This Valley" -- The Civil Wars

Best Country Song (A Songwriters Award)
"Merry Go 'Round" -- Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)

Best New Age Album
"Love's River" -- Laura Sullivan

Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
Money Jungle: Provocative In Blue — Terri Lyne Carrington

Best Improvised Jazz Solo
"Orbits" -- Wayne Shorter, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album
"Liquid Spirit" -- Gregory Porter

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
"Night In Calisia" -- Randy Brecker, Włodek Pawlik Trio & Kalisz Philharmonic

Best Latin Jazz Album
"Song For Maura" -- Paquito D'Rivera And Trio Corrente

Best Gospel Album:
Greater Than (Live) — Tye Tribbett

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
"Break Every Chain [Live]" -- Tasha Cobbs

Best Gospel Song
"If He Did It Before... Same God [Live]" -- Tye Tribbett, songwriter (Tye Tribbett)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
"Overcomer" -- David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
"Overcomer" -- Mandisa

Best Latin Pop Album
"Vida" -- Draco Rosa

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
"Treinta Días" -- La Santa Cecilia

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
"A Mi Manera" -- Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea

Best Tropical Latin Album:
Pacific Mambo Orchestra — Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Best Americana Album:
Love Has Come For You — Steve Martin & Edie Brickell

Best Bluegrass Album
"The Streets Of Baltimore" -- Del McCoury Band

Best Blues Album
"Get Up!" -- Ben Harper With Charlie Musselwhite

Best Folk Album
"My Favorite Picture Of You" -- Guy Clark

Best Regional Roots Music Album
"Dockside Sessions" -- Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience

Best Reggae Album
"Ziggy Marley In Concert" -- Ziggy Marley

Best World Music Album (tie)
"Savor Flamenco" -- Gipsy Kings
"Live: Singing For Peace Around The World" -- Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Best Children's Album
"Throw A Penny In The Wishing Well" -- Jennifer Gasoi

Best Spoken Word Album
"America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren't" -- Stephen Colbert

Best Comedy Album:
"Calm Down Gurrl" — Kathy Griffin

Best Musical Theater Album
"Kinky Boots"

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Sound City: Real To Reel

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
Skyfall -- Thomas Newman, composer

Best Song Written For Visual Media
"Skyfall" from "Skyfall"-- Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)

Best Instrumental Composition
Pensamientos For Solo Alto Saxophone And Chamber Orchestra -- Clare Fischer, composer (The Clare Fischer Orchestra)

Best Instrumental Arrangement
On Green Dolphin Street-- Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
Swing Low -- Gil Goldstein, arranger (Bobby McFerrin & Esperanza Spalding)

Best Recording Package
Long Night Moon -- Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
Wings Over America (Deluxe Edition) -- Simon Earith & James Musgrave, art directors (Paul McCartney And Wings)

Best Album Notes
Afro Blue Impressions (Remastered & Expanded) -- Neil Tesser, album notes writer (John Coltrane)

Best Historical Album (tie)
Charlie Is My Darling - Ireland 1965
The Complete Sussex And Columbia Albums

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Random Access Memories -- Peter Franco, Mick Guzauski, Florian Lagatta & Daniel Lerner, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Daft Punk)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Pharrell Williams

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix) -- Cedric Gervais, remixer (Lana Del Rey)

Best 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 & Tim Martyn, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Dawn Upshaw, Maria Schneider, Australian Chamber Orchestra & St. Paul Chamber Orchestra)

Producer Of The Year, Classical
David Frost

Best Orchestral Performance
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 -- Osmo Vänskä, conductor (Minnesota Orchestra)

Best Opera Recording
Adès: The Tempest

Best Choral Performance
Pärt: Adam's Lament -- Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor (Tui Hirv & Rainer Vilu; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Sinfonietta Riga & Tallinn Chamber Orchestra; Latvian Radio Choir & Vox Clamantis)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Roomful Of Teeth -- Brad Wells & Roomful Of Teeth

Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Corigliano: Conjurer - Concerto For Percussionist & String Orchestra -- Evelyn Glennie; David Alan Miller, conductor (Albany Symphony)

Best Classical Vocal Solo
Winter Morning Walks -- Dawn Upshaw (Maria Schneider; Jay Anderson, Frank Kimbrough & Scott Robinson; Australian Chamber Orchestra & St. Paul Chamber Orchestra)

 Best Classical Compendium
Hindemith: Violinkonzert; Symphonic Metamorphosis; Konzertmusik -- Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Schneider, Maria: Winter Morning Walks -- Maria Schneider, composer 

Best Music Video
Suit & Tie -- Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay Z (David Fincher, video director; Timory King, video producer)

Best Music Film
Live Kisses -- Paul McCartney (Jonas Akerlund, video director; Violaine Etienne, Aron Levine & Scott Rodger, video producers)

Grammy Nominations 2014 - Full List!

Last night, some of the biggest names in the Industry gathered at the Nokia Theater in Downtown Los Angeles to see who would be nominated for the 56th Grammy Awards held on January 26th at the Staples Center. Jay Z holds the greatest amount of nominations (9), followed by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Justin Timberlake, and Kendrick Lamar (7). See the complete list below: ALBUM OF THE YEAR Sara Bareilles – The Blessed Unrest Daft Punk – Random Access Memories Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – The Heist Taylor Swift – Red

RECORD OF THE YEAR Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams – “Get Lucky” Imagine Dragons – “Radioactive” Lorde – “Royals” Bruno Mars – “Locked Out of Heaven” Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell Williams & T.I. – “Blurred Lines”

SONG OF THE YEAR Pink feat. Nate Reuss – “Just Give Me a Reason” Bruno Mars – “Locked Out of Heaven” Katy Perry – “Roar” Lorde – “Royals” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert – “Same Love”

BEST NEW ARTIST James Blake Kendrick Lamar Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Kacey Musgraves Ed Sheeran

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE Sara Bareilles – “Brave” Lorde – “Royals” Bruno Mars – “When I Was Your Man” Katy Perry – “Roar” Justin Timberlake “Mirrors”

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams – “Get Lucky” Pink feat. Nate Reuss – “Just Give Me a Reason” Rihanna feat. Mikky Eiko – “Stay” Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell Williams & T.I. – “Blurred Lines” Justin Timberlake feat. Jay Z – “Suit & Tie”

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM Lana Del Rey – Paradise Lorde – Pure Heroine Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM Tony Bennett & Various Artist – Viva Duets Michael Buble – To Be Loved Gloria Estefan – The Standards Cee Lo Green – Cee Lo’s Magic Moment Dionne Warwick – Now

BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE Lee Price – “I Drive Your Truck” Hunter Hayes – “I Want Crazy” Miranda Lambert – “Mama’s Broken Heart” Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel” Blake Shelton – “Mine Would Be You”

BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE The Civil Wars – From This Valley Kelly Clarkson feat. Vince Gill – “Don’t Rush” Little Big Town – “Your Side of the Bed” Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban – “Highway Don’t Care” Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton – “You Can’t Make Old Friends”

BEST COUNTRY SONG Taylor Swift – “Begin Again” Lee Brice – “I Drive Your Truck” Miranda Lambert – “Mama’s Broken Heart” Kacey Musgraves – “Merry Go Round” Blake Shelton – “Mine Would Be You”

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM Jason Aldean – Night Train Tim McGraw – Two Lanes of Freedom Kacey Musgraves – Same Trailer, Different Park Blake Shelton – Based on a True Story Taylor Swift – Red

BEST DANCE RECORDING Duke Dumont feat. AME & MNEK – “Need U” Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch – “Sweet Nothing” Kaskade – “Atmosphere” Armin Van Buuren feat. Trevor Guthrie – “This Is What It Feels Like” Zedd feat. Foxes – “Clarity”

BEST DANCE ALBUM Daft Punk – Random Access Memories Disclosure – Settle Calvin Harris – 18 Months Kaskade – Atmosphere Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the Sun

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE Alabama Shakes – “Always Alright” David Bowie – “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” Imagine Dragons – “Radioactive” Led Zeppelin – “Kashmir” Queens of the Stone Age – “My God is the Sun” Jack White – “I’m Shakin’”

BEST ROCK SONG Gary Clark Jr – “Ain’t Messin Round” Paul McCartney – “Cut Me Some Slack” The Rolling Stones – “Doom and Gloom” Black Sabbath – “God Is Dead?” Muse – “Panic Station”

BEST ROCK ALBUM Black Sabbath – 13 David Bowie – The Next Day Kings of Leon – Mechanical Bull Led Zeppelin – Celebration Day Queens of the Stone Age – …Like Clockwork Neil Young With Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE Tamar Braxton – “Love and War” Anthony Hamilton – “Best of Me” Hiatus Kaiyote feat. Q-Tip – “Nakamarra” Miguel feat. Kendrick Lamar – “How Many Drinks?” Snark Puppy with Lalah Hathaway – “Something”

BEST R&B SONG Anthony Hamilton – “Best of Me” Tamar Braxton – “Love and War” PJ Morton feat. Stevie Wonder – “Only One” Justin Timberlake – “Pusher Love Girl” Fantasia feat. Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliot – “Without Me”

BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM Tamar Braxton – Love and War Fantasia – Side Effects of You Salaam Remi – One: In the Chamber Rihanna – Unapologetic Mack Wilds – New York: A Love Story

BEST R&B ALBUM Faith Evans – R&B Divas Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire John Legend – Love in the Future Chrisette Michele – Better TGT – Three Kings

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE Drake – “Started From the Bottom” Eminem – “Berzerk” Jay Z – “Tom Ford” Kendrick Lamar – “Swimming Pools (Drank)” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz – “Thrift Shop”

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION J. Cole feat Miguel – “Power Trip” Jay Z feat. Beyonce – “Part II (On the Run)” Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake – “Holy Grail” Kendrick Lamar feat. Mary J. Blige – “Now or Never” Wiz Khalifa feat. The Weeknd – “Remember You”

BEST RAP SONG ASAP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar – “F***in’ Problems” Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake – “Holy Grail” Kanye West – “New Slaves” Drake – “Started From the Bottom” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “Thrift Shop”

BEST RAP ALBUM Drake – Nothing Was the Same Jay Z – Magna Carta… Holy Grail Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – The Heist Kanye West – Yeezus

BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA Coldplay – “Atlas” from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Jessie J – “Silver Lining” from Silver Linings Playbook Adele – “Skyfall” from Skyfall Colbie Caillat feat. Gavin DeGraw – “We Both Know” from Safe Haven Lana Del Rey – “Young and Beautiful” from The Great Gatsby Regina Spektor – “You’ve Got Time” from Orange Is the New Black

 

Kanye West Tour Announcement

This just in: Kanye West is going on tour for the first time in 5 years with special guest Kendrick Lamar! Dubbed "The Yeezus Tour", Kanye will bring his show across the nation to 23 cities. See if he is coming to your hometown in the picture below:

Credit: Kanye's Website 

Credit: Kanye's Website

 

Be sure to get tickets when they go onsale Friday, September 13th!