The Grammy awards, music’s biggest night, is as much about the lively performances and often rare collaborations between big names as it is about the awards handed out across 82 categories.
The evening opened with a medley songs by Australian hard rockers AC/DC.
Numerous artists opted to strip down their performances to showcase their music.
Known to be a stage where veterans and current music stars come together, British singers Jessie J and Tom Jones sang The Righteous Brothers’ classic 1964 song “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” and Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga channeled New York-style romance with their jazz tune “Cheek to Cheek.”
Pharrell Performed an eclectic rendition of “Happy” on the Grammys stage, teaming up with film composer Hans Zimmer to channel a “Grand Budapest Hotel” vibe dressed as a bellhop and accompanied by pianist Lang Lang and gospel singers.
Australian singer-songwriter Sia recreated her “Chandelier” video with comedienne Kristen Wiig and teen dancer Maddie Ziegler in a contemporary dance-off on a set designed like a decrepit apartment.
Madonna delivered an energetic performance of “Living For Love,” accompanied by male dancers in elaborate horned face masks and singers dressed in mariachi costumes. She ended the high-octane set by being suspended above stage in a harness.
Katy Perry sang her inspirational survival anthem “By the Grace of God,” dressed in a simple white caped dress as shadows of dancers were projected behind her.
The performance was a study in contrasts with Perry’s vibrant, lively and prop-filled spectacular at the Super Bowl a week ago.
Rihanna joined Kanye West and Paul McCartney against a white stage backdrop to perform the jaunty “FourFiveSeconds,” while No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, both judges on NBC’s “The Voice” singing competition, teamed up for a heartfelt rendition of “My Heart is Open.”
The night ended on civil rights with Beyonce and gospel singers belting out a rendition of the hymn “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” before artists Common and John Legend took the stage to perform their Oscar-nominated “Glory,” from the Martin Luther King Jr. biopic “Selma.”
(Reuters)
