The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Los Angeles Staples Center Arena Sunday night with stunning debut performances and unexpected winners.
The Grammys started with a tribute to Aretha Franklin, nominee and winner of 18 Grammy awards. The tribute to the “Queen of the Soul,” was performed by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Yolanda Adams and Martina McBride.
The first award of the night went to Train’s Soul Sisterfor Best Pop Performance for a Duo or Group. The band gave a humorous and quick thanks to Justin Bieber for not being a duo or group.
The first performance was from the one and only, Lady Gaga. Gaga had caused whispers of curiosity and bewilderment earlier in the evening as she entered the red carpet in an egg-shaped capsule carried by a clan of men. Lady Gaga performed her new single, Born This Way. And also took home Best Pop Vocal Album for Fame Monster.
Muse tore up the stage with an astounding performance of The Uprising and took home their first Grammy, Best Rock Album, for The Resistance. They conquered the title as they surpassed rock stars such as Jeff Beck, Tom Petty, Neil Young and Pearl Jam, other nominees for this category.
Lady Antebellum was awarded Best Song and Record of the Year for Need You Nowshocking the audience. Esperanza Spalding also surprised us all as she took the New Artist award away from talented nominees, Florence & the Machine and Justin Bieber.
The ceremony was filled with excitement and variety with performances by new and old faces such as Justin Bieber and Usher, Rihanna, Eminem and Drake, Janelle Monae, Bruno Mars, Mick Jagger and Barbara Streisand. Eminem, famous previous Grammy winner, was awarded Best Rap Album for Recovery.
“I Need a Doctor by Eminem, Dr. Dre and Skylar Grey was by far the best performance. It’s one of my favorite songs and it took me back to when Dr. Dre was a hardcore rapper,” sophomore Sophia Duffield said.
The uprising British folk quintet, Mumford & Sons, gave a refreshing performance with their song The Cave.Joining them on stage later were The Avett Brothers and then folk legend, Bob Dylan. All three performed Dylan’s Maggie’s Farm.
A memorable and definitely original performance came from Cee Lo Green’s muppet-themed stage decor and random but exciting duet with actress, Gwyneth Paltrow. The duo performed Green’s Forget You, proving her talent.
“I watch the Grammys almost every year with my family and this was by far the most entertaining year yet. Cee Lo Green and Gwneth Paltrow’s was my favorite performance. The only other time I had heard Gwneth Paltrow sing was in Country Strong, so it was unique. They set the bar quite high for future performances,” junior Lauren Smith said.
To finish off the night, a well-deserved win by indie band, Arcade Fire stunned many as they received Album of the Year for The Suburbs. Vocalist and guitarist Win Butler expressed his disbelief, entering the stage half way until getting down onto his knees to accept the award.
The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards definitely set the bar for more extravagant outfits, absolutely original performances, lack-luster jokes, and mind-blowing wins.
