The Grammy Awards are arguably music’s biggest night, even if many music fans detest the ceremony for its lack of diversity and rigged voting system. Despite this, the industry’s most glamorous and respected stars graced the red carpet at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
If you weren’t able to watch the ceremony, here’s everything you missed from the 65th Grammy Awards:
Album Of The Year: ‘Harry’s House’ by Harry Styles
Of course, the Grammy’s doesn’t announce the most important award, “Album Of The Year,” until the end of the night, and fans were stunned to see that “Harry’s House” by Harry Styles beat out icons such as Adele, Bad Bunny and Beyoncé. With hit after hit, Styles knows how to outdo himself, especially after years of sold-out tours and guest-star appearances. He is at his peak as a singer and songwriter.
Song Of The Year: ‘Just Like That’ by Bonnie Raitt
Shocking fans everywhere with contenders such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, country singer Bonnie Raitt took home one of the night’s most prestigious awards. Inspired by the story of an organ donor, Raitt was able to encapsulate the difficult process, as well as use her voice to put a spotlight on those who make crucial sacrifices for the ones they love with “Just Like That.” All in all, it was a special moment for the singer during the Grammys, and one that many music fans will remember.
Best Pop Solo Performance: ‘Easy on Me’ by Adele
Adele’s lead single “Easy on Me” was definitely a standout on her recent album “30.” Reflecting on her divorce and its effects on her son, the British singer tapped into a much more vulnerable sound than fans thought was possible by showing off her extensive vocal range and lyrical genius. Clearly, Adele knows how to sing a ballad, and this was the perfect award for her to win this year.
Best Pop Vocal Album: ‘Harry’s House’ by Harry Styles
It’s no surprise that Harry Styles won again for Best Pop Vocal Album, especially after its worldwide success. Working with producer Kid Harpoon, breakout singles such as “As It Was” and “Late Night Talking” stabilized Styles’s spot in the mainstream and brought in a perspective on pop music resembling one of the 1980s. Overall, this album was the definition of revolutionary pop music, redefining what it means to be an artist with no boundaries and without fear of creative experimentation.
Best Alternative Music Album: ‘Wet Leg’ by Wet Leg
Wet Leg was essentially the underdog of 2022, releasing their debut album, “Wet Leg,” which felt like taking a trip in the late 1990s. Integrating spoken word throughout, the band spoke openly about femininity, love and sexism. All in all, Wet Leg took risks and executed them flawlessly, staying true to themselves and not letting their slow rise to fame influence their sound.
Best Rap Album: ‘Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers’ by Kendrick Lamar
“Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” by Kendrick Lamar was by far one of the most anticipated and highly successful albums of 2022, a telltale sign that the rapper is a voice of our generation, unafraid to dive into his own personal experiences in order to relate to fans of all backgrounds and upbringings. Songs such as “N95” and “We Cry Together (feat. Taylour Paige)” commented on the COVID-19 pandemic and abusive relationships to ones like “Die Hard (feat. Blxst and Amanda Reifer)” and “Mirror,” which were full of love and self-reflection, it’s not a shocker that an album with such emotional depth caught The Recording Academy’s attention.
Best Music Video/Film: ‘All Too Well: The Short Film’ by Taylor Swift
Obviously, Taylor Swift was destined to beat out her competitors for Best Music Video/Film for the reimagined version of her song, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version).” With stars Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink, starring in the beloved music video, Swift’s fan-favorite track was easily brought to life with amazing imagery and cinematography, proof of the singer’s eye for directing and storytelling. Being her first win as a director, this award shows that Swift is a multi-faceted being, not letting her music take center stage all the time.
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