One of the biggest nights in music, the Grammys – sort of US music's Oscars – celebrate the biggest and best artists in the States and beyond.
Bagging one of the coveted gramophone gongs can be a career changer, while a nomination in one of the 'Big Four' categories – Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist – is an honor that sticks with an artist for life.
The significance was not lost on any of the winners; from Victoria Monét, who thoroughly deserved to win the category dedicated to rising talent, to Taylor Swift, who won Album of the Year for a record-busting fourth time.
As always, the night itself was a mixed bag, with its fair share of puzzlement: why did Travis Scott repeatedly whack the stage with a folding chair during his performance? Why did somebody from production think it was a good idea to make presenter Trevor Noah 'banter' with Meryl Streep's empty chair (she was late due to the torrential rain)?
Still, it had its moments. From Jay-Z once again playing the part of music's biggest wife-guy, to some super-rare live performances and stand-out wins, these were the best of the night.
A spellbinding performance from Joni Mitchell
What I’ve been waiting for, Joni Mitchell’s magical performance of “Clouds” at #grammys after near-fatal aneurysm in which she had to re-learn how to speak and sing. A remarkable performance sample of resilience, creativity & the human spirit. Left me in tears. pic.twitter.com/uwJpmtM64G
— Paul Grondahl (@PaulGrondahl) February 5, 2024
Following her surprise return to the stage last year, the wildly influential folk musician Joni Mitchell was given a standing ovation for her emotional performance of one of her signature songs, Both Sides Now. The 80-year-old singer previously quit performing back in 2007, and has spent the last decade recovering from a brain aneurysm rupture.
Her comeback all began with a surprise appearance at Newport Folk Festival last year, where she performed alongside a whole host of collaborators including Marcus Mumford, Celisse, and Brandi Carlile. She then played Gorge Amphitheatre alongside Carlile, who also joined Mitchell at the Grammys.
The iconic musician, responsible for classic records such as Blue, Big Yellow Taxi, and Court and Spark, sang to a hushed room, subtly altering the lyrics. "They say, Joni, you've changed," she sang, "well something's lost, but something's gained in living every day.” The song, which reflects on all that she has learned about love, and puzzles over the meaning of life, takes on new poignancy when performed by an older Mitchell looking back over her remarkable life.
A rare live outing for Tracey Chapman
Great to see #traceychapman back on stage.pic.twitter.com/qX6ivrOame
— Humanspective (@Humanspective) February 5, 2024
Remarkably, Mitchell’s performance was not the only exceptionally rare one of the night. Amid many of the usual suspects, US singer-songwriter Tracey Chapman made a surprise appearance to perform Fast Car; a classic folk-rock cut which is now regarded as her signature song. Since the release of 2008’s Our Bright Future, the artist has been on semi-hiatus, and apart from a handful of television performances (most recently, she performed Talkin’ ’Bout a Revolution on Late Night with Seth Meyers in the run-up to the 2020 US election) she hasn't really performed live much.
All of that changed when she dueted alongside the country singer Luke Combs, whose cover of Fast Car took Chapman back to the top of the charts last year. “Tracy Chapman is such an icon, and one of the greatest artists that I think any of us will be along to see,” Combs said ahead of the performance. “It’s a full circle moment for me. Just to be associated with her in any way is super humbling for me.”
Miley Cyrus finally gets her Flowers
"why are you acting like you don't know this song" LMFAOOOOO MILEY😭😭😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/uHTTx7Mgkq
— 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) February 5, 2024
You know what they say about Grammys; you wait nine years for a win to come along, and then you only go and bag two at once?! After four previous nominations, Miley Cyrus finally brought it home with her mega-hit Flowers last night: “I just won my first Grammy!” she sang, tweaking a line during her live performance of the newly-crowned Record of the Year. The song also won Best Pop Solo Performance.
One of the leading names in a night dominated by women, Cyrus was typically witty, thanking her “main gays” for dressing her, reacting with bewilderment to the amount of iPhone photographers on the red carpet, fangirling in the presence of Mariah Carey, and admonishing the audience during her performance of Flowers. “Why you acting like you don’t know this song?!” Cyrus quipped, before Oprah Winfrey was shown on camera rising to the occasion and loudly singing along.
Her acceptance speech for Record of the Year, towards the end of the night, was the perfect blend of sincere and ridiculous. “This award is amazing, but I really hope it doesn’t change anything, because my life was beautiful yesterday,” she said. “Not everyone in the world will get a Grammy, but everyone in this world is spectacular. So please don’t think that this is important, even though it’s very important, right, guys?”
“Thank you all so much,” she concluded. “I don’t think I forgot anyone… but I might have forgotten underwear. Bye!”
SZA cuts through
SZA performando seu smash hit solo “Kill Bill” no #GRAMMYs.pic.twitter.com/h6aktJrA0z
— SZA Brasil (@szabrs) February 5, 2024
Though she landed her first ever Grammy win two years ago (for her Doja Cat collaboration Kiss Me More) 2024 was well and truly SZA’s year â she stole the night with nine nominations, and three wins.
“I’m sorry, I’m out of breath because I was changing, and then I had a shot, and then I ran here,” she said after collecting the trophy for Best R&B Song. As she reflected on performing for tiny crowds in the early days of her career alongside peers like Lizzo, the star became emotional. “You don’t really understand… I came really really far. I can’t believe that this is happening, and it feels very fake. Hi Taylor! I love you!” she declared, as Swift cheered her on. “I’m not an attractive crier. Have a good evening! Bye!”
A live medley of SOS standouts Kill Bill and Snooze was one of the best of the night, opening with a Tarentino-style assassin clambering on top of Phoebe Bridgers’ table and waving a sword around, much to the Boygenius’ member and solo singer’s delight.
Jay-Z sticks it to the Academy
This Jay Z’s Speech At the Grammys Be Toooo CLEAN! 💯
— Shadrack Amonoo Crabe 👁🗨 (@ShadrackAmonooC) February 5, 2024
pic.twitter.com/dHEPDS88c5
While collecting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award last night, Jay-Z scolded the Academy for consistently snubbing Beyoncé in the Album of the Year category. Despite winning a record 32 awards, she has never taken home the top album prize.
“We want y’all to get it right,” he said. “We love y’all, we love y’all, we just want y’all to get it right. At least get it close to right.”
“Obviously it’s subjective because, you know, it’s music, and it’s opinion-based, but some things... I don’t want to embarass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year!” he said. “So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that. The most Grammys, never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work. Some of you are gonna go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in the category. Nah, nah, nah. When I get nervous I tell the truth!”
The rapper’s remarks came as Taylor Swift made history, becoming the first ever musician to win Album of the Year four times.
The Grammys have previously come under fire for being out of step with modern music, and failing to reflect an increasingly global music industry. It has attempted to respond to criticism by doing away with term 'urban' in categories dedicated to music of black origin, and introduced a new category this year: Best African Music Performance. But alas, a first-time Grammy win for the South African amapiano artist Tyla was consigned to the pre-show, and wasn’t televised. Also conspicuously absent: the four rap categories, which didn’t make the broadcast.
Annie Lennox pay fitting tribute to a great
I think our very own Annie Lennox was the only artist at the Grammys to call for a ceasefire after her performance of “Nothing Compares to You”
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) February 5, 2024
pic.twitter.com/tM3fOQOAtW
During a tribute performance to honour the greats we lost this year â including the Pogues’ Shane MacGowan, The Shangri-Las’ Mary Weiss, electronic music pioneer Ryuichi Sakamoto and MC5 founder Wayne Kramer â Annie Lennox sang an emotional rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U. The iconic ballad is originally by Prince, but was made famous by the Irish musician Sinead O’Connor.
The singer died last year aged 56, and left behind a legacy of activism and bravery. Channelling the late artist’s spirit, Lennox addressed politics on a night when most others shied away from them altogether, and called for peace between Israel and Palestine. “Artists for ceasefire!” she shouted at the end of the performance.
