The Best and Worst of the 2024 Grammy Awards
I have had a few days to collect my thoughts so now, here's my in depth recap of the Grammys. Enjoy.
Best - Tracy Chapman's performance of 'Fast Car' with Luke Combs
In a rare appearance at the Grammys, Tracy Chapman performed her hit song 'Fast Car' with Luke Combs. The song was originally released in 1988 as the lead single from Chapman's self-titled debut studio album. It earned the singer a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy in 1989. In 2023, Luke Combs released a version of the song on his album "Gettin' Old."
Worst - boygenius wins Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song
As I said on my Instagram, "rock has officially died". How such a boring tune, that was copied from a Sheryl Crowe song, by the way, beat out the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Metallica, even Paramore and Arctic Monkeys, is beyond me. How many times do they repeat the same lyric? "Always an angel, never a god"...repetition is not creative. Phoebe Bridgers has the most boring voice to accompany boring songs and I will die on this hill. I think she is overrated and I will never understand the hype. Plus, she wasn't good enough to win a Grammy solo so she roped those two other musicians to make a "supergroup", two musicians I'd never heard of beforehand by the way. The Recording Academy should be ashamed of themselves. Do they even know what rock is?
Best -Miley Cyrus' performance and winning her first Grammy
Miley gave a killer performance of 'Flowers' with a Tina Turner homage in the mix. She has been long overdue for that Grammy. I personally believe "Plastic Hearts" deserved all the flowers (pun intended), but "Endless Summer Vacation" was a big step for Miley lyrically. She has one of the greatest voices of a young female singer as well.
Check out my piece on "Plastic Hearts": https://www.thehotchildinthecity.com/post/plastic-hearts
Worst - Taylor Swift proving the Grammys are a scam
So, if Taylor hadn't won any Grammys on Sunday, would she still have announced her new album? Or did she know that she would be winning...ahead of time? And all her reactions were...fake? The surprise face...let's not go there. That is a conspiracy I heard when she announced her "Midnights" album at the 2022 VMAs. Just some food for thought. Also, I'm quoting my friend Meghan when I say how did Taylor win best pop vocal when Miley Cyrus and Kelly Clarkson are in the category? Period, Meghan.
Worst - SZA and Olivia Rodrigo's violent performances
(A much more appropriate performance, plus show's Olivia's piano skills!)
Before I dive in, some positives. SZA had a very theatrical performance with all the dancers and set pieces, but it was giving Broadway not Grammys. I will praise Olivia for the minimal stage set up, just a band behind her, how it should be...but then....the blood splattered. I'm not being sensitive when I say these performances need trigger warnings. SZA's performance of 'Kill Bill' was just straight up violence and I'm all for artistic expression but that song is literally glorifying killing someone and playing it off like "I'm just a quirky girl. So relatable".
NO IT'S NOT. Take Taylor Swift's 'no body, no crime'. That is storytelling not "oops, I did a thing". I will praise SZA's vocals, her amazing melodic shifts and musical arrangements. But this song is a lyrical disaster. And acting out stabbings on stage was tasteless. And Olivia, at least her's was a little more tame but still unnecessary in my opinion. Yes, I know the song's called 'vampire' but having her covered in blood, just seemed lazy. Showing not telling. Also, just because your song is in lowercase, doesn't make it better and her voice is a cursive nightmare.
Tie - Jay-Z's speech
He made some good points about the Recording Academy's metric system, referencing how wife Beyoncé has the most Grammy wins of all time yet never won Album of the Year. He didn't have to drag his daughter on stage who was just standing there awkwardly throughout the entirety of his speech. Also, why do we have an award named after abuser Dr. Dre? Dr. Dre has been accused of multiple incidents of violence against women so it feels really disrespectful that the Recording Academy named their Global Impact Award after him.
Worst - Lizzo's appearance
Also in poor taste was having Lizzo present an award while she currently is in the middle of a lawsuit for sexual harassment. She and her team are also being accused of body shaming and overworking her dancers.
Worst - Taylor Swift Fan Cam
We get it, there are a lot of Swifties watching at home. Me included. But did we need her reaction for every award and every performance? This isn't a football game for God's sake.
Best - Annie Lennox and Stevie Wonder's In Memoriam performances
Worst - Billie Eilish making another cringe speech about how she doesn't deserve her win
In 2020 she pleaded "please don't let it be me" before winning Album of the Year. Then, as she graced the stage to accept one of five Grammys she won that night she apologized and claimed she didn't deserve the awards. This year she said, "Yikes. Damn that's stupid" after winning Song of the Year. My thoughts exactly. It was cringy to watch her diminish her own success in my opinion. When Lady Gaga won her Oscar for "A Star is Born" she said she got to that point in her career through hard work. Billie was just a teen in 2020, so now after 9 Grammy wins and 1 Oscar win, and honestly probably a second at this year's ceremony, can she stop the self-deprecating act already?
Worst - Lana Del Rey got snubbed...AGAIN
I'll never forgive the academy for snubbing 'Norman F**king Rockwell!" my favorite Lana album, and now they've done it again with "Did You Know that There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd." Lana bared her soul in that album. Take a look at the lyrics of 'A&W', 'Fingertips'. She's come such a long way but no let's give Taylor her fourteenth win and give Lana zip. Also, how cringe was it when Taylor brought Lana on stage against her will?
Check out my review of "Ocean Blvd.": https://www.thehotchildinthecity.com/post/did-you-know-that-there-s-a-tunnel-under-ocean-blvd-review
Check out my piece on "NFR": https://www.thehotchildinthecity.com/post/nfr-a-tribute-to-laurel-canyon
Best - U2
What can I say? It's U2! And the Edge's guitar solo? *Chef's kiss*
Worst: Midnights winning Album of the Year
"Midnights" was mid. It's in the name. In comparison to all her other Album of the Year wins, "1989", "folklore" and "Fearless" that were so out of the box for her (a genre shift, 'Love Story', a lyrical masterpiece), "Midnights" is trash. Of course there are a few bops but it's nothing new we've heard from her. It's another basic pop album, which is fine, but not Album of the Year worthy. Maybe this was damage control for "reputation" not being nominated?
This video from the Swiftologist maps it out perfectly:
Check out my "Midnights" review: https://www.thehotchildinthecity.com/post/midnights-doesn-t-hold-up-in-the-light-of-day
Best - Paramore win's Best Rock Album
Well deserved. "This is Why" was EPIC! It's so great that I literally could not pick a favorite track!
Check out my review: https://www.thehotchildinthecity.com/post/this-is-why-i-love-this-album
Best - Brandi Carlile's introduction
The way that Brandi talks about Joni is nothing short of poetic. The respect, the gratitude, the partnership. Her and Joni's collabs are fantastic including the Newport Folk Festival performance that earned Joni a Grammy on Sunday!
Best - Joni Mitchell's first Grammy performance (plus her win for Best Folk Album!)
No thoughts. Just Joni. I cried. That is all.
Worst - Jack Antonoff
Somebody stop this man.