The 2025 Grammys: variations and identical ol’
I’m a day late as a result of I needed to observe the Grammys final evening and speak about them this morning. They have been each the identical and totally different…however the variations have been most necessary.
First, was the concentrate on the LA fires. As a former resident of Pacific Palisades I used to be saddened to study that my former home is gone, together with my entire neighborhood. I used to be extra saddened for the household that purchased it earlier than I moved to Mexico. Whereas they weren’t within the music business – as many individuals who misplaced properties in each the Palisades and Altadena have been – they seemingly misplaced every thing.
So I used to be very completely satisfied to see the Grammys flip themselves so right into a fund raiser for the organizations serving to households, and particularly musicians who typically hire and haven’t any insurance coverage, and even gave a few of their promoting time to companies that misplaced every thing. I cherished the advertisements the place the enterprise homeowners talked to us and have been then joined by a rock star, who pressed the message house.
What else was totally different? Nicely, for one, Taylor Swift didn’t win any awards final evening. Regardless of being nominated in six classes for her album The Tortured Poets Division and the track “Fortnight. ” However, if you happen to have been watching, she was a category act, cheering for the winners, standing for each applause, speaking with different singers, and handing Beyonce’ the award for Greatest Nation Album . Since Swift gained Album of the Yr final yr for Midnight, it was stylish for her to step again and cheer others, even Sabrina Carpenter, who gained within the Greatest Pop Vocal Album for Brief and Candy, ( which I really feel was misplaced – The Tortured Poets Division was gentle years higher in my view).
The Beyonce’ win – nicely deserved – for Cowboy Carter, was totally different. 5 years in the past if you happen to predicted a black lady would win Greatest Nation Album, you’ll have been laughed out of the barroom. I like nation music, however it’s so good to see it transfer out of the pickup- truck-beer-whiskey-she left- me field it has been in (in equity, it has been climbing out of over the previous few years). Artists like Beyonce and Shaboozey convey a recent outlook and themes to one in all America’s music varieties. It does make me recall that Black cowboys have been current within the American West from the mid-Nineteenth century accounting for an estimated 25% of cowboys from the 1860s to Eighties, a minimum of 5,000 people.
It additionally made me take into consideration how the Academy responded to The Weekend’s request that it expanded its range, including over 3,000 girls voting members since 2019, exceeding their authentic aim of including 2,500 girls voting members by 2025. The Academy has elevated its racial range since 2019, with a 65% enhance in individuals of coloration since 2019, together with a 90% enhance in Black or African American members and 100% development in Asian or Pacific Islander voting membership.
There have been many different variations like Charli XCX’s rave celebration on stage with boldface names, Chappell Roan’s very direct criticisms of the file labels for making thousands and thousands on their stars whereas paying them a pittance (though I’m not positive about her princess hat), the publicity given Raye within the Greatest New Artist section which is normally an afterthought, and Doechii’s choice for Greatest Rap Album, solely the third lady to win the consideration in a heavy male setting.
Talking of heavy male setting, it was not there final evening. Nearly all of the televised awards went to girls. Aside from Kendrick Lamar’s wins for Report and Music of the Yr males have been barely seen within the present, because the creativity of the ladies overwhelmed them, a minimum of within the eyes of the Academy voters. (I did like Benson Boone’s flip over the piano – no surprise he wanted a jumpsuit.) My preliminary depend is 14 girls took house main awards in comparison with 7 males. And did you discover the big variety of feminine guitarists within the stage bands, particularly St. Vincent.
What was the identical ol’ factor? Trevor Noah’s internet hosting, which was excellent ,however didn’t stray from the standard mannequin, apart from when he stated that Sabrina Carpenter was funnier than he was and possibly ought to host subsequent yr’s present. The tribute to Quincy Jones, which was fantastic, did remind of earlier tributes. However I nonetheless cherished it. There have been outrageous and flattering outfits, as typical. And it was filled with advertisements, a minimum of within the stream I watched.
The Latin Awards weren’t particularly shocking, a minimum of to me. Shakira within the Greatest Latin Pop Album, Carin Leon for Boca Chueca, Vol1 in the Greatest Musica Mexican Album (not my selection, I’d have picked Chiquis or Peso Pluma), and Rawayana for Greatest Latin Rock Different Album, though I’d have chosen Maintain Me Fed by The Warning.
All in all, the Recording Academy is to be congratulated for a great present with just a few headscratchers, nicely deserved awards throughout, and the dedication of the efficiency to elevating cash for individuals made homeless by the fires. I’m glad I waited a day and watched it.
Patrick O’Heffernan
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