28.5 million people became couch potatoes overwhelmed by controversy, bizarre collaborations and nervy, limit-pushing performances last Sunday night as the 56th Annual Grammy Awards aired on CBS. The 2014 Grammy Ceremony was filled with all the outrageous attractions you would usually expect but as always, there were several spectacles audiences were not prepared for.
Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z kicked off the show with “Drunk In Love,” one of the songs off her surprise self-titled album, which dropped this past December. While Beyoncé’s empowering vocal abilities sourced immediate attention at the rigor of her initial lyric, it wasn’t just her singing that had all of America enthralled by her performance. Viewers watched Beyoncé outlandishly roll around the Grammy stage, rebounding back and forth between the stage floor and a single chair engulfed in profusely thick fog and discontinuous lights. Decorated head to toe in, well, almost nothing, this dance was no “Single Ladies.” Queen Bey, dressed in a thong body suit, began her Grammy performance by straddling a chair, and proceeded to frolic around the stage until Jay-Z, accompanied her for his small part in “Drunk In Love.”
Parents are fired up demanding that children should not have to be censored from national award shows, and fans reflected on her performance just as resoundingly.
Parents took to twitter, claiming they felt compelled to shield their children ‘s eyes during the performance and that the raunchiness of public ceremonies has begun to overwhelm audiences and overshadow the motive for these shows. Beyonce seductively gyrated her way out of the chair and into a standing position, displaying her scantily clad backside while belting out her lyrics into the microphone.
As with most controversial exploits, the public both praised and criticized Beyoncé’s performance. Her loyal fan base rushed to defend Queen Bey, claiming her performance was “inspiring.” Others expressed feelings of disappointment and confusion — one fan tweeted, “Beyoncé can twerk and dance dirty on stage [but] oh if Miley does it she’s such a horrible person.”
On a different note, America witnessed Daft Punk dominate the show, taking home five awards.
The French duo won Album and Record of the Year, for “Random Access Memories,” released last May, and “Get Lucky,” respectively. Garbed in their signature robot helmets and tuxedos, the duo was humbled to receive the award as renowned producer Pharrell Williams, who co-wrote and sang on “Get Lucky,” graciously gave thanks for the awards on behalf of the mute robots.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won a total of four awards and ruffled a few feathers with their performance of “Same Love.”
During the wonderfully-executed performance, roughly 30 different couples of varying ethnicities and sexual orientations joined hands to solidify their unions by marrying on national television. Queen Latifah officiated the marriages before iconic artist and performer Madonna revealed herself to the Grammy stage.
The Queen of Pop paraded the stage in a white tuxedo and matching cowboy hat to lead a gospel-esque version of Mackelmore and Lewis’ love equality anthem “Open Your Heart.”
Conservatives reacted in fury, claiming the enactment was a hindrance to conventional beliefs. American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer said on his anti-gay radio show, “If you care about children, this thing ought to appall you because gay marriage is bad for children. In fact, same-sex parenting … is a form of child abuse.”
While many would argue the equality occurrence on Sunday night as being heart-warming and a solid indication of America’s progress, countless others were insulted by the performance.
Lorde followed the controversial performance and blew in like a storm, whisking over the ceremony and winning two awards herself.
The New Zealand native is only 17 years old and recently became the youngest artist in over 25 years to top the Billboard Hot 100 list. Before obtaining awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for the fan-favorite track “Royals,” Lorde led a pitch perfect performance that was identical to her recorded vocals.
Lorde has seen a 19 percent gain in album sales for “Pure Heroine,” which dropped this past September, since her Grammy debut. Lorde is a fresh addition to our current music scene. With undeniable edge, Lorde generates a new melodic flair and style that both young and older audiences generations enjoy.
Icons Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited to implement a historic concert Beatles fans will forever cherish and certainly never forget.
It has been quite some time, but the two surviving Beatles got by with a little help from their friends, and together seized a performance the world was unsure they would ever see again. Like old times McCartney graced a psychedelic piano while Starr played the drums, and the two rocked out as though no time had passed. Performing “Queenie Eye” from Macca’s latest album “New,” the band mates dominated an upbeat set. They concluded by joining hands in acknowledgment of their passion for music and, of course, old time’s sake.
From thong clad dancing to iron clad friendship, the 56th Annual Grammy Awards was an ceremony like no other. We can only hope this year brings just as much creativity and talent to the musical playing field as last.
