The 2025 Grammys: variations and similar ol’
I’m a day late as a result of I wished to look at the Grammys final night time and discuss them this morning. They had been each the identical and totally different…however the variations had been most necessary.
First, was the give attention to the LA fires. As a former resident of Pacific Palisades I used to be saddened to be taught 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 trade – as many individuals who misplaced properties in each the Palisades and Altadena had been – they possible misplaced every little thing.
So I used to be very blissful to see the Grammys flip themselves so right into a fund raiser for the organizations serving to households, and particularly musicians who usually lease and haven’t any insurance coverage, and even gave a few of their promoting time to companies that misplaced every little thing. I liked the advertisements the place the enterprise house owners talked to us and had 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 night time. Regardless of being nominated in six classes for her album The Tortured Poets Division and the music “Fortnight. ” However, in case you had 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 Finest Nation Album . Since Swift received Album of the Yr final yr for Midnight, it was stylish for her to step again and cheer others, even Sabrina Carpenter, who received within the Finest Pop Vocal Album for Quick and Candy, ( which I really feel was misplaced – The Tortured Poets Division was gentle years higher in my view).
The Beyonce’ win – effectively deserved – for Cowboy Carter, was totally different. 5 years in the past in case you predicted a black girl would win Finest Nation Album, you’d have been laughed out of the barroom. I really 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 contemporary outlook and themes to one among America’s music kinds. It does make me recall that Black cowboys had been current within the American West from the mid-Nineteenth century accounting for an estimated 25% of cowboys from the 1860s to Eighteen Eighties, not less than 5,000 people.
It additionally made me take into consideration how the Academy responded to The Weekend’s request that it expanded its variety, including over 3,000 ladies voting members since 2019, exceeding their unique aim of including 2,500 ladies voting members by 2025. The Academy has elevated its racial variety since 2019, with a 65% enhance in individuals of shade 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 occasion on stage with boldface names, Chappell Roan’s very direct criticisms of the report labels for making tens of millions on their stars whereas paying them a pittance (though I’m not certain about her princess hat), the publicity given Raye within the Finest New Artist phase which is normally an afterthought, and Doechii’s choice for Finest Rap Album, solely the third girl to win the distinction in a heavy male surroundings.
Talking of heavy male surroundings, it was not there final night time. Nearly all of the televised awards went to ladies. Aside from Kendrick Lamar’s wins for Document and Track of the Yr males had been barely seen within the present, because the creativity of the ladies overwhelmed them, not less than 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 ladies 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 same old mannequin, apart from when he stated that Sabrina Carpenter was funnier than he was and perhaps ought to host subsequent yr’s present. The tribute to Quincy Jones, which was great, did remind of earlier tributes. However I nonetheless liked it. There have been outrageous and flattering outfits, as typical. And it was full of advertisements, not less than within the stream I watched.
The Latin Awards weren’t particularly stunning, not less than to me. Shakira within the Finest Latin Pop Album, Carin Leon for Boca Chueca, Vol1 in the Finest Musica Mexican Album (not my selection, I might have picked Chiquis or Peso Pluma), and Rawayana for Finest Latin Rock Various Album, though I might have chosen Maintain Me Fed by The Warning.
All in all, the Recording Academy is to be congratulated for a superb present with just a few headscratchers, effectively 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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