64th Annual Grammy Awards | Ukrainian president asks for help for his country during a speech

(Las Vegas) Eclectic jazzman Jon Batiste and young pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo confirmed their status as favorites on Sunday at the 64^and edition of the Grammy Awards, equivalent of the Oscars for American music.

The ceremony, moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas due to the pandemic, opened in the early evening with an energetic performance by the group Silk Sonic.

Fine mustache for Bruno Mars, disconcerting bowl wig reminiscent of Mireille Mathieu for Anderson. Paak, the two men at the heart of this retro project returned to the stage a little later to receive the coveted “song of the year” award. The Grammy awarded to the title Leave the Door Open was their third of the day after two wins in the R&B category.

They capped Olivia Rodrigo on the post, thus deprived of her chance to repeat the feat of Billie Eilish, darling of the Grammy Awards who had won the prizes in 2020 in the four major categories.

Olivia Rodrigo, 19, however triumphed in that of the “revelation of the year”, where she was ultra-favorite. And she was crowned at a ceremony preceding the gala evening “best solo pop performance” for her title drivers licensewinning against Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande and Brandi Carlile.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky intervened at the ceremony via a recorded speech to ask for support from his country. ” The war. What is the exact opposite of music? The silence of cities in ruins and people killed”, he launched, dressed in his usual khaki t-shirt, before a performance by John Legend, joined on stage by Ukrainian artists, Mika Newton and Lyuba Yakimchukt.

The big favorite of the evening with 11 nominations in total, the talented jazzman Jon Batiste, has already won – during the pre-gala – four Grammys, including that for the music of the animated film “Soul” which had won him an Oscar. last year.

Virtuoso pianist, very popular orchestra conductor thanks to a television show, composer and anti-racist activist, Jon Batiste, 35, defends his album at the Grammy Awards We Are and the title Freedom in the major categories, but it competes in almost every style (R&B, jazz, classical, etc.)

Canadian megastar Justin Bieber, social media darling, is nominated in eight categories, as are Grammy darling HE R. and rising star Doja Cat, at this ceremony hosted by comedian Trevor Noah.

“Best Rap Song” for Kanye

With six nominations, the improbable duo formed by pop diva Lady Gaga and crooner Tony Bennett, aged 95 and absent from the evening because he suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, could create a surprise with the cover album love for sale.

The whimsical Kanye West is also in the running with his album donda. Two titles from his disc have already won awards on Sunday afternoon in the rap category, Hurricane and jailGrammy for “best rap song”.

In the major category of album of the year, Kanye West will face Evermore of popstar Taylor Swift, who has bad memories of a previous meeting: “Ye” had rudely snatched the microphone from her hands in 2009 when she went on stage to receive an award at the MTV Music Awards.

Among rappers, we noted the absence of Drake, very influential and among the most listened to. He was selected, asked the Academy to withdraw both of his nominations, without providing a reason. His hit album Certified Lover Boy had been royally ignored in the generalist categories during the nominations and the artist has often accused the Grammy Academy of confining him to the category of rappers because he is black.

On the rock side, the Foo Fighters have won the three awards for which they were in the running, a week after the sudden death of their drummer Taylor Hawkins in Colombia, shortly before a concert.

The group of Dave Grohl, the ex-drummer of Nirvana, received the Grammys for best rock album, best rock song and best rock performance.

The explosives Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, who ignited the Grammy stage last year by rubbing against each other, legs spread on a giant bed for a duet on the tube WAPwill this time be opponents in the “best rap performance” category.

BTS, sacred monster of K-pop, will defend its global success Butter but it is his only nomination for the Grammy Awards, where the South Korean group is struggling to establish itself.

And Kanye West? As named, he was invited into the room, but he is no longer welcome on stage. In question, attacks on social networks against comedian Pete Davidson, in a relationship with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, and Trevor Noah which earned “Ye” a brief suspension from Instagram.

Trevor Noah spoke out against the decision to exclude him from the evening.