64th Grammy Party | Jon Batiste triumphs, Olivia Rodrigo shines

Make way for the 64th Grammy Awards: rhinestones and glitter, hard-hitting numbers and, above all, talented artists rewarded for their achievements. Music was celebrated in style on Sunday evening. Back to some highlights.

Marissa Groguhe
The Press

The big winners: Jon Batiste, Olivia Rodrigo and Silk Sonic

Musician Jon Batiste was the most cited artist of these Grammy awards, having the opportunity to end the evening with 11 awards. He finally won four times during the pre-gala, notably for the soundtrack of the Pixar film Soul, but above all ended the evening with the greatest honor: the prize for the best album of the year thanks to We Are. Olivia Rodrigo also stood out on Sunday with three victories at the grand gala. It was no surprise to see her take to the stage to receive the Grammy for Best New Artist. The 19-year-old artist, nominated (seven times) for the first time this year, also won the award for best pop vocal album, for sour. She also beat out Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Brandi Carlile and Ariana Grande for Best Pop Solo Performance, thanks to the song. Driver License. The duo formed by Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak, Silk Sonic, also drew their card from the game. The song Leave the Door Open won them three Golden Gramophones (Best Song, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Performance). “In the industry, we call it a clean slate! “, Launched a still funny Anderson.Paak after taking the stage for the second time in the company of Mars.

Other victories of note

If he could have qualified in two rap categories, the Torontonian Drake withdrew from the race for the Grammy awards at the beginning of last winter. Another Torontonian The Weeknd was also not in the evening, having cut ties with the organization after being snubbed in 2021. However, he was nominated three times and rewarded for Hurricane, with Ye and Lil Baby, in the category of best rap/singing collaboration. Tyler, The Creator won the Grammy for Best Rap Album for the awesome Call Me if You Get Lost. The disc starting-over by Chris Stapleton was crowned Best Country Album. The singer-songwriter also delivered a superb performance which earned him a standing ovation during the ceremony. Jazmine Sullivan was also greeted by a standing crowd when she took the stage to receive the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album (for Heaux Tales).

The best of pop music on stage

Even before the first prize of the evening was awarded, three artists had already offered a performance. The duo Silk Sonic opened the ball in the best way. Anderson.Paak and Bruno Mars’ ever-so impactful stage presence proved (once again) how much the coming together of their talents is a blessing for popular music. The young and talented Olivia Rodrigo then performed her gigasuccess Driver License. Reggaeton singer J Balvin, accompanied by Maria Becerra, was next. Later that evening, Lil Nas X (joined by Jack Harlow for Industry Baby) dazzled with a performance worthy of his legendary flamboyance. A superb staging allowed an electrifying moment, in dance and voice. And speaking of legend, the arrival of rapper Nas, backed by a brass ensemble, on the Grammy Awards stage yielded another gripping number. Billie Eilish sang her beautiful Happy Than EverLady Gaga presented songs from the album Love for Sale (on which she sings with Tony Bennett), winner of two awards. Justin Bieber performed the hit Peaches, with Daniel Ceaser and Giveon. HER, Brandi Carlile and Carrie Underwood also had their moments on stage, for an evening featuring all genres of popular music.

An animation at the height

“We made it, people! After a postponement, the Grammy Awards were finally able to take place on Sunday, for the first time in Las Vegas. Just like last year, Trevor Noah was in charge of the animation. “We’re gonna keep people’s name out of our mouth,” he said in his opening number, referencing what Will Smith shouted at comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars last week. previous, after having slapped him live on stage. If the task had been even more complicated last year due to sanitary measures, Trevor Noah maneuvered very well again this year in the evening entertainment of more than three hours, where so many things happen at an intense pace. Fun and lively, he managed to make the evening a little shorter.

Reflection and tributes

In the middle of the evening, a speech by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, was broadcast just before a performance by John Legend. As Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russian attacks, the Head of State asked for everyone’s support for his country. In particular, he indicated that Ukrainian musicians were now playing in hospitals to soothe the injured. Alongside John Legend for the number that followed, precisely, Ukrainian artists: singer Mika Newton and Lyuba Yakimchuktune, a poet who fled her country only a few days ago, who read a few words about the singer’s music. Half an hour before the end of the evening, when the moment should have been allocated to a (cancelled) performance by the Foo Fighters, we instead paid tribute to the band’s drummer, Taylor Hawkins, who died on March 25. The Foo Fighters also won the golden gramophones for best rock album for Medicine at Midnightof the best rock song for Waiting on a War and Best Rock Performance for making a fire.