Ariana Grande wins first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album

LOS ANGELES - Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album "Sweetener," topping a tough field including perennial favorite Taylor Swift.

Grande's Grammy comes after 6 career nominations but the star was notably absent from this year's gala.

Just days before the event, she slammed the ceremony's producer for "lying" about her decision not to perform on music's biggest night.

The chart-topper released her fifth album "Thank U, Next" before lashing out at producer Ken Ehrlich after he told US media the 25-year-old Grande "felt it was too late for her to pull something together."

"i know i’m not there tonight (trust, i tried and still truly wished it had worked out tbh) and i know i said i try not to put too much weight into these things .... but (...) this is wild and beautiful. thank you so much," she tweeted.

Grande had great success in the last 12 months, with Billboard naming her its 2018 Woman of the Year.

But she was passed over in the top Grammy categories of Album, Record and Song of the Year -- though her smash hit "Thank U, Next," the title song off her new album, dropped after this year's nomination deadline.

"Sweetener" includes her signature blend of pop and R&B with inflections of hip-hop, all set to the star's wide-ranging, silky-yet-breathy vocals.

It features appearances from Pharrell Williams, Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott, and debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart while boasting 3 top singles.

Grande makes headlines as much for her chart-topping music as her love life, having dated the late rapper Mac Miller and shortly thereafter getting engaged to "Saturday Night Live" comedian Pete Davidson.

Grande and Davidson split in October 2018, just before she released "Thank U, Next" -- in which she reflects on lessons learned from past loves.

She was also nominated this year for Best Pop Solo Performance for "God Is A Woman," but lost out to Lady Gaga, who won for her song "Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Going?)"

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Cardi B steals Grammys red carpet pre-show with oysters and pearls

LOS ANGELES -- Rain did little to dim the sizzle on the Grammys red carpet on Sunday in Los Angeles as a bevy of artists in sparkling, eye-popping attire stepped down the music world's main catwalk -- or, in Cardi B's case, tip-toed.

The rapper, surrounded by handlers, took tiny steps down the red carpet as her pearl-encrusted costume seemed to get the best of her.

Was she Venus rising from the sea or a pearl inside an oyster Ankle-binding black velvet encased the singer's lower half. But at the hips arose a massive pink fabric fan, like a clam shell. To top it off, Cardi B accessorized with pink princess gloves and a pearl headdress as she posed and pouted for the cameras.

Even Lady Gaga, not known for being demure when it comes to red carpet fashion statements, looked pale by comparison in her silver metallic dress.

Some of the artists seemed to have received a memo demanding "more volume, please."

Rapper Tierra Whack brought out the "wow" factor with a flowing, multicolored feathered cape worthy of Liberace, while Tayla Parx was encased in Barbie pink, her orange hairdo peeking out of a voluminous coat and dress covered with what appeared to be thousands of bits of fabric tabs.

Bebe Rexha sported a bright scarlet gown with layer upon layer of tulle and a train that looked dangerously trippable. Ahead of the show, the singer had taken to Instagram complaining about an unnamed designer who refused to dress her due to her not being "runway size."

"We are beautiful any size! Small or large!" she wrote. "My size 8 ass is still going to the Grammys."

"Havana" singer Camila Cabello sported a backless gown of form-fitting fuchsia rhinestones, while Lee Ann Womack showed off a low-cut bodice trimmed in rhinestones and a sparkly bow at the waist: "This is not my first rodeo," said the country singer.

Sequins were the choice of Hawaiian artist Kalani Pe'a, who brought some sparkle under the tents with a grape-colored sequin jacket.

South Korean boy band "BTS", in their first appearance at the Grammys, looked conservative in traditional tuxedos despite some of the seven members' green and pink hair. Also in somber black were the Backstreet Boys, the US band who said they are nearing 26 years together.

GIRL POWER AND BORDER WALLS

Politics and social issues, such as the #MeToo movement, were once gain talking points on the red carpet.

Many of the female nominees said it was important for young women to see them at the awards show, and come away inspired.

"I want young women to see me ... come and take my place, win an award," said producer and DJ TokiMonsta, who wore an array of "Girl" barrettes in her hair.

A pregnant Margo Price, wearing a flowing red chiffon dress with silver stars at the bodice, saluted the Grammys for including more female artists. "Women always have to work twice as hard as men," she said.

Singer Joy Villa, who wore a "Make America Great Again" dress to the awards two years ago -- a reference to US President Donald Trump's campaign slogan -- did not shy away from controversy this year, with a silver dress adorned with barbed wire and spokes: the Border Wall dress.

When the singer turned for the crush of photographers, the words "Build the Wall," were seen on the back.

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Rap scores Grammy breakthrough while girl power rules awards show

LOS ANGELES -- "This is America," Childish Gambino's searing indictment of police brutality and racism, scored a breakthrough for rap on Sunday at the Grammy awards, where the top prize went to country artist Kacey Musgraves.

It won both record and song of the year, becoming the first hip hop track to win either of the top Grammy categories in 61 years. "This is America" also took Grammys for best music video and best rap performance.

However, Childish Gambino, the music alter ego of actor Donald Glover, was not around to accept the honor.

Both Glover and leading nominee Kendrick Lamar were Grammy no-shows in what was seen as a snub by the rappers for past disappointments when socially incisive rap material lost out to pop or R&B at the highest honors in the music business.

"I really wish he (Glover) was here right now. All of this was his vision and he deserves this credit," said songwriter Ludwig Goransson, who worked with Glover on the track.

"It speaks to people, it calls out injustice, celebrates life and reunites us all at the same time," Goransson said, accepting the award on Glover's behalf.

The album of the year Grammy went to Musgraves for "Golden Hour," reflecting a show and a year that was dominated by female performers and winners across multiple genres.

"I would have nothing without songs. It's all about the songs," said Musgraves, who also won three other Grammys.

SPRINGING A SURPRISE

Popular rapper Cardi B, who wore a black and silver mesh body suit to perform her song "Money," won her first Grammy, taking best rap album for "Invasion of Privacy."

The outspoken New Yorker seemed uncharacteristically overwhelmed by the win.

"Ooh. The nerves are so bad," she said, accepting her Grammy. "Maybe I need to start smoking weed."

Lady Gaga won three trophies and British pop singer Dua Lipa was named best new artist. Canadian rapper Drake, who was also not expected to show up, made a surprise appearance to accept the Grammy for best rap song for "God's Plan."

Drake, the biggest streaming artist of 2018, told musicians not to worry about winning prizes.

"The point is you've already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you're a hero in your hometown," Drake said in his acceptance speech.

"If there's people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain and the snow and spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don't need this right here, I promise you," he said.

Music, old and new, ruled in a live telecast that was largely politics-free, in contrast to U.S. awards shows in the past two years.

Hosted by Alicia Keys, the show featured rousing performances by Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Diana Ross, Camila Cabello, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monae and Katy Perry, as well as a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.

The Grammys sprang another surprise by bringing on former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama for an opening segment in which she joined Lady Gaga, Keys, Lopez and actress Jada Pinkett Smith to talk about the power of music.

"From the Motown records I wore out on the (Chicago) Southside to the 'Who Run the World' songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story," Obama told the cheering celebrity audience in Los Angeles.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl defends Grammy speech

LOS ANGELES -- Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl was forced to defend his Grammy acceptance speech on Friday after numerous fans and critics interpreted his words as a critique of modern pop music.



"I love music. I love ALL kinds of music...Electronic or acoustic, it doesn't matter to me," Grohl said.

"The simple act of creating music is a beautiful gift that ALL human beings are blessed with. And the diversity of one musician's personality to the next is what makes music so exciting and ... human," added the "Walk" singer.

While the Foo Fighters won five awards at last Sunday's Grammy Awards, it was Grohl's acceptance speech for their best rock performance win that stirred viewers after the singer/songwriter said their latest album, "Wasting Light," "shows that the human element of music is what's important."

"Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that's the most important thing for people to do. It's not about being perfect, it's not about sounding absolutely correct, it's not about what goes on in a computer. It's about what goes on in here and what goes on in here," the singer had said on Sunday.

Critics slammed Grohl's comments with LA Weekly's Dennis Romero calling them "wrong on so many levels," citing the singer's former band, Nirvana's "decidedly retro style ... endeared it to pop writers and music executives."

Grohl, who performed with electronica-dance DJ Deadmau5 at the Grammys on Sunday, defended his comments saying he was criticizing the digital enhancement of fixing or perfecting music as removing "the human element" and not the pop or electronic-dance music genres.

"That thing that happens when a song speeds up slightly, or a vocal goes a little sharp. That thing that makes people sound like PEOPLE. Somewhere along the line those things became "bad" things, and with the great advances in digital recording technology over the years they became easily "fixed," said the singer on Friday.

"A lot of music that sounds perfect, but lacks personality. The one thing that makes music so exciting in the first place."

source: interaksyon.com

Nicki Minaj, Foo Fighters to perform at Grammys

LOS ANGELES - Rapper Nicki Minaj will make her debut Grammy performance next month, joining Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars and country singer Jason Aldean on the list of artists who will take to the stage on the recording industry's biggest night.

Grammy organizers said on Thursday that Minaj, who has four Grammy nominations, will perform at the February 12 awards show, as well as country sensation Taylor Swift, and Kelly Clarkson.

But there was no official word on Thursday on whether Britain's Adele, whose album "21" was the biggest seller of 2011, will be singing at the Grammys following surgery on her vocal cords in November.

Adele, who has been on doctor-ordered vocal rest since November, was not among the first list of Grammy performers. But the 23 year-old "Someone Like You" singer was listed on Thursday as being down to sing at the BRIT music awards ceremony in London on February 21.

Rapper Kanye West, who leads this year's Grammys with seven nominations, is also yet to be confirmed as a performer at the live awards show in Los Angeles.

Organizers said additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. –Reuters

source:gmanetwork.com