Beyoncé mit ihrem 28. Grammy.
© dpa
Los Angeles – With a record total of 28 awards, US singer Beyoncé has risen to become Queen of the Grammys – and at the same time celebrated the very first prize for her nine-year-old daughter Blue Ivy. “I know my daughter is watching. Blue – Congratulations, ”said Beyoncé at the nearly four-hour, live televised gala on Monday night in Los Angeles. “I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud to be your mom. ”Blue Ivy Carter and her mom won Best Music Video for“ Brown Skin Girl ”. Beyoncé also won three other Grammys, winning more awards than any other woman in Grammy history.
📽️ Video | Beyoncé at the Grammys
The 39-year-old, who had entered the gala as the favorite with nine nominations, won the 28th award in the “Best R&B Performance” category for “Black Parade”. “I’m so honored and excited,” said the singer. It is a “magical night”. So far, the US bluegrass singer Alison Krauss had held the women’s record with her 27 Grammys. The Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti, who died in 1997, collected the largest number of Grammys, namely 31.
Prizes also at Swift, Eilish and Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion ist die beste Newcomerin.
© KEVIN MAZUR
All other prizes in the royal categories at this year’s gala went to women: Taylor Swift won the “Folklore” award for “Album of the Year” – and thanked the fans and her friend Joe Alwyn. “I had the best time writing songs with you in quarantine.” It was her third win in this category. Last year’s winner Billie Eilish received the Grammy for “Recording of the Year” for “Everything I Wanted” – even if the singer would have preferred to see this award from the also nominated rapper Megan Thee Stallion. “Megan, you deserve it,” said Eilish. “You had an incomparable year.”
The rapper won the “Best New Artist” award and two more for “Savage”, her collaboration with Beyoncé. “We really have a hell of a year behind us, but we made it through there,” said the musician – and then caused a stir because, together with colleague Cardi B., she was lascivious and lightly dressed around a gigantic high-heeled shoe and a huge one Danced around bed. “Wow, wow, wow,” commented moderator Trevor Noah. “This is madness.”
Megan Thee Stallion und Cardi B sorgten mit ihrem Auftritt für Aufsehen.
© KEVIN WINTER
The 13,000 members of the Recording Academy also chose women in other important categories: Dua Lipa takes home the award for the best pop song album (“Future Nostalgia”), the Grammy for the best pop duo performance went to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande (“Rain on Me”). The musician Harry Styles, who performed with a feather boa and bare torso and later also received the award for “Best Pop Performance”, received a lot of cheers.
Corona-compliant gala
The live gala was heavily influenced by the corona pandemic: the performances and award ceremonies took place on different stages, some in the open air. In the audience, there were only very few invited guests, mostly the musicians and their accompaniment, with masks decorated in a fancy way and at tables set far apart. Several prizes were presented by representatives of music clubs from various US cities, some of which have not been able to open for months. The stars from the music industry who died last year were remembered more extensively than usual – some of them also after being infected with the virus.
Taylor Swift nahm den Preis für das beste Album entgegen.
© KEVIN MAZUR
The music “touched our lives and saved our souls” during the pandemic, said presenter and comedian Noah. “If you haven’t been to a concert in a long time, neither have I – but we’re bringing the concerts to you now.” The Grammys should bring people together, “as only music can – and vaccinations”. “After a year of all of us zooming in and out, it’s great to be here – great to be anywhere at all,” said former Beatles singer Ringo Starr, who presented an award.
“President Biden, we demand justice”
In addition to the pandemic, the protests against racism in the USA, which were heated up in a brutal police operation last summer after the death of the African American George Floyd, played a role at the gala again and again. “This fight that we had in us in summer 2020? Let’s keep this energy, ”urged the singer HER after receiving the award in the“ Song of the Year ”category for her anthem“ I Can’t Breathe ”, written in response to the protests. During a performance by rapper Lil Baby, activist Tamika Mallory also addressed US President Joe Biden directly: “President Biden, we demand justice.”
📽️ Video | HER at the Grammys
The Grammys are among the most coveted music awards in the world. The 63rd award ceremony should originally have taken place at the end of January, but was postponed to March due to the worsening corona situation in Los Angeles. Around 13,000 members of the Recording Academy decide on the winners in more than 80 categories. German Grammy hopes were not fulfilled: For example, the pianist Igor Levit had to admit defeat to the US violist Richard O’Neill with his recording of the complete Beethoven sonatas in the “Best Classical Instrumental Solo” category.
The Weeknd boycotted gala
The gala was overshadowed by long-lasting debates about transparency and diversity in the award of prizes. The Canadian singer The Weeknd – who was one of the most successful musicians at the moment, but was not nominated – had already announced in advance that he would boycott the Grammys in the future. The musician Zayn Malik, who was also not nominated, had also criticized the Grammys for a lack of transparency and diversity – and responded via Twitter during the award ceremony: The progress made so far has not been enough. “I’m keeping the pressure on,” Malik wrote. “We have to make sure we honor and celebrate everyone’s creative quality.” (dpa)