I usually think the Grammys are superficial, and they don’t really determine the worth of an individual’s art. I think of the Grammys as something that turns a person’s art into a product. This year’s show provided a platform for empowerment. This year, it was hosted in LA, raising money for fire relief for the city. It was strange seeing millionaires and billionaires asking for donations. However, beyond that, there was an overwhelming community of support as many groundbreaking artists were given a platform to speak at a seemingly dystopic time. We have entered 2025 needing an absolute ‘Femininomenon,’ and my prayers have been answered.
Ok, so I got a little bit of a late start watching the Grammys this year because I had to combat a few paywalls and find out how to get cable from Pierce Dining Hall. I ended up missing Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter’s performances. Realizing I missed Billie resulted in a severe crash out, but I was inevitably soothed by spotting Troye Sivan in the crowd for five seconds. I realized that there would be a ton of time left to still see Billie win… Right?
When I finally got logged in, more awards were announced. A lot of the artists used their speeches to address big issues. History was made with Doechii winning best rap album, an award only previously won by two women. Sabrina Carpenter won her first Grammy for her album Short n’ Sweet, later also winning for the song “Espresso.” I was personally really excited to see Chappell Roan sing “Pink Pony Club,” a love letter to LA and an embrace of Identity. It had a new meaning when I heard a huge crowd sing a song like that, as rights were actively taken away in the country. She later won Best New Artist, winning her first Grammy and speaking out about the mistreatment of young musicians. She discussed the importance of healthcare and support, especially for the youth. Saying, “Labels, we got you. But do you got us?” confronting the corruption evident in the recording academy and the industry.
Shakira won Best Latin pop album and dedicated the award to immigrants in the country. Beyonce won Best Country Album and later won Album of the Year. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars won the best duo, and Gaga spoke in honor of the Trans people everywhere. Alicia Keys commended female producers and discussed the importance of diversity in art. She says in her speech, “DEI is not a threat; it’s a gift.” She vocalized the importance of diversity. Saying, “Music is the unstoppable language that connects us all.” Charli XCX walked with supermodel Alex Consani, who was performing “Von Dutch,” onto the stage to perform “Guess.” Kendrick Lamar won for “Not Like Us” five times, which was iconic but seriously surprised me. Billie Eilish not winning anything tonight did not sit well with me at all because Hit Me Hard and Soft is one million percent her best work, but I can write another article about this topic later.
I was excited to see Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith when they announced. I was also super excited to see a live performance by the band Khruangbin, who was nominated for Best New Artist. I’ve been listening to them for years, so I was really excited to see them. There was also a memorial performance for the late Quincy Jones, remarking on his career and the impact he has had on the success of other artists. The show also did a memorial for Liam Payne, followed by a song in honor of many musicians who passed this year. I was greatly impacted by the death of Steve Albini, and seeing him mentioned made me incredibly emotional. The memorial was actually super sad, but I thought it was executed with honor.
There was a significant call for togetherness during this year’s Grammys, which separated the superficial elements of the awards. I am hoping music in the future behaves as a catalyst for the changes artists call for. I typically think that awards are redundant, but this year’s show was a needed example of speaking out and the importance of unity.
