Grammys 2020

The 64th annual Grammys were held this past Sunday on January 26th. They were hosted the second time in the row by New York Singer Alicia Keyes. I watched the award show and can honestly give my best opinion about it. The Grammys are a supposed to be a prestigious award show that recognizes music over the past year, but overall the years it has not been very promising. This year I feel like it was not as entertaining and the award recipients were given to the wrong people. I do not know why the Grammys keep going with this system, as it loses their credibility. They were a few good highlights from the show that I might recognize as well. To further explain my point, here is a rundown of the entire show.

Award Winners

This one is what really got me about the show. Some of the recipients of these awards were not deserving like Lizzo for example. Lizzo is a pop singer who came to rise with her song “Truth Hurts” earlier this year. She won the award for Best Pop/Solo Performance and I feel like many others had a better pop song that culturally shifted this year. Another one was when Billie Ellish won a total of five Grammys, half of which I feel like she did not deserve. Best New Artist is what she really deserved, but Album, Record and Song of the year? No. I agree Billie Eilish has a lot of accomplishments music wise this year, but she has only been famous for over a year. She does not deserve a Grammy already over many artists who have been famous longer who do not have Grammys at all. Another one was Best Rap album that went to Tyler, The Creator, which was definitely a category that was robbed. Even though I do not really listen to Tyler, The Creator, his album did not deserve to win against other choices in that category such as DreamVille, Meek Mill,etc. The only awards that I was satisfied with was Best Rap Song that went to J.Cole & 21 Savage for their song “A lot,” & Best Rap/Song Performance that went to Dj Khaled, John Legend and the late Nipsey Hussle in his honor, for their song “We Go Higher.”

Performances

The performances were okay and there were some that impressed me and some that did not. Tyler, The Creator’s and Lizzo’s performance were not very creative to me and kind of boring as they used a playback to both of their songs. The rest of the performances were better than those two but average. Lil Nas X performed with a array of guest to remix his #1 song “Old Town Road,” with guest Young Thug, Diplo, Mason Ramsey & New York City Rapper Nas. Billie Ellish performed her hit “when the party’s over” with her brother & producer Finneas. It was a typical and regular and nothing astounding performance. Alicia Keyes inspired us with a heartwarming and touching song to uplift everyone as they were held on the news of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant’s passing. Ariana Grande were also giving us a decent performance of her hit song “7 Rings.” Demi Lovato also made a return to the Grammy stage by performing a song about her drug experiences and how she battled it a year ago , and now she has come a long way.

The best performances to me of the night was the Nipsey Hussle tribute that was led by a star-studded line of musical guest: Dj Khaled, Meek Mill, Roddy Rich, John Legend & Kirk Franklin. It was very beautiful and heartwarming since Nipsey family was there as well. The other was a performance to encourage musical education in schools that was led by Common, Camila Cabello and etc. They were bringing awareness of certain schools cutting art or music class is not okay.

Tributes

They also gave a slideshow and paying tribute to all lost musicians and Grammy workers of the year. Juice Wrld and Nipsey were recognized most musically as well as other professional behind-the-scene Grammy workers.

Overall, if I have to give a grade for the Grammys, it’s a C-. The Grammys need to stop following their system of nominating all these artists and giving it to the ones that have not culturally shifted music in the past year. Ever since 2016, when Kendrick Lamar GKMC lost Best Rap Album to Macklemore, The Grammys have been losing credibility and authenticity. They have to do something in their system to change it to make sure it is being recognizable to all musical talent in the industry.