|
 Mars won six Grammys including song of the year for his hit
single "That's What I Like," and both record and album of the
year for "24K Magic."
His win denied rappers Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z the honor of
becoming the first hip-hop artist in 14 years to win the coveted
album of the year award.
"These songs were written with nothing but joy, with love, and
that's all I wanted to bring with this album, seeing everybody
dancing," Mars, 32, said.
He also paid tribute to his album of the year rivals - Jay-Z,
Lamar, Childish Gambino and Lorde - saying: "Thank you, guys,
for blessing the world with your music."
Lamar, 30, regarded as one of the most innovative rappers of his
generation, won five prizes mostly in rap categories for his
album "DAMN." and single "Humble." Rap became the biggest music
genre in the United States in 2017, Nielsen Music reported.
Veteran Jay-Z, whose soul-baring album "4:44" had gone into the
show with a leading eight nominations, won nothing and chose not
to perform at the three-hour show.
The losses by Lamar and Jay-Z in the top categories marked
another year when pop music won over more socially incisive
work. Adele beat Beyonce in 2017, and in 2016 Lamar lost album
of the year to Taylor Swift.
Lamar opened Sunday's show at New York's Madison Square Garden
with a medley of his hits, accompanied by dancers in military
fatigues and later dressed in red hoodies as they mimicked being
shot.
TIME'S UP AND TRUMP
On the red carpet, dozens of musicians wore or held white roses
to support women's equality and freedom from sexual harassment,
a theme echoed on stage in an emotional performance by pop
singer Kesha of her single "Praying."
Actress and singer Janelle Monae said the music business had to
address issues of equal pay for women, abuse of power and
harassment.
[to top of second column] |
"We come in peace but we mean business. And to those who would dare
try to silence us, we offer you two words: Time's up," Monae said in
a reference to the Time's Up movement spreading from Hollywood to
the music business.
On a night when male artists dominated the winners list, R&B
newcomer SZA, the most-nominated woman with five nods, left
empty-handed.
Politics surfaced throughout the show.
A pre-taped parody sketch saw Hillary Clinton, John Legend, Cher,
Cardi B and Snoop Dogg read excerpts from the critical book "Fire
and Fury" about U.S. President Donald Trump’s first year in office,
ostensibly as contenders for a future spoken word Grammy prize.
Pop singer Camila Cabello, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, spoke
in support of the so-called Dreamers - young immigrants brought to
the United States illegally when they were children and whose future
in the country is in doubt.
Best new artist winner Alessia Cara, along with Khalid and Logic,
sang their song "1-800-273-8255" with a group of suicide survivors
in a tribute to rock singers Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell,
both of whom took their own lives last year.
Logic ended the performance with a freestyle rap supporting the
black community, women and immigrants.
"You are not shitholes," he said, referring to reported remarks by
Trump about African countries earlier this month.
"Bring us your tired, your poor and any immigrant who seeks refuge,"
he added.
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran beat Kesha to win two Grammys
for his best-selling album "Divide" and single "The Shape of You"
but did not attend Sunday's ceremony.
Latin global dance hit "Despacito" also failed to take home a Grammy
despite smashing sales records last year.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
