Oh the Grammy Awards. How they always manage to surprise us, disappoint us, and then surprise us again. It’s time for us to take a look back into this year’s awards show. We’ll discuss what predictions made by fellow Rutgers Odyssey writer, Ryan Lizotte, as well as some perspective on the most memorable moments of the show.
Notable Moments & Criticisms
- From his red carpet interview, we knew Kanye West still has some resentment towards the Grammy’s even after being away from the show for many years.
- Madonna’s performance showed to many that maybe she doesn’t still have the pop star flare she once had. Sure, she will always be a legend, but this does not require choreography to prove it.
- While Lady GaGa and Tony Bennett’s performance was criticized by many, GaGa’s collaboration proves that she is an artist, not just a pop act.
- Kanye West’s performance of "FourFiveSeconds" with Beatles legend Paul McCartney as well as Rihanna left much more of an impression than his solo "Only One" performance.
- Pharrell Williams: We do not need a bellhop costume or some artsy performance for a song like "Happy." Sometimes simplicity conquers complexity.
- Jamie Foxx did an impression of the late Ray Charles while presenting an award with Stevie Wonder. While some may consider the impression inappropriate, Stevie’s sense of humor made for one of the funnier moments of the night.
- Kanye West scared everyone for a moment when Beck defeated Beyonce for Album of the Year. He nearly repeated his actions with Taylor Swift during the 2009 MTV VMAs. This was later followed by a post-Grammy rant towards Beck, which he has since taken back.
- If you don’t know of Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), their performance Sunday showed they still have it after all these years. The legendary group, which isn’t even in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, deserves much more attention for their work than they’ve received. Paul McCartney was sure enjoying it.
- And Yes, that was Kristen Wiig as the main performer in Sia's 'Chandelier.'
Were The Predictions Correct?
Before the show, fellow Rutgers Odyssey writer, Ryan Lizotte, made predictions regarding some of the big awards given out on Grammy night. How close were the predictions?
The Results: while the Grammy’s are normally predictable, many were surprised by the decisions made Sunday night, as most of the predictions made by the Rutgers Odyssey were incorrect!
Although Taylor Swift’s hit single "Shake It Off" was predicted to steal multiple awards, Sam Smith was the one walking home with multiple Grammys for his hit "Stay With Me." Smith also won the award for Best New Artist, defeating Iggy Azalea, who was snubbed during this year’s awards. Perhaps she’s not the next big thing everyone thinks she is.
Eminem also walked away with his 6th Best Hip Hop Album Grammy for "The Marshall Mathers LP 2," leaving Childish Gambino and his classic "Because The Internet" with a loss.
While The Black Keys were predicted to walk away with awards for their "Turn Blue" album, as well as for their single "Fever," Beck and The White Stripes were far more successful at the 2015 Grammys.
In the end, the Grammy Awards were rather more uneventful than usual. While some performances stood out, many fell flat and had the potential to bore the television audience. The most interesting thing was seeing what Kanye would do next. Many viewers found much more excitement through the series premiere of "Better Call Saul." I know I did!
