With the spotlight being increasingly drawn towards sexual assault this year with #MeToo, Time's Up and The Silence Breakers, not to mention the downfall of many industry moguls such as Harvey Weinstein, the Grammys were in a politically charged situation. It was clear that they had the platform to provide a striking social message. But the one they sent wasn't striking. In fact, I would argue someone striked it and it fell flat on its face.
Earlier in January the Golden Globes provided their striking moment with almost everyone in attendance wearing black. The Grammys attempted to replicate this movement with white roses. White roses were worn/held/brought by people standing in solidarity with Time's Up and #MeToo.
Compared to the Golden Globes this was a failure. The majority of people on the red carpet did not have white roses and once the Grammys actually started many had ditched their white roses. Not much of a statement when the flowers go missing before the show even starts.
The white roses weren't the only place the Grammys failed.
The category for Best Pop Solo Performance had four women nominated and one man. Can you guess who won?
It was the man. Ed Sheeran with "Shape of You."
Any other year I wouldn't have been upset that "Shape of You" won. It's a pretty catchy song and I like Ed Sheeran in general. But this year it was a slap in the face to women everywhere because it beat out "Praying" by Kesha.
"Praying" is an emotional song about Kesha's battle with leaving her contract with her producer who verbally and sexually assaulted her. In "Praying" she sings about ultimately triumphing over him and forgiveness. This is one of the most emotionally charged songs of the year and it deserved a Grammy. In what world is a song about meeting a girl at a bar better than one about overcoming sexual assault?
Kesha deserved the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.
Not only did the Grammys fail to recognize Kesha's brilliance they failed to recognize the brilliance of women in general.
No women were nominated for Record of the Year. Only one woman was nominated for Album of the Year. SZA a breakout artist with five nominations won a whopping zero Grammys. Only one woman was nominated for Rap Album of the Year and Best Rap Performance. Lorde the only woman nominated for Album of the Year was also the only nominee for Album of the Year who wasn't asked to give a solo performance.
To top it all off Bruno Mars swept taking home six Grammys. Yeah, "24k Magic" and "That's What I Like" were good, but they weren't groundbreaking like many of the works they were up against.
Yes, the Grammys had Kesha's powerful performance of "Praying" and yes they had Janelle Monae give an introduction about Time's Up, but these two moments pale in comparison to the overall lack of respect women were shown throughout the night and in the nominations.
And worst of all the president of the Grammys said that the lack of representation of women was due to the fact that they haven't "stepped up" yet.
Apparently, Kesha's songs about the hardships of her sexual abuse aren't "stepping up," but Ed Sheeran's song about a girl in a bar is.
Apparently, SZA's songs on the hardships and joys of being a black woman aren't "stepping up," but Bruno Mars' songs about materialistic goods is.
Apparently, men talking about partying is award-worthy, but women talking about their struggles isn't.