LATE ‘LIGHTS’
The Grammys no doubt intended Billy Joel’s performance of his first new song in 30 years, “Turn the Lights Back On,” to be a big show-capper. But the Grammys’ previous three hours were a hard act to top.
HARD WORK
To the public, it sometimes seems that stars arrive suddenly, but Monét and SZA offered charming reminders of all the hard work and dreams that go into success. After disarmingly thanking “the champagne servers of tonight,” Monét described the 15-year journey that took her to a best new artist award. “My roots have been growing underneath the ground for so long — and I feel like today I’m sprouting,” she said. There was a brief pause before SZA accepted an award for best R&B song, since she was changing backstage. But she was overwhelmed after recalling, with the trophy presented by Lizzo, the days a decade ago when they opened shows in small clubs. She hustled offstage when the tears flowed. “I’m not an attractive crier,” she said.
PROMO TIME
Yes, we understand that artists are always on the lookout to promote their work. But when Swift took time in accepting an award to announce that her new album would come out in April, and said she would share cover art on social media, it felt … cheap. Like she was hijacking the event for her own purposes, with news she knew would overshadow much of what was happening. U2, beamed in from a concert at their Las Vegas residency, felt like they were promoting an arena instead of their own work, lost as they were in the razzle-dazzle. Two forgettable moments for two big stars.
TREVOR KNOWS
Props to Trevor Noah for his job as host. His enthusiasm for the music world can seem puppy dog-like, but it beats insult comics and ironists Opening the show from the arena’s floor, walking around to point out the stars, Noah built spirit for people there and at home alike. He got in some good lines, too, like when he noted Universal Music was removing its artists from TikTok. “How dare you rip off all the artists,” he said. “Shame on you. That’s Spotify’s job.” As Swift arrived late, he said that as she walked in the room, “the economy around these tables improve. Lionel Richie becomes Lionel Wealthy.”
Unlike her glares that torpedoed Jo Koy at the Golden Globes, Swift appeared to be enjoying Noah.