For the primary time in ceaselessly, it was a near-perfect night time of Grammy Awards performances.
There was little fats to be present in Sunday’s star-studded roster of artists, which leaned closely on music legends and well-liked artists burning up the charts. People titans Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman graced us with a pair of nostalgic emotional hits, whereas Miley Cyrus went a great distance in cementing her icon standing, exuding rock-star confidence and pizzazz as she carried out “Flowers,” winner of two Grammys together with report of the 12 months.
Listed below are extra of the most effective performances, ranked from worst to greatest, of Grammys night time, the place Taylor Swift made historical past and Trevor Noah hosted for a fourth time.
12. U2 “Atomic Metropolis”
The Irish rockers had been in effective voice for his or her truncated tackle “Atomic Metropolis,” which was basically an overlong intro for Bono to current greatest pop vocal album to Taylor Swift’s “Midnights.” Greater than something, the pummeling efficiency served as a gaudy business for Las Vegas’ $2 billion music venue The Sphere, with swooping drone footage and sufficient fast cuts to provide you movement illness.
11. Travis Scott that includes Playboi Carti “My Eyes,” I Know,” “Fe!n”
Shortly after Jay-Z obtained in some incisive digs on the Recording Academy, Scott referred to as out voters throughout his incendiary, chair-bashing efficiency. “They slept on me 10 instances,” he rapped, in reference to his 10 career Grammy nominations but zero wins. It was essentially the most memorable second of the rapper’s “Mad Max”-style medley, which was in any other case slowed down by murky visuals.
10. Burna Boy that includes 21 Savage and Brandy “On Type,” “Metropolis Boys,” “Sittin’ on Prime of the World”
Burna Boy oozed charisma as he ran by means of an infectious medley of hits with rapper 21 Savage and R&B chanteuse Brandy, accompanied by a vibrant ensemble of backup dancers and musicians. Because the awards present dragged into its interminable third hour, the Nigerian singer was a much-needed dose of adrenaline.
9. Dua Lipa “Coaching Season,” “Dance the Evening,” “Houdini”
The British pop sensation gave us everything Sunday night time, opening the present with a red-hot, leather-and-latex-clad medley of hits “Dance the Evening” and “Houdini,” together with teasing her sultry upcoming single “Coaching Session.” For any keyboard warriors nonetheless insisting that Lipa can’t dance, the singer put criticisms to mattress together with her athletic efficiency: hanging off a rotating cage and sliding throughout the ground in opposition to a dizzying backdrop of mirrors and pyrotechnics.
8. Billy Joel “Flip the Lights Again On”
The Piano Man deserved higher. The legendary Joel closed out the telecast with wistful new monitor “Flip the Lights Again On,” alongside together with his rollicking 1980 single “You Could Be Proper.” However the performances had been unfairly sandwiched in between prime awards for Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift on the finish of the night time, with many viewers members seen submitting out throughout his second music. What ought to’ve been a spotlight of this 12 months’s awards felt extra like an afterthought, at the least within the eyes of the Recording Academy.
7. Olivia Rodrigo “Vampire”
Rodrigo introduced “Carrie” to the Grammys telecast with a blood-soaked efficiency of her piercing single “Vampire.” Regardless of a shaky vocal begin, the pop-punk hitmaker swiftly recovered as she belted out the dramatic quantity wearing a plunging crimson robe and smearing blood throughout her face whereas guts spilled from the flower backdrop behind her.
6. Fantasia Barrino “Proud Mary”
After a touching tribute to the late Tony Bennett by his good friend Stevie Surprise, Annie Lennox commanded the stage with a staggering tackle “Nothing Compares 2 U,” calling for a ceasefire as she honored Sinead O’Connor with the Prince commonplace. Barrino, who auditioned for “American Idol” with Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” closed out the “in memoriam” phase with an electrifying spin on the music shaking her hips with Dua Lipa as she ran by means of the rousing blues anthem.
5. SZA “Snooze,” “Kill Invoice”
SZA introduced cinematic excellence to this 12 months’s Grammys, donning a “Matrix”-style trench coat and wide-brimmed hat for the bewitching “Snooze,” flanked by overturned trash cans and burning dumpsters. However the efficiency actually got here alive when she moved into smash single “Kill Invoice,” paying spectacular homage to the 2003 Quentin Tarantino movie with sword-wielding dancers and acrobatic choreography, even “throwing” a person into the air in a pleasant little bit of stage magic.
4. Billie Eilish “What Was I Made For?”
Eilish shocked in a pink headband and inexperienced costume, recreating a 1965 classic Barbie look that she teased on her Instagram early Sunday. Accompanied by her brother Finneas on piano, the 22-year-old delivered a chic and haunting rendition of her Oscar-nominated “Barbie” ballad, which grapples with despair and self-worth. Ever since her profession exploded 5 years in the past, Eilish shortly established herself as one in all our most reliably fascinating stay performers, and her attractive displaying Sunday was no exception.
3. Miley Cyrus “Flowers”
Holding with the night time’s theme of “much less is extra,” Cyrus introduced old-school glamor to her first televised efficiency of the chart-topping “Flowers,” joyfully dancing in place and shimmying throughout the stage as she confirmed off the gravelly and wonderful energy of her voice. “Why are you appearing such as you don’t know this music?” Cyrus requested mid-verse, inspiring viewers members together with Chrissy Teigen and Kylie Minogue to bounce at their tables. The dynamic singer effortlessly channeled Tina Turner with a silver-tassel costume and hair teased sky excessive, throwing down her microphone in a “Proud Mary”-style encore.
2. Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs “Quick Automobile”
The Grammys’ worst-kept secret additionally proved to be probably the greatest moments of the night time. After days of hypothesis that Chapman would be part of Combs onstage to play her basic 1988 music, the people singer made a uncommon look at Sunday’s present for a easy but deeply affecting efficiency. Dressed down in denims and a black button-up, Chapman performed acoustic guitar and graciously traded verses with the gruff nation vocalist, smiling at one another as nominees Taylor Swift and Brandi Carlile regarded on lovingly from the group.
1. Joni Mitchell “Each Sides Now”
Almost a decade after struggling a mind aneurysm, Mitchell, 80, made her triumphant debut Grammys performance seated in a satin armchair and surrounded by chandeliers as she gently sang her signature tune, “Both Sides Now.” Her supply was delicate but matter of truth. She introduced A-list attendees Beyoncé and Meryl Streep to tears, as she harmonized superbly with backup vocalist Brandi Carlile, her longtime good friend. It was a stirring efficiency of an all-time nice music – one that can go down as one of many highest moments in Grammys historical past.
