Deemed a “snooze-fest” to many who watched it, the 57th annual GRAMMY Awards hosted many a performance which decided to take slower, more emotional approaches rather than throwing a dance party in the Los Angeles Staples Center. There was something different about this year’s program as well- artists used their stage time to inspire political action.
Last Sunday’s GRAMMYs were met with disapproval. The lowest rated in years, with Twitter abuzz with complaints of the show being boring, disappointment of “old” acts like ACDC, confusion of who Beck is (and anger that he “stole” Beyonce’s award) and the repeated question, why so many ballads? Viewers were more interested in entertainment than social justice.
Hey, everyone- enough with the laments.
Yes, us consumers wish to be entertained when we dedicate three-and-a-half hours of our time to watch a program that only airs once a year. But the artists showcased at this telecast have something they must prove: that they are worthy of winning such a prestigious award. If viewers crave amusement, they can turn to a radio station or watch a music video. They can, and should, use this one night a year to respect pure talent and artistry. Complainers of this year’s show should at least be thankful that they were spared of any potentially “boring” performances, like jazz, new age or classical, which win GRAMMYs, too.
Artists like Pharrell, Beyonce, and Common used their time in the limelight to remind the audience of the #BlackLivesMatter campaign.
Pharrell, singing his award-winning song Happy, juxtaposed his, well, happy song with background dancers emerging in black hoodies reminiscent of what Trayvon Martin was wearing when he was shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. At one point, the dancers all froze and posed with their hands up, tributing the Hands Up, Don’t Shoot gesture. Pharrell, dressed as a bellhop, also had a choir dressed in white robes perform and, ending with his hands clasped in prayer in front of him, he said, looking up, “I’m at your service, Lord”. Here is the video below:
Beyonce, in closing out the GRAMMY Awards, performed her rendition of gospel song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”. The song and background singers all had political importance, as Beyonce chose the song because her mother used to sing it, reflecting the struggles her family had faced. As for choosing her singers, Beyonce says, “I wanted to find real men that have lived that have struggled, cried. Have a life and spirit about them. I felt like this is an opportunity to show the strength and vulnerability in black people.”
Her performance segued into Common and John Legend’s performance of the “Glory”, the song featured in the Civil Rights movie Selma, where Common assumes the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” position.
Prince, when presenting Album of the Year, claimed, “Just like books and black lives, albums still matter.”
Katy Perry’s performance had a political edge as well, and quite the emotional one. President Barack Obama spoke in a video urging men to prevent domestic violence, advocating all to get involved with ItsOnUs.org. After he spoke, domestic abuse survivor and activist Brooke Axtell gave an inspiring spoken word piece, and the piano for Perry’s relationship recovery ballad “By The Grace of God” began.
So yes, the GRAMMY Awards weren’t a party. But in light of all the events of the past year, from violence in Ferguson to the Ray Rice scandal, it is encouraging to see such influential artists use their status to inspire social change and not just to broadcast their fame.
Pop Music Divas 