The 67th Annual Grammy Awards happened last weekend, and I’m still thinking about it. From great performances and award-breaking wins, felicidades Benito, this year’s Grammys was one to remember.
Trevor Noah, whom I usually disdain as a host for any event, I believe, solidified his footing in hosting. He was openly shady towards the Trump administration and held no bar for any of its supporters. His jokes were witty and his banter with his peers was uplifting.
To blow through some of the standout performances of the night Zara Larsson’s soft rendition of “Midnight Sun” was gorgeous. She sounded like the most beautiful siren, and I was being pulled into her waves.
Sabrina Carpenter’s performance of “Manchild” was fun, Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” was exhilarating and Tyler, The Creator’s mix of “Thought I Was Dead” and “Sugar on My Tongue” was quintessentially Tyler: over-the-top and methodical in design and message.
The best new artist medley should be a staple in the Grammy ceremony from this moment on. It’s a beautiful last chance promenade that gives these “new” artists a chance to shine in what they do best. It’s almost like a last plea to the academy to pick them for the award.
The Marías cold opened the best new artist medley with their hit song “No One Noticed.” They performed the version with the extended Spanish verse, which was beautiful and mesmerizing to listen to. The lead singer of the band, María Zardoya, was the best choice to captivate the audience by possessing the stage with her angelic vocals.
Addison Rae performed after, performing her song “Fame is a Gun.” Rae possesses the image of a popstar with none of the qualities of one. Her vocals were shaky and her dancing was not impressive. Her aesthetic mimics other artists without defining herself as a unique individual, which showed in her performance.
Katseye struggled the same way. They performed their polarizing song “Gnarly,” and just like the song, you either loved or hated their performance. Personally, I loved it, mostly because I am a huge fan of Kasteye and the song itself.
Though I understood why they performed “Gnarly,” which was to show off their performing prowess, I felt the song was a bit out of place for the Grammys. They should have performed “Gabriela,” which they were nominated for, or “Gameboy.”
Leon Thomas’ rendition of “Mutt” was silky smooth in vocal color and performance. Everything about his presence felt natural. Nothing felt forced or trying to show off; he exuded excellence. He commanded the stage with his talents in a way male artists have failed to capture in this past decade.
A shame that Alex Warren performed next, singing his Billboard hit “Ordinary.” In-ear malfunction aside, the song just isn’t anything to write home about. It’s a bit bland and uninspired, nothing new to really grasp at. It’s also a shame that he was placed between two great performers, and is the weakest performer out of all the best new artists nominees.
Lola Young’s striped back version of “Messy” was honest, vulnerable and awe-inspiring. Her vocals were stellar and she proved herself as a vocalist to look forward to in the future. After a rough year for her, with endless online harassment and her fainting episode at the All Things Go Festival, it was nice to see her in her element. It was even better when she received the award for best pop vocal performance later in the night.
Staying on the British train, Olivia Dean performed next with her hit “Man I Need.” If you weren’t convinced she didn’t have that win in the bag when she got nominated, then this performance should have changed your opinion. She shined on the Grammys stage, completely in her element. She brought energy to the room that hadn’t been there the entire night. She was quintessential to the Grammys night.
The medley ended with Sombr’s “12 to 12.” While nothing of his performance was overwhelmingly bad, the performance itself felt awkward and stiff. What was supposed to be a huge sendoff for the nominees and the medley itself ended up not heating up to a boiling point and rather faded into the background.
The best new artist medley was the highlight of the night for me. It truly felt like what the Grammys is meant to be. A night of music, performance and celebration. For artists to show their craft and give it one last go to sway either the jury or audience that they are deserving of their nomination and possible awards.
