Following a postponement and a location change due to the late-2021/early-2022 Omicron surge, the 64th Grammy Awards finally took place on Sunday evening at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, and among the 2022 Grammy Award winners were many Live For Live Music favorites.
Retro ’70s R&B throwback outfit Silk Sonic celebrated a “clean sweep,” winning all four of the awards for which they were nominated including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song of the Year (all for “Leave the Door Open”). The multitalented Jon Batiste also won big, taking home awards for Album of the Year for WE ARE, Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song (both for “Cry”), Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for Soul, and Best Music Video for “Freedom”, which he performed at the awards show in a dazzling spectacle of color and choreography.
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist went to 19-year-old pop star Olivia Rodrigo, who beat out an eclectic list of nominees including Pakistani composer Arooj Aftab; country singer Jimmie Allen; rapper Baby Keem; hitmaker (and Billie Eilish‘s brother/musical partner) FINNEAS; Michelle Zauner-led indie outfit Japanese Breakfast; Australian singer The Kid LAROI; and platinum-selling rapper Saweetie, among others. The former Disney Channel star also won Best Pop Vocal Album for SOUR and Best Pop Solo Performance for her hit song “Drivers License”.
Foo Fighters swept the rock categories, winning Best Rock Performance for “Making A Fire”, Best Rock Song for “Waiting On A War”, and Best Rock Album for Medicine At Midnight. That brings the Dave Grohl-led group’s Grammy Award total to 15, which is more than any other band. They were originally slotted to perform before the tragic death of drummer Taylor Hawkins, who was recognized throughout the night. Billie Eilish later paid tribute to the late musician during her performance of “Happier Than Ever”, donning a shirt with his image and name. Eilish herself went winless on the night despite her seven nominations.
In addition to recognizing artists, the Grammys also acknowledged the hardworking music industry professionals who help make live music possible. “Tonight, we’re going to put the Grammy spotlight on the behind-the-scenes workers who make live music so special,” host Trevor Noah announced. “I’m talking about the touring teams and the stage crews that you cheer for by accident because you think it’s the band taking the stage.”
Well, tonight,” he continued, “we’re going to mix things up and cheer for them on purpose because after two years of canceled shows and postponed tours, nobody deserves the spotlight more than the people who actually put up that spotlight. So, we’re celebrating those who have done so much to get live music back on our stages and back into our lives, and tonight we’ve asked them to introduce the artists with whom they work.”
Among those recognized were production manager Nicole Massey, who introduced Billie Eilish; tour manager Misha Hedman Mayes, who introduced H.E.R.‘s performance with Travis Barker (Blink-182) and Lenny Kravitz; and wardrobe supervisor Joan Lee, who introduced Carrie Underwood‘s first-ever performance of “Ghost Story”.
Other notable victories at the 2022 Grammys include the Questlove-directed film Summer of Soul, which won Best Music Film; Los Lobos, who won Best Americana Album for Native Sons; Béla Fleck, whose My Bluegrass Heart beat out 2021 winner Billy Strings in the Best Bluegrass Album category (don’t feel too bad for Billy—he’s on Fleck’s album, too).
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram took home Best Contemporary Blues Album for 662, while the Police/Oysterhead drummer Stewart Copeland won Best New Age Album alongside Ricky Kej for Divine Tides. Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) had been disinvited from performing at the ceremony earlier in the week due to his “concerning online behavior” and did not attend the event, but he did pick up a pair of Grammys for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Hurricane” ft. The Weeknd and Lil Baby and Best Rap Song for “Jail” with collaborator Jay-Z. Of note, the wins bring Jay-Z and Kanye West into a tie for the most Grammy Awards won by a rapper.
Doja Cat and SZA won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Kiss Me More” and provided some laughs with their acceptance speech, while Louis C.K. won Best Comedy Album for Sincerely Louis C.K. and Bo Burnham won Best Song Written for a Visual Media for “All Eyes on Me”.
In one of the night’s more memorable speeches, Jon Batiste offered some deep reflections on the nature of music and awards. “You know, I believe this to my core. There is no best musician, best artist, best dancer, best actor,” he said during his Album of the Year acceptance. “The creative arts are subjective and they reach people at a point in their lives when they need it most. It’s like a song or an album is made and it almost has a radar to find the person when they need the most.”
He continued, “I just put my head down and I work on the craft every day. I love music. I’ve been playing since I was a little boy. It’s more than entertainment for me. It’s a spiritual practice.”
Batiste concluded by sharing his thoughts on his fellow Album of the Year nominees: “Every single artist that was nominated in this category, I actually love and have had out-of-body experiences with your music. I honor you. This is for real artists, real musicians. Keep going. Be you. That’s it. I love you even if I don’t know you.”
Watch acceptance speeches from Jon Batiste and other 2022 Grammy Award winners below, and view a complete list of winners here. You can also check out a breakdown of the various performances featured during the ceremony here.
Jon Batiste Accepts Grammy Award For Album Of The Year (WE ARE)
Silk Sonic Accepts Grammy Award For Record Of The Year (LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN)
Olivia Rodrigo Accepts Grammy Award For Best Pop Vocal Album (SOUR)
Questlove, David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, & Joseph Patel Accept Grammy Award For Best Music Film (Summer of Soul)
Jon Batiste Accepts Grammy Award For Best Music Video (“Freedom”)
Los Lobos Accepts Grammy Award For Best Americana Album (Native Sons)
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Accepts Grammy Award For Best Contemporary Blues Album (662)
[Videos: Recording Academy / GRAMMYs]
The post 2022 Grammy Award Winners: Jon Batiste, Silk Sonic, Olivia Rodrigo, More Win Big [Videos] appeared first on L4LM.
