From bizarre speeches to Ben Affleck’s lack of interest, here are the ceremony’s highs and lows.
The 65th Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles overnight, with awards going to everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Adele to Willie Nelson and Beyoncé.
Harry Styles’ picked up the coveted best album prize, Viola Davis completed an EGOT, and Beyoncé became the most decorated artist in Grammy history.
Here are five of the high and low points of a ceremony that had more twists and turns than a helter skelter in a hall of mirrors.
1) What does Beyoncé have to do to win best album?
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Every time Beyoncé releases a new album, she rewrites the rule book for everybody else.
From her self-titled visual album in 2013, and the confessional masterpiece that was 2016’s Lemonade, to last year’s disco fantasia Renaissance, she has changed the way that pop music is written, produced, released, presented and promoted.
She does so with awe-struck admiration from her peers. “You clearly are the artist of our lives!” declared Lizzo at tonight’s ceremony, echoing words Adele said in 2017.
During the ceremony, Beyoncé picked up a record-breaking 32nd trophy. She was already tied with her husband Jay-Z as the most-nominated artist of all time (they have 88 each).
But for all that love, the big prizes have eluded her. Of the 16 times she’s been nominated in the major, all-genre categories, she has won just once: Song of the year in 2010, for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).
This year, Renaissance was the presumed front-runner for album of the year. A deep and affectionate dive into black and gay dance culture, it was the most critically-acclaimed release of 2022.
But, for the fourth time in her career, Beyoncé was beaten to the top honour. This time Harry Styles took the crown. Previously, it was Beck, Adele and Taylor Swift.
What’s the message the Grammys are trying to deliver here? Because it seems to be: “Stop being so impressive and write music we feel comfortable with”.
It’s a sentiment that’s not entirely out of character. The industry created the awards in 1958 to promote “good” music amid the terrifying onslaught of rock and roll and, ever since, the Grammys have lagged behind every major movement in music.
Famously, The Beatles won more awards after they split up than they did together; and there were no rap categories until 1989.
So maybe, one day, when she’s in her 60s, Beyoncé will get her dues.
2) Everyone needs to work on their speeches, except Lizzo
Sam Smith and Kim Petras won best pop duo/group collaboration for their campy sex melodrama Unholy – which they also performed, with Smith dressed as the devil for good measure.
But the British singer ceded the microphone to Petras at the winner’s podium, watching with pride as she delivered her speech,
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” Petras said, her face covered in a red satin veil.
She went on to thank the pioneers and activists who “kicked the doors open” – a list that would include Wendy Carlos, the first transgender woman to win a competitive Grammy back in 1970, for her pioneering synth album Switched-On Bach).
Backstage, she still couldn’t get over the sense of occasion.
“All these years are going through my head of people saying I’d be a niche artist because I’m transgender, and my music would only ever play in gay clubs – and what’s wrong with that, because I love gay clubs – but now I got a Grammy for making gay club music with my friend,” she said.
“It’s the best feeling in the world.”
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