The eclectic jazzman Jon Batiste and the young pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo confirmed their status as favorites on Sunday at the 64th edition of the Grammy Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars for American music.
The ceremony, moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas due to the pandemic, opened in the early evening with an energetic performance by the group Silk Sonic.
With a fine mustache for Bruno Mars, a disconcerting bowl wig reminiscent of Mireille Mathieu for Anderson .Paak, the two men at the heart of this retro project returned to the stage a little later to receive the coveted ‘song of the year’ award. The Grammy for the title ‘Leave the Door Open’ was their third of the day following two wins in the R&B category.
They capped Olivia Rodrigo on the post, thus deprived of her chance to repeat the feat of Billie Eilish, darling of the Grammy Awards who had won the prizes in 2020 in the four major categories.
Olivia Rodrigo, 19, however, triumphed in that of the ‘revelation of the year’, where she was ultra-favorite. And she was crowned at a ceremony preceding the gala evening ‘best solo pop performance’ for her title ‘license drivers’, winning once morest Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande and Brandi Carlile.
Intervention de Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky intervened at the ceremony via a recorded speech to ask for support from his country. ‘The war. What is the exact opposite of music? The silence of cities in ruins and people killed,’ he said, wearing his usual khaki t-shirt, before a performance by John Legend, joined on stage by Ukrainian artists, Mika Newton and Lyuba Yakimchukt.
The big favorite of the evening with 11 nominations in total, the talented jazzman Jon Batiste, has already won – during the pre-gala – four Grammys, including that for the music of the animated film ‘Soul’ which had won him an Oscar last year.
Virtuoso pianist, very popular bandleader thanks to a television show, composer and anti-racist activist, Jon Batiste, 35, defends his album ‘We Are’ at the Grammy Awards and the title ‘Freedom’ in the major categories, but he competes in almost any style (R&B, jazz, classical, etc.)
Canadian megastar Justin Bieber, social media darling, is nominated in eight categories, as are Grammy darling HER and rising star Doja Cat, at this ceremony hosted by comedian Trevor Noah.
/ ATS
