British soul singer Amy Winehouse stole the Grammy show last night, delivering a strong performance and taking home five awards, including three of the top four top categories including, record, album and song of the year.
But jazz legend Herbie Hancock spoiled her sweep by winning album of the year for his tribute to Joni Mitchell, “River: The Joni Letters.” “I’d like to thank the academy for courageously breaking the mold this time,” he said, accepting the first award for a jazz album in the general category in 43 years.
Winehouse, who has been making headlines for her run-ins with the law and her alleged drug use, had been in rehab for the past two weeks and only left on Friday to get ready for last night’s show. Her powerful voice wasn’t as polished as it was in concerts last year. But Winehouse’s versions of the self-esteem-challenged, hip-hop influenced “You Know I’m Good” and peppy dismissal of drug counseling “Rehab” provided enough proof as to why she had been crowned a Grammy star last night for her breakthrough album “Back to Black.”
Winehouse performed in London via satellite instead of the Staples Center in Los Angeles where the awards were held because of visa issues that were eventually worked out. Winehouse seemed stunned as she received the record of the year award for “Rehab,” pausing before launching into her list of thank yous. “This is for London because Camden town is burning down,” she said, after thanking her jailed husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who she also paid tribute to by changing some of her lyrics.
Last night’s show celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Grammys and the three-and-a-half-hour ceremony was filled with pairings of veteran and new artists, from Tina Turner and Beyonce to a film version of Frank Sinatra and Alicia Keys to the unexpected pairing of Keely Smith and Kid Rock. Producers, initially hamstrung by threats of picketing by striking writers, packed the show with tributes to The Beatles, Luciano Pavarotti, gospel and rock and roll.
Kanye West, who went in with a night-leading eight nominations, landed four awards, including best rap album for his multi-platinum “Graduation” and best rap song for “Good Life.” But even he recognized that it was going to be Winehouse’s night, saying in his acceptance speech, “For Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse, if I don’t get to get up here for album of the year, you deserve it just as much as me. I deserve it too.”
West also delivered a tribute to his mother, Donda West, who died unexpectedly after surgery last year, both in his tearful performance of “Hey Mama” and during his acceptance speech, saying, “I know you wouldn’t want me to stop. Mama, all I’m gonna do is keep making you proud. We run this.”
Bruce Springsteen, whose snub in the top categories was used as an example of how this year’s Grammy nominations reflected neither popularity nor critical appeal, landed three Grammys, as did gospel group The Clark Sisters. Springsteen dominated the rock category, winning best rock song and best rock vocal for “Radio Nowhere,” while The Clark Sisters cleaned up in the gospel category.
Album of the year nominees Foo Fighters, record of the year nominee Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, White Stripes, Chaka Khan, the soundtrack to the Beatles’ musical “Love” and conductor Leonard Slatkin’s “Tower: Made in America” each received two Grammys.
Singer Cyndi Lauper, who was visibly excited to accept the best new artist award on Winehouse’s behalf, explained the British singer’s success to E on the red carpet earlier in the evening. “You can connect to her voice,” Lauper said. “It takes courage to stand up and do a record like that. This is rock and roll we should not be conservative. We should not be safe.”
Comments (1)
I applaud Amy. Is she a nut? Yes, of course. Is she a massively talented singer/song writer? Without a doubt. Even bad girls beed props sometimes. Go Amy!!!!