Optimistic messages of unity and resistance could be felt around the room during the powerful performances and speeches at the 68th Annual Grammy Award show, Feb. 1.
The talent showcased at this year’s Grammys, with a few exceptions, should be universally recognized across genres. The obvious standout performance was Lauryn Hill’s tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. She brought out other artists including Jon Batiste, who gave an outstanding piano and vocal performance, and Leon Thomas for his second performance of the night. The first was Thomas’ role in the Best New Artist nominee medley which was filled with several different genres and vast creative differences. Addison Rae was second in the lineup, after The Marías, but her entire performance was set in the garage and I can see why. With cheap-looking costumes, she struggled her way through her performance of “Fame is a Gun,” sounding like she was out of breath the entire time. Olivia Dean gave a completely different performance that both her and the audience enjoyed. Although it was less flashy, she truly demonstrated her vocal capabilities and captivating personality, qualities that won her Best New Artist.
On the other hand, there was Justin Bieber, and it didn’t seem to be clocking to him that he was performing at the Grammys when he walked on stage in underwear and sang over a guitar loop. But, for some reason he seemed to captivate some of the audience with the simplicity of his performance. A performance that caught the attention of everyone was Bruno Mars’ in his second performance of the night. He debuted his single, “I Just Might,” from his newly released album, the first in almost 10 years. This performance, fueled by a small brass band and the excitement from the crowd due to his 10 year absence, reminded the audience of the true reason for the Grammys: celebration of creativity and musical expertise.
This seemed to be a night for resurfacing artists when Harry Styles made a surprise appearance as the presenter for the coveted Album of the Year, an award he won two years ago and will likely win again at the 69th Grammys in 2027 for his upcoming album “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” He presented the award to Bad Bunny for “DeBí Tirar Más Fotos.” After taking a minute to collect himself and savor this experience, Bad Bunny gave his acceptance speech in mostly Spanish, calling for resilience and kindness. In contrast, when Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower” won Song of the Year, it brought up unpleasant feelings for me from last year’s Grammys when Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter” won Album of the Year, robbing Eilish’s “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” from taking it home. “Wildflower” winning Song of the Year felt like more of an apology for last year than a genuine appreciation for the song’s artistry. I think “The Subway” should’ve won this award because of its storytelling and impact this year. But I would’ve been fine with anything winning as long as it wasn’t “Golden” from “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”
Every speech throughout the night had a positive message of some sorts, a lot of them reflecting the same sentiment behind “ICE OUT” pins that were scattered around the room. Lady Gaga’s acceptance of Best Pop Vocal Album started as a generic acknowledgement of everyone who worked on “Mayhem,” but quickly turned into a message for women in the music industry to “always listen to yourself and always fight for your ideas.”
I think any woman can find solace in this statement, as women being underestimated is a common occurrence in every industry. Eilish’s Song of the Year speech gave a different message, as the appalled artist searched for the only words appropriate for the situation with “no one is illegal on stolen land.”
However, the most impactful speech by far was Bad Bunny’s when he accepted the award for Best Música Urbana Album. His speech focused on the power of love over hate, and he emphasized tolerance, a message he carried over to his Super Bowl halftime performance only one week later.
Of course it wouldn’t be the Grammys without everybody’s favorite host, Trevor Noah. However, this was Noah’s last year hosting the Grammys and he didn’t hold back on his political quips, which were still perfectly balanced with his praise for attendees. One of the first major digs was a reassurance to audiences across the world that Nicki Minaj was not in attendance, due to her recent interactions with President Trump, that left the crowd laughing from shock. However, that wasn’t the only way Noah insulted the current administration. He also compared his own departure from the Grammys to term limits, hoping to set an example for government officials.
The Grammys, and award shows in general, are great places for celebrities to vocalize opinions about current events and social issues important to them. From Bad Bunny’s Musica Urbana “ICE OUT” speech, and Doechii’s emotional message to America’s youth last year, artists seem to have a firm grasp on the responsibility that comes with their platform. But the heart of the Grammys, the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and every other award show is the celebration of art, and this year that was especially apparent as several performances and speeches brought international audiences together through the universal language of music.
