Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John’s duet was one of the highlights of the evening. (Photo property of the Recording Academy & Just Jared, Jr.)
By: Jacob Elyachar
The Grammys delivered three and a half hours of quality performances.
Some of them were fantastic while others did not impress viewers….
Here are my thoughts on tonight’s performances and how I graded them.
Taylor Swift: “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Taylor Swift opened the show with a spectacle that features dozens of dancers dressed up as a circus acts. While it was an okay vocal performance by the Fearless singer, the music was bit loud and distracted the viewer. B-
Ed Sheeran & Sir Elton John: “The A-Team”
This was an impeccable team-up that featured wonderful harmonies from the English singer-songwriters and it captivated every music lover around the world. Hopefully, we will be able to download this team-up on our MP3 player soon. A
Fun.: “Carry On”
The alternative rock band delivered an intriguing performance of their hit from their Some Nights album. While it had strong vocals from front man Nate Ruess and had great energy, the rain during the conclusion of their set was a little confusing. B+
Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley performed two of their songs at the 55th Grammy Awards. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Miranda Lambert & Dierks Bentley: “Over You”/”Home”
This performance was plagued with sound problems during the first half of the set. Many viewers could only hear the guitar solo at the end of “Over You” but could not hear Miranda or Dierks sing. They have incredible voices and it is a shame that the sound guys caused this performance to be abysmal. C
Miguel feat. Wiz Khalifa: “Adorn”
Before the duo handed out Best Country Solo Performance Award to Carrie Underwood, they performed their hit from Miguel’s second studio album: Kaleidoscope Dream. Miguel showcased his quality vocal range while Wiz dropped some good beats. B+
Mumford & Sons: “I Will Wait”
The British folk rockers delivered a quality version of “I Will Wait” that impressed the Grammy crowd and had performers like Taylor Swift singing along in the audience. B
Justin Timberlake returned to the Grammys in full force when he performed two singles from his upcoming album: “The 20/20 Experience.” (Photo by Christopher Polk)
Justin Timberlake: “Suit & Tie”/”Pusher Lover Girl”
After a seven-year absence from the music world, Justin Timberlake returned to the Grammy stage in full force as he performed two singles from his upcoming studio album: The 20/20 Experience. From his superb vocals to impressive showmanship, Justin Timberlake impressed the crowd and featured a cameo from Jay-Z. This author is glad to have Mr. Timberlake back in the music world. B+
Maroon 5 & Alicia Keys: “Daylight”/”Girl on Fire”
One of the most unusual team-ups of the evening was the interesting combination performance of two impeccable Grammy winners. The mash-up jelled well together and had incredible moments including Alicia Keys playing the drums. Also, Adam Levine and Alicia Keys had great vocal chemistry together. A-
Rihanna feat. Mikky Echo: “Stay”
Barbados’ native daughter took to the Grammys stage for her first performance of the night. This was one of Rihanna’s best vocal performances to date because it showcase the lower part of her vocal range that fans do not get to hear a lot. B+
The Black Keys, Dr. John and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band: “Lonely Boy”
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney joined forces with two legendary New Orleans icons for an unforgettable Grammy moment. While Dan and Patrick provided the beat, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band added some much-needed brass to the track. A
Kelly Clarkson paid homage to Carole King and tribute to the late Patti Page. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Kelly Clarkson: “Tennessee Waltz”/ “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”
Before she handed the Best Country Album to the Zac Brown Band, Kelly paid tribute to two incredible women: Carole King and the late Patti Page. She delivered two superb vocal performances that showcased some of her famous high notes and made the two music icons proud. A
Bob Marley Tribute
Bruno Mars kicked things off with a high-octane performance of his hit: “Locked Out of Heaven.” After finishing up the song, Sting and the “Runaway Baby” singer performed his interpretation of “Walking on the Moon.” The set ended with appearances from Rihanna and Ziggy and Daiman Marley as they performed “Could You Be Loved.” This quartet would have made Bob proud. A
The Lumineers: “Ho Hey”
One of the hottest rock bands that shook music to its core was the Lumineers. The Lumineers made their Grammy debuts by performing their signature song: “Ho Hey” that had everyone in the crowd singing along. B+
Carrie Underwood: “Blown Away”/”Two Black Cadillacs”
After being introduced by tour mate Hunter Hayes, the six-time Grammy winner performed the title track and “Two Black Cadillacs” from her fourth studio album. Carrie had a great vocal performance and entertained the crowd. A-
Levon Helm Tribute
The best tribute of the night belonged to the super group that assembled to pay tribute to the late Levon Helm. Among the artists that participated in this tribute included Sir Elton John, Mavis Staples, Zac Brown, Mumford and Sons, T-Bone Burnett and Brittany Howard. This tribute was a pure joy to watch because this was music at its finest, where musicians showed off their uniqueness and banded together for an impeccable Grammy moment. A+
For more information about the Grammys, click here: http://www.grammy.com/
