Bray singer Hozier missed out on a Grammy for song of the year, but stole the show with his duet performance with Annie Lennox at the 57th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Irish man and Scottish legend Lennox brought the crowd to their feet with a medley of “Take Me To Church” and “I’ll Put a Spell on You.”
Heartbreak paid off handsomely for British soul singer Sam Smith, a newcomer who won four Grammy awards on Sunday including record and song of the year for his anthem "Stay With Me."
“I want to thank the man who this record is about, who I fell in love with last year,” Smith said as he accepted his gramophone-shaped trophy for record of the year. “Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys.”
Katy Perry and US president Barack Obama later teamed up to take a stand against domestic violence at the music industry's top awards.
Minutes before Perry’s performance of “By the Grace of God,” Obama delivered a pointed speech in a video message urging artists at the Grammys to help end domestic violence, saying “It’s not OK and it has to stop.”
Brooke Axtell, a survivor of domestic abuse, shared her personal story on stage, saying “authentic love does not silence, shame or abuse.”
Perry’s stripped-down act was a study in contrasts with her raucous, vibrant, prop-filled performance at the Super Bowl a week ago.
Pharrell beat out Smith’s “Stay With Me” in the best pop solo performance category with his toe-tapping track “Happy.”
Pharrell delivered an eclectic rendition of "Happy" on the Grammys stage, teaming up with film composer Hans Zimmer to channel a "Grand Budapest Hotel" vibe dressed as a bellhop and accompanied by pianist Lang Lang and gospel singers.
Singer-songwriter Beck won best rock album for "Morning Phase," while Miranda Lambert, who performed her hit "Little Red Wagon," won best country album for "Platinum."
“I poured my heart and soul into this record,” Lambert said.
Music’s top couple, R&B singer Beyonce and rapper Jay Z won best R&B performance for their steamy track “Drunk in Love.”
“I’d like to thank my beloved husband, I love you deep,” Beyonce said.
Dynamic Duets
While the Grammy show televised on CBS awards a handful of winners, much of the show is dedicated to dynamic performances of the industry’s biggest stars.
The night kicked off with an energetic performance by veteran rockers AC/DC singing classics “Rock or Bust” and “Highway to Hell,” the first of many throwback tunes.
Known to be a stage where veterans and current music stars come together, British singers Jessie J and Tom Jones delivered the first of many Grammy duets with The Righteous Brothers' classic 1964 song "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'."
Ed Sheeran and ELO performed a medley of "Evil Woman" and "Mr. Blue Sky," with former Beatle Paul McCartney dancing along in the audience.
Madonna delivered a dance-filled performance of “Living For Love,” accompanied by male dancers in elaborate horned face masks and singers dressed in mariachi costumes. She ended the high-octane set by being suspended above stage in a harness.
No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, both judges on NBC's "The Voice" singing competition, teamed up for a heartfelt rendition of "My Heart is Open."
On the Grammys red carpet, where pop stars are known for making statements in bold outfits, Madonna split critics with the choice of a matador-inspired derriere-baring black lace Givenchy bodysuit.
Reuters
