The 60th Annual Grammy Awards was held on Sunday, January 28, 2018, and was broadcast live on the CBS network, from Madison Square Garden in New York City. It has been 15 years since the ceremony was held outside of the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. This year music’s biggest night, has had some controversy due the few awards won by women, the several artists who were snubbed, and the viewership for the ceremony dropped 24 percent compared to the previous year. Despite the night’s few turnoffs, the performances by Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, and the host, James Corden, made the show memorable. Here are some of the night’s most talked about moments:
An Unforgettable Opening: Kendrick Lamar opened the night with a revolutionary performance before winning the first award of the evening for Best Rap/Sung Performance (“LOYALTY.” with Rihanna). He rapped his song “XXX,” with an American flag backdrop, and soldiers marching. Lamar was joined on stage by legendary bands U2 and The Edge. His performance will go down as one of the best openings in Grammy history.
“In Living Color” with Cardi B and Bruno Mars: Singer Bruno Mars took the Grammy Stage with rapper Cardi B to perform their smash remix hit, “Finesse.” The duo gave us 90s R&B and hip-hop nostalgia with their bright color ensembles, and bucket hats. #ThrowbackSunday
Praying for Change: Singer and actress, Janelle Monae, introduced Kesha to the stage with a heartwarming speech that discussed the sexual harassment that has come to light, and how that will no longer be tolerated. Kesha hit the stage with the support from Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Bebe Rexha, Julia Michaels, and Andra Day, who did background vocals. There wasn’t a dry eye in sight.
Corden’s Subway Karaoke: The host of the night, James Corden, brought his iconic “Carpool Karaoke” to New York City’s subway with special guests, Sting and Shaggy. However, the passengers on the subway weren’t so keen on the idea of Corden and his talented friends interrupting their silent ride with hits like “Every Breath You Take,” and “It Wasn’t Me.” They were probably disappointed due to the fact that they aren’t as gifted as Corden, Sting and Shaggy.
Only 24 Karat Gold for Bruno: Bruno really did have an incredible night! After an incredible performance, the singer won all six of the Grammys he was nominated for, including the coveted Album of the Year. Bruno also won R&B Album, Record Of The Year for “24K Magic,” Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song and Song Of The Year for “That’s What I Like.”