The Highs & Lows of the Grammy’s 2010!
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HIGH NOTE: The Michael Jackson Tribute
In a star-studded Michael Jackson tribute, Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Hudson sang a powerful rendition of the King of Pop’s ballad “Earth Song.” After Lionel Richie’s introduction, the cameras caught the likes of Beyoncé and Rihanna enjoying the video’s special effects in their 3-D glasses. Capped by a touching thank-you speech from Michael’s children, Prince and Paris Jackson, the performance was a fitting tribute to the late singer as he was bestowed a posthumous lifetime achievement Grammy.
HIGH NOTE: Lady Gaga & Elton John
Opening the ceremony with her infectious Grammy-winning “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga (in a Tinkerbell-inspired costume) attacked the stage with a macabre crew of dancers. After being thrown into a fire pit stamped with the word “rejected,” Gaga appeared at a conjoined double piano with Elton John. Covered in scorch marks, the original King of Theatrics and his rightful heiress duetted on a rousing rendition of John’s “Your Song,” and both changed lyrics — with Sir Elton singing “how wonderful life is with Gaga in this world” and Gaga responding, “thank you, love you, Sir Elton John.” Were these two made for each other, or what?
HIGH NOTE: Beyonce Salutes Alanis
If Beyoncé had decideed to stick to Beyoncé music, it’s safe to say this veteran performer would’ve been incredible. But in the middle of a fierce version of “If I Were a Boy,” the powerhouse vocalist — whose “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” took the Grammy for song of the year — surprised the crowd by segueing into a take-no-prisoners cover of Alanis Morisette’s Grammy-winning anthem “You Oughta Know.” And as her nod to the ’90s wrapped up, cameras cut to husband Jay-Z, who couldn’t have looked more proud.
HIGH NOTE: Pink’s Death-Defying Circus
We admit, it was a head-scratcher to watch Pink begin another high-flying Cirque du Soleil-esque stunt (she made jaws drop when she sang from a trapeze during 2009’s MTV Video Music Awards). Wearing a spangled unitard, the astonishingly confident Grammy nominee gave new meaning to her ballad “Glitter in the Air” with a risky performance in which she dangled from a silky white sling that appeared to be suspended by acrobats overhead. As she spun in dizzying circles above the audience, without a single vocal glitch — even dunking her head into water briefly to spray the crowd — we wondered: Is Pink raising the level of theatrics in her act to compete with Lady Gaga’s popularity? Or is she just an insatiable daredevil?
HIGH NOTE: Dave Matthews Band Celebrates a Brother
Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the Dave Matthews Band was a refreshing contrast to all of the glam production numbers that marked the first half of the broadcast. Their loose, carefree and strictly-about-the-music performance of “You & Me” was preceded by an understated intro from Adam Sandler, who reminded Grammy viewers of the devastating 2008 loss of saxophonist and founding member LeRoi Moore. The Grammy-nominated DMB proved, once again, that they’re a true “band of brothers.”
LOW NOTE: Black Eyed Peas in Outer Space
Fergie led the Peas through an aerobic medley of “Imma Be” and “I Gotta Feeling” while being upstaged by two major distractions:Â an army of boxy, silver robot stomper-dancers from outer space … and her own bizarre sun visor. Maybe Fergie wants to take up space golf in the future?
LOW NOTE: Jamie Foxx’s “Opera”
Jamie Foxx took to the Grammys stage to “sing” (Auto-Tune-enhanced) his single “Blame It,” but he thoroughly confounded viewers with an opera-themed gimmick that flopped from the very first note. T-Pain and Slash added to the craziness until all of us watching could only wonder which intoxicants to blame it all on, indeed.
LOW NOTE: Lady Antebellum’s Clumsy Curtain-Puller
During a shadowy opening, lead singer Hillary Scott launched into her band’s single “I Need You Now” from behind a gauzy curtain. But when a dramatic chord marked the cue for stagehands to release the sweeping swath of fabric, it landed right on Scott’s head before hitting the floor. That makes one hairdresser who didn’t expect the Grammys to be quite so exciting! (Not that Scott wasn’t a total pro — she smoothed her updo and didn’t seem to miss a beat!)
LOW NOTE: Taylor Swift & Stevie Nicks, No ‘Fairytale’
Grammy winner Taylor Swift made the lyrics of her song “Today Was a Fairytale” come true when Stevie Nicks joined her for a duet of the classic Fleetwood Mac song “Rhiannon.” Swift wasn’t sounding her best — which certainly could’ve been nerves — but what really had us confused was why nobody told the ladies in rehearsal that ending their medley with the legendary vocalist singing backup on Swift’s “You Belong with Me” was just … against the natural order of things! It may have been the first time a Kanye West objection would’ve been warranted.
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