Music never stopped during Grammy broadcast
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Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters perform at the 54th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. The band took home five awards.
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With only nine actual awards given out during the broadcast, there was ample time for the stars to show their stuff.
Here are the highs and lows:
Slickest trip back to the Apollo: Bruno Mars eschewing those hopelessly weepy radio ballads and nearly breaking a James Brown cold sweat on "Runaway."
Best solo duet: Big-voiced Kelly Clarkson hitting all the high notes and carrying the load when nervous-looking Jason Aldean's mike cut out on "Stay."
Country superstar who sounded oddly... country: Taylor Swift wearing a banjo and frumpy Elly May Clampett dress while singing -- adorably -- "someday I'll be/singing this at the Grammys/and all you're ever gonna be is MEAN."
Rock's greatest outside-insider: Former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, whose Foo Fighters rocked "Walk" in the outside tent. That headbanging thing he did ... he can do that for two-and-a-half hours.
Artists best prepared for a flat tire: Rihanna and Coldplay were equipped with flares and glow sticks for a duet that never quite created sparks.
Song the Republican candidates should not try to use: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's rousing opening of "We Take Care of Our Own," which is a protest song couched in an anthem -- and vice versa.
Antidote to the gray hairs: The ecstatic rave that broke out between David Guetta, Deadmau5 and same famous friends.
Singer with the most to get off her chest: This one's a draw. We've got the stunning Adele, back from vocal surgery, who stood in one place and scorched the place with a defiant "Rolling in the Deep." And we've got a lesser singer in the hyper, blue-haired Katy Perry, who had prop fire, but effectively used "Part of Me" to tell Russell Brand to keep his diamond ring.
Pure diamond moment: Glen Campbell, 75 and battling Alzheimer's, sounding great and getting the stars out of their seats for "Rhinestone Cowboy."
Most head-scratching comeback: Chris Brown, who was not only allowed back in the door, but got to perform (twice!) and even won something.
Best reason for Bon Iver to win Best New Artist: Nicki Minaj's attempt to outdo Gaga -- and Slayer! -- by turning into Linda Blair.
Most fragile vibrations: Those sublime and delicate Beach Boys harmonies that looked like they could have fizzled any second, but ... miraculously ... didn't.
Most powerful vibration: Jennifer Hudson, an "American Idol" reject made good, having to fight the tears and climb to the top of "I Will Always Love You" all by herself.
Worst use of a Beatle: Sir Paul singing a song that sounded like it was written during World War II. It was later corrected by ...
Best use of a Beatle: A more rowdy Paul climaxing the show with an all-star guitar jam of "Golden Slumbers."
First Published February 13, 2012 12:21 am
