Before getting into the actual article, we would like to offer our condolences to the families of the lives lost on January 26th, 2020. On a day meant to celebrate the achievements of music via the Grammys, the world stopped at the abrupt news of the passing of an LA legend. May each of these beautiful souls taken so suddenly rest in peace.
Kobe Bryant
Gianna Bryant
John Altobelli
Keri Altobelli
Alyssa Altobelli
Sarah Chester
Payton Chester
Christina Mauser
Ara Zobayan
Were you one of the many who doesn’t like watching award shows, but wants to be in-the-know? Well, lucky for you that’s exactly what we are about to give you. Here’s our top 5 GRAMMY quick hits of the night.
- All of Ariana Grande’s Dresses
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Ariana Grande walked the carpet with not one, but two majestically fluffy dresses. The first was a gray toned Giambattista Valli custom-made strapless tulle dress (try saying that five times real fast!). She paired the gown with classy dark gray opera gloves and stunning diamond earrings. While she changed to her second dress before the show started, she reverted back to this ballgown once seated in the audience. The dress was so big that it took up way more seats than needed, but it is Ariana freaking Grande so she can get away with it (see: 5:06).
The second dress she changed to on the red carpet was a custom Schiaparelli two-piece dark gray set. The top was cropped with an embellished scoop neckline. The bottom was big, fluffy, and looked suspiciously close to a comforter (in other words, EXTRA snuggly). She paired this gown with the same opera gloves and earrings (see: 4:55).
For the first part of her performance, Grande opted for a custom-made strapless emerald green Givenchy dress. She, again, had matching opera gloves, and a set of dangling emerald earrings and an emerald pendant. She stayed in this dress for most of the show, with the exception of her second performance (see: 4:33).
If her second outfit could be described in one word it would be sexy. She wore an all-pink lingerie set covered by a pink satin robe with faux fur trimming. This look was styled by famed celebrity stylist Law Roach (see: 6:14). - Billy Porter’s Shady Hat
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Billy Porter, being the fashion forward avant-garde icon he is, got the internet talking yet again about his gender-bending outfit. This time, though, the buzz was all about his majestic hat. He wore a classy sparkly blue jumpsuit and matching cropped jacket designed by Baja East. The base of the suit was fringed with crystals to add to the shine of the glitter studded boots. He paired the look with a wide-brimmed hat in the same design with crystal fringe cascading around his entire head. The kicker: the fringe could open and shut like a curtain via a remote control held by Billy’s stylist. He arrived on the carpet with the “curtain” shut, and upon stepping on the right spot for paparazzi to capture his look, his stylist flipped the switch, which led to the creation of the amazing video featured above.
The video not only gave us a closer look into Billy’s electric eyeliner and crystal mole, but also led to a litany of memes. All the glorious memes (x) (x)
- Alicia Keys’ Dedication to Black Mamba
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Alicia Keys opened the show with a tear-jerking monologue. “Here we are together on music’s biggest night. Celebrating artists that do it best, but to be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now because earlier today, Los Angeles, America, and the whole wide world lost a hero,” Key states.
She goes on to ask the audience to remember Kobe and his daughter Gianna, who have tragically passed but are still with everyone in spirit, especially under the “house that Kobe Bryant built” (referencing the Staples Center). She is then joined by R&B vocal group Boyz II Men in singing “It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” in memoriam
- Billie Eilish Sweeps the GRAMMYs (and the Trolls Are Out)
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Billie Eilish, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter and music sensation (along with her 22-year-old brother, co-producer, and co-songwriter Finneas O’Connell), swept the GRAMMYs with a whopping 10 awards combined!
Billie’s awards included: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, and Record of the Year. She made history by being the youngest ever to win Record of The Year (replacing former title holder, Taylor Swift). An all around great night for Billie! Until it becomes clear that she was practically begging for Album of The Year not to be given to her.
Confused? Well, she kind-of-sort-of indirectly explains her reaction while accepting the award.
Eilish says, “Can I just say that I think Ariana deserves this?” Ariana is seen blowing kisses and dismissing Billie’s statement. “‘Thank U, Next’ got me through some s—, and I think it deserves this more than anything in the world.”
This could be seen as a suffice enough explanation to her reaction, but some were quick to point out another possible reason. Soon after winning, Twitter was quick to shade Eilish with hateful comments. (x) (x)
Some linked Eilish’s reactions to her probably knowing that the trolls would be coming out and hitting hard (as they always do with young successful women — but you didn’t hear that from me). This is just another example of fandoms fighting for their faves to win by completely disrespecting the current successful artist. It is important to remember, kids: you can like what you like without disrespecting what you don’t. (x)
- Tyler The Creator’s Conflict
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Tyler The Creator took home the award for Best Rap Album for ‘IGOR’. He says winning the GRAMMYs has been an aspiration for him ever since he began rapping. After the award show, Tyler returned home and quote-tweeted a 2011 tweet of a guy saying the following: “dont b too excited. u wont get one…..” in reference to a Tyler’s GRAMMY award dreams. Tyler finally responded 9 years later! Yes, he knows it’s petty, and we love it. (x)
We know that this was a dream of his, but he felt heavily conflicted by the award. He criticized the GRAMMY Awards during the press junket after the show for racial bias. He admitted that while grateful for the award, he felt as though it was a “backhanded compliment” because his album wasn’t truly a rap album. Tyler points out that when black artists such as himself push the boundaries of music and creatively branch out, they are always categorized as rap or, worse, “urban”. He states his distaste for the word, “it’s just a politically correct way to say the n-word to me. When I hear that, I’m just like, why can’t we be in pop?” He dreams of the day when the music he produces isn’t classified merely by the color of his skin, but by its actual sound.
We couldn’t agree more.