Artist News Awards

Socially distanced Grammy Awards take place in LA

By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 15 March 2021

The 63rd Grammy Awards took place last night with a stripped back, outdoor ceremony. This year’s big winner was Beyonce. She not only took away four trophies – two thanks to her feature on Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘Savage’ – but she also became the most awarded woman in the event’s history having now received 28 prizes across her career.

The sparsely-attended event was set up outside the Staples Center in LA, with spaced out tables each populated by one or two masked celebrities, to ensure COVID safety. Performances were pre-recorded, allowing artists to get more creative than usual. Lil Baby in particular went all out, with a large-scale production protesting police brutality. For his performance of ‘The Bigger Picture’, he was also joined by Killer Mike, who rapped a section of Run The Jewels’ ‘Walking In The Snow’.

As well as winning for her contribution to ‘Savage’ – which won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance – Beyonce took home Best R&B Performance for ‘Black Parade’ and Best Music Video for ‘Brown Skin Girl’. She now ties with Quincy Jones in second place for the winner of the most Grammy trophies ever. They both trail conductor Georg Solti, who has 31.

It was also notable that all of the big artist awards this year were taken by women. Megan Thee Stallion added to her haul with Best New Artist; Billie Eilish took Record Of The Year with ‘Everything I Wanted; Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ won Album Of The Year; and HER took Song Of The Year with ‘I Can’t Breathe’.

Fiona Apple took away two awards too, her first wins in 23 years, despite consistent nominations throughout her career. She won Best Rock Performance for ‘Shameika’ and Best Alternative Music Album for ‘Fetch The Bolt Cutters’. Her last win before that was Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for ‘Criminal’ in 1998.

Apple did not attend the ceremony, saying in a video message before the event: “I don’t wanna be on national television. I’m just not made for that stuff anymore. I wanna stay sober and I can’t do that sober. It doesn’t feel safe to me to be in that exposure/scrutiny/comparison to people”.

What about British artists though? Did any of them win anything? I’m glad you asked. Harry Styles won Best Pop Solo Artist for ‘Watermelon Sugar’; Dua Lipa won Best Pop Vocal Album for ‘Future Nostalgia’; and Jacob Collier won Best Arrangement, Instrument And Vocals for ‘He Won’t Hold You’.

And if you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned Best Immersive Audio Album yet, that’s because, remember, “due to complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic”, the 2020 nominations for that category will not be announced until next year. Happy to clear that up for you.

Anyway, below are some of the key winners from this year’s ceremony. For the full (still very long, despite everything) list, have a look here.

Record Of The Year: Billie Eilish – Everything I Wanted

Album Of The Year: Taylor Swift – Folklore

Song Of The Year: HER – I Can’t Breathe

Best New Artist: Megan Thee Stallion

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical: Andrew Wyatt

Best Music Video: Beyonce, Blue Ivy & WizKid – Brown Skin Girl

Best Pop Solo Performance: Harry Style – Watermelon Sugar

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande – Rain On Me

Best Pop Vocal Album: Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia

Best Rap Performance: Megan Thee Stallion feat Beyonce – Savage

Best Rap Song: Megan Thee Stallion feat Beyonce – Savage

Best Rap Album: Nas – King’s Disease

Best R&B Performance: Beyonce – Black Parade

Best R&B Song: Robert Glasper featuring HER and Meshell Ndegeocello – Better Than I Imagined

Best R&B Album: John Legend – Bigger Love

Best Dance Recording: Kaytranda feat Kali Uchis – 10%

Best Dance/Electronic Album: Kaytranada – Bubba

Best Rock Performance: Fiona Apple – Shameika

Best Rock Song: Brittany Howard – Stay High

Best Rock Album: The Strokes – The New Abnormal

Best Metal Performance: Body Count – Bum-Rush

Best Alternative Music Album: Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Best Progressive R&B Album: Thundercat – It Is What It Is

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: Kanye West – Jesus Is King

Best Song Written For Visual Media: Billie Eilish – No Time To Die