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Halle Coleman
Managing Editor
The 2021 Grammys were one of the many awards shows to adapt to the virtual aspect due to the pandemic.
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards toggled between an outdoor set-up around the Los Angeles Convention Center populated with small tables of stars, and an indoor performance stage for the show’s set pieces.
This year’s ceremony was hosted by Trevor Noah, who emceed the four-hour event with a consistent amount of energy. The live performances and the in-person seating allowed for a more traditional feel despite the circumstances.
Women were the trending topic of the night, with history being made. With her win through Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage (Remix)” and her own win for “Black Parade” as the best R&B performance, Beyoncé made history as the winningest woman in Grammy history, with 28 awards.
“As an artist, I believe it’s my job to reflect the times, and it’s been such a difficult time,” Beyoncé said as she collected the award. “So I wanted to uplift, encourage, celebrate all of the beautiful black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the world”.
She has now equaled super-producer Qunicy Jones’ total of 28 Grammys. Only classical conductor Sir Georg Solti has more, with 31.
Taylor Swift’s win for “Folklore” as Album of the Year deemed her as the first woman to win that particular award three times. Billie Eilish took home Record of the Year for “Everything I Wanted.”
Megan Thee Stallion became Best New Artist and the first female artist to win the best rap song award. Dua Lipa won for her album “Future Nostalgia” and H.E.R. took home the trophy for “I Can’t Breathe” as Song of the Year, which quotes the last words of George Floyd..
Selena Quintanilla was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award alongside Marilyn Horne, Salt-N-Pepa, Talking Heads, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, and Lionel Hampton.
Performances were also the talk of the night. After Megan Thee Stallion performed a jazz-age inspired rendition of her hits “Body” and “Savage,” Cardi B took the stage, incorporating a giant platform stiletto and a pile of cash inside to perform “WAP”.
Lil Baby performed his Black Lives Matter anthem “The Bigger Picture,” making a statement through a police brutality presentation with the support of Tamika Mallory and Killer Mike.
Instead of celebrities presenting awards, this year representatives from four small music venues around the country—the Station Inn in Nashville, Tenn., the Troubadour in L.A., the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and the Hotel Cafe in L.A.—were given the opportunity to reflect on the challenges over the last year before announcing the winner.
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