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A BOLD STREAK of feminism ran through the Grammys gala last night, as women artists dominated in the competition and on the concert stage – while rappers Cardi B and Childish Gambino delivered a history-making night for hip-hop.
Gambino — the musical alter ego of actor Donald Glover – posted four big wins for his provocative hit This Is America, but did not attend the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles.
In any event, the night belonged to the ladies.
One year after they were largely snubbed in major categories, and the head of the Recording Academy sparked outrage for telling them to “step up,” they made their presence felt – and heard.
Country star Kacey Musgraves, one of the genre’s most critically praised artists who infuses her classic twang with psychedelia, nabbed four prizes including an upset win for top Album of the Year honors for Golden Hour.
“I think that women have a really necessary perspective to art, to music and it’s really nice to see that getting a chance to be included,” Musgraves told journalists after the show.
“It takes women having the balls to put out art that might not always be liked by everyone, but it also takes people on the other side of that to reach out and give those things a chance to be heard.”
English synth-pop star Dua Lipa bested a crowded field of female talent to take home the Grammy for Best New Artist.
“I guess we stepped up,” she said.
And rap’s woman of the moment Cardi B certainly put her art out there — she made history as the first solo woman to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album for her debut Invasion of Privacy.
The trembling star, fresh off a rousing performance of her hit Money, delivered an emotional speech alongside her husband Offset of the rap trio Migos about making the album in the early days of her pregnancy.
Gambino’s win marked the first time a rap track won either Song of the Year, which honors best songwriting, or the Record of the Year award for best overall song.
Musgraves’ third studio album beat out a crowded field of heavyweights for top honors including rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake – both of whom ended the night with just one win each.
Gambino and Lamar skipped the ceremony, but Drake showed up – and the Toronto rapper vented his frustration over a common complaint in recent years, that black hip-hop artists are not always given their due.
“We play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport,” Drake said as he accepted his lone award for Best Rap Song for his inescapable God’s Plan.
“This is a business where sometimes it is up to a bunch of people that might not understand what a mixed race kid from Canada has to say.”
Women on top
Host Alicia Keys got the show at the Staples Center off to a rousing start when she introduced a few of her friends — including former first lady Michelle Obama.
Obama delighted the audience when she came on stage alongside Keys, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and actress Jada Pinkett-Smith to deliver a strong message about diversity and female empowerment.
Brandi Carlile — this year’s most nominated woman — won her first three Grammys ever, in the Americana and American Roots categories.
Pop diva Gaga — sporting an off-the-shoulder silver number with a bold ruffle and thigh-high slit — meanwhile won an award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her heart-pounding hit Shallow from the blockbuster film A Star Is Born.
The song also won in the visual media group, and Gaga scored a third trophy for best pop solo performance for Joanne.
“I’m so proud to be a part of a movie that addresses mental health issues,” said a tearful Gaga, who thanked her co-star and duet partner Bradley Cooper.
“A lot of artists deal with that. And we got to take care of each other.”
Vagina monologues
The night struck a positive note that some change may be afoot at the Recording Academy, which has faced intense backlash over its apparent struggle to embrace diversity.
Rising pop star Camila Cabello opened the show with Ricky Martin, J Balvin and rapper Young Thug for a rousing bilingual performance.
Pop futurist Janelle Monae wowed the crowd with an edgy performance backed by an entourage of female dancers, dropping the line of the night: “Let the vagina have a monologue.”
And Lady Gaga delivered a stunning rendition of her hit Shallow — in a decidedly Gaga-esque bejeweled catsuit and sky-high disco boots.
Songstress Keys, a 15-time Grammy winner, was the first woman to host music’s biggest night in 14 years.
She performed a rollicking medley of classics on two pianos, while country legend Dolly Parton took the stage with Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and others after being honored for her musical and philanthropic contributions.
Disco legend Diana Ross performed a birthday tribute to herself before Jennifer Lopez wowed with an exuberant ode to Motown that included inflections of salsa.
Keys ended the feel-good show with a line to match: “Let’s keep listening and loving each other.”
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The two girls on Six One news will be delighted.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: and the girls that do the sports and weather.
Grammys, and music in general is a load of bull these days, these events are all about political points scoring now.
@Garret Fawl: yeah, music was never about politics before! It’s all these young people and their opinions! – every generation ever once they stopped being the key demographic
Stop trying to make feminism a thing. It’s not a thing. It WAS a thing and it worked amazingly. In the west we’re living in a post-feminism world. The evidence for this is when you use it to describe women winning big at the Grammys. Well done to them. But what the heck does that have to do with feminism? The Middle-East and Africa need feminism but they won the war here a long time ago.
@Toomasu Sumitsu: well said feminists are hell bound on division of the sexes
And it was a man who wrote most of the songs anyhow such is the music industry
@Toomasu Sumitsu: nah the “war” will have been won when men no longer abuse, beat, rape, and murder women. Feminism is not about some women doing well at the top, it’s about liberation for ALL women.
Always amuses me when men say that feminism is “dead”.
@Veronica: That will happen around the same time women stop murdering their kids, abusing their kids, abusing their husbands, lying to the courts I’d imagine…feminism won’t get us there!
@John Smith: any chance you’ve looked at the statistics on women committing those crimes?
@Veronica: I have thankfully they are extremely rare! But we can do better!
Toxic human behavior starts in the home and affects both genders…pretty obvious stuff unless you completely brainwashed by feminism which has convinced you that only one gender is capable of toxic behavior
Ever look at the stats of kids rared without fathers?
@John Smith: I’ve literally never said that only men do awful things. I have said, and will continue to say, that men commit these kinds of violent offences at a much much higher rate than women.
@Veronica: did you get your stats from the same type of source that convinced women of a mythical gender pay gap by any chance?
Male anti social behavior is problematic and well documented
Female anti social behavior isn’t recognized at all…this is evident in how the courts deal with male and female perpetrators
Are you aware that women are more likely to abuse their children…are you aware of the effect that abuse has on a child and society?
@John Smith: I get my stats from the CSO.
And yes, I am well aware of how devastating childhood abuse is, but I don’t see why that means we shouldn’t care about the victims of male violence.
@Veronica: if you are well aware of the devastating impact child abuse has, and you accept that woman are more likely to abuse their kids than men are…women are more likely to alienate a father from his kids…the “war” will be one when society recognizes the toxic tendencies of both genders.. feminism is actually an obstacle to achieving that! Because it studiously avoids dealing with toxic female behavior and it’s conseqences!
“It takes women having the balls…”, Kacey Musgraves. Not sure, but there’s some form of irony in that statement somewhere.
@iohanx: Well…Michelle/Michael Obama is a strong powerful woman and she has balls…
This may be perceived as toxic6.7/10
The comments on here are almost funny.
Feeling threatened boys?
@Bob Earner: Its the grammys….some women won…if you feel empowered because of that god help you!
@Bob Earner: nah. Just don’t feel that a bunch of narcissistic females, who are worried that the next boy has a bigger place than them because they’re a girl, winning Grammies is a sign that things are looking up for the suppressed females in the Middle East who can’t get on a plane without permission from a man, and are subjected to honour killings.
@Mrsuperiority: edit, should say “bigger palace”
Gaga and her little bundle of joy…. the head of her.
@Ben Jamen: she said herself in the movie, its her nose!
@Ben Jamen: a few taps to bring up the wind on those gramophones
There there
Is there a complete breakdown of the winners as from what I can see it looks fairly even in regards male and female winners. Not that it matters but it’s important regarding the headline
Green book is the best film.
@Adrian: the article is about the Grammy awards, given out for music
How in the name of jaysus did ‘This is america’ win song of the year. Its the greatest heap of $h1te
As the great one bono calls her…… her gaganess.what a women what a movie
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