Grammys cause Controversy

The Grammys. The awards show of awards shows. At least, in my opinion—though, as music editor, I may be a bit biased.

This year, we witnessed a number of interesting performances, including the weddings of 33 couples, officiated by none other than Queen Latifah, following a performance of “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Madonna joined the stage to perform “Open Your Heart” during the ceremony.

This act served to prove that opposition to same-sex marriage is crumbling, as evidenced by Virginia’s Atty. Gen. refusing to defend the state’s same-sex marriage ban.

Other notable performances include Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr’s acts, as well as performance of “Get Lucky” with Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder and Nile Rodgers. The producers, wearing robot helmets as usual, stayed off the main stage.

Rolling Stone’s Grammys graphic. Media credit to Rolling Stone

As for the results, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis swept the categories, taking Best New Artist, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album, and Best Performance. Daft Punk also took a number of awards. The silent duo took home awards for Best pop duo/group performance, Record of the year, amd Best Dance/Electronic Album. The only other artists to take home multiple awards were Kacey Musgraves and Justin Timberlake.

Of course, there was the “Award Robbery” that comes with every show. Fans take to the internet to argue that their favored artist should have won and such.

But this year, the apologies for robbery came from Macklemore, in the form of a text and instagram photo to Kendrick Lamar. Lamar, whose album “good kid, M.A.A.D City” was up for a number of rap awards, left the show empty handed. Macklemore apologized to his fellow rapper via a text after the awards, and then chose to post said text on instagram.

This action alone has caused even more controversy, with some fans lauding his respect. It also spawned a Gawker article titled, Macklemore is a Ho Bag.

2014 GRAMMY SHOW RESULTS

Best New Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best pop duo/group performance: Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers — “Get Lucky”

Best rock song: “Cut Me Some Slack” — Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear

Best pop solo performance: Lorde — “Royals”

Best rap/sung collaboration: Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake — “Holy Grail”

Best pop vocal album: Bruno Mars — “Unorthodox Jukebox”

Best country album: Kacey Musgraves — “Same Trailer Different Park”

Song of the year: “Royals” — Lorde

Record of the year: “Get Lucky” — Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers

Album of the year: “Random Access Memories” — Daft Punk

2014 PRE-GRAMMY WINNERS

Best Rock Album: Celebration Day, Led Zeppelin

Best Metal Performance: “God Is Dead?,” Black Sabbath

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical: Pharrell Williams

Best Alternative Music Album: Modern Vampires Of The City, Vampire Weekend

Best Rock Performance: “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons

Best Country Song: “Merry Go Round,” Kacey Musgraves

Best Country Solo Performance: “Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker

Best Country Duo/Group Performance: “From This Valley,” The Civil Wars

Best Music Film: Live Kisses, Paul McCartney

Best Music Video: “Suit & Tie,” Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z

Best Blues Album: Get Up!, Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite

Best R&B Album: Girl On Fire, Alicia Keys

Best Urban Contemporary Album: Unapologetic, Rihanna

Best R&B Song: “Pusher Love Girl,” Justin Timberlake

Best Traditional R&B Performance: “Please Come Home,” Gary Clark Jr.

Best R&B Performance: “Something,” Snarky Puppy & Lalah Hathaway

Best Rap Album: The Heist, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best Rap Song: “Thrift Shop,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best Rap Performance: “Thrift Shop,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best Comedy Album: Calm Down Gurrl, Kathy Griffin

Best Dance/Electronica Album: Random Access Memories, Daft Punk

Best Dance Recording: “Clarity,” Zedd featuring Foxes

Best Folk Album: My Favorite Picture Of You, Guy Clark

Best Americana Album: Old Yellow Moon, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell

Best Song Written For Visual Medium: “Skyfall,” Adele & Paul Epworth

Best Musical Theater Album: Kinky Boots, Cyndi Lauper

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album: Sound City: Real To Reel, Butch Vig

Best Latin Jazz Album: Song For Maura, Paquito D’Rivera & Trio Corrente

Best Jazz Instrumental Album: Money Jungle: Provocative In Blue, TerriLyne Carrington

Best Jazz Vocal Album: Liquid Spirit, Gregory Porter

Best New Age Album: Love’s River, Laura Sullivan

Best Latin Pop Album: Vida, Draco Rosa

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album: “Treinta Días,” La Santa Cecilia

Best Regional Mexican Music Album: “A Mi Manera,” Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea

Best Tropical Latin Album: “Pacific Mambo Orchestra,” Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song: “Overcomer,” David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: “Overcomer,” Mandisa

Best Gospel Album: Greater Than [Live], Tye Tribbett

Best Gospel Song: “If He Did It Before… Same God [Live],” Tye Tribbett

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance: “Break Every Chain [Live],” Tasha Cobbs

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: “Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix)”

Best Spoken World Album: America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren’t, Stephen Colbert

Best World Music Album(s): Gipsy Kings’ Savor Flamenco & Lady Smith Black Mambazo’s Live: Singing For Peace Around The World

Best Reggae Album: Ziggy Marley In Concert, Ziggy Marley

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: To Be Loved, Michael Buble

Best Pop Instrumental Album: Steppin’ Out, Herb Alpert