Grammy performances: Who hit high notes and low notes
Sam Smith was the big winner — on stage and with the hardware. But Sunday's Grammy Awards show was packed with powerful performances all night. Paste BN's Elysa Gardner watched and listened.
ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE
Performers: Beyoncé, John Legend, Common
Songs: Precious Lord, Take My Hand; Glory
Recap: The best performances came last. Beyoncé capped a ceremony that wasn't short on social commentary with a gospel song that was a favorite of Martin Luther King Jr. She ended her fervid rendition introducing Legend and Common, who found inspiration for Glory in King and today's protests — and who performed, indeed, gloriously, accompanied by a full string section and choir.
LADY IN RED
Performer: Madonna
Song: Living For Love
Recap: Madonna has fought some bulls in her time. In this exuberant number, which incorporated Greek mythology and a gospel choir, she looked and sounded terrific — and happy. You're not going to bring her down, and good luck trying.
COUNTRY CHARMERS
Performers: Brandy Clark, Dwight Yoakam
Song: Hold My Hand
Recap: The gifted singer/songwriter who should have won the best new artist trophy was joined by a true roots maverick, whose rugged, seasoned presence and subdued artistry here emphasized the fresh, creamy quality of her singing.
SOUL REVIVAL
Performers: Usher, Stevie Wonder
Song: If It's Magic
Recap: Usher's sweetly sinuous tenor sounded as great as we expected covering this majestic number from Wonder's celebrated Songs in the Key of Life. Having Wonder himself on harmonica was a heartwarming bonus.
BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT
Performers: Ed Sheeran (with John Mayer, Questlove, Herbie Hancock), ELO
Songs: Thinking Out Loud, Evil Woman, Mr. Blue Sky
Recap: The soulful virtuosity of Sheeran's supporting players lent added heft to his earnest single — which Sheeran sang beautifully. The likably scruffy singer/songwriter then joined fellow Brit Lynne and his band for a rather subdued Evil Woman (though it did bring Paul McCartney to his feet). Sheeran's fluid vocals and gently joyful spirit were a bigger presence on Mr. Blue Sky.
SHE'S ON FIRE
Performer: Miranda Lambert
Song: Little Red Wagon
Recap: Not even the bleeps could detract from the heat Lambert brought to the stage, savoring the subtext without overselling it. Lambert told Paste BN before the Grammys that she was ready to rock; on stage, the sweat glistening on her pretty face said it all.
TRUE ARTISTS
Performers: Rihanna, Kanye West, Paul McCartney
Song: FourFiveSeconds
Recap: Three superstars as performers, no flash, no one trying to upstage the others. Add some buoyant harmonies, and you have a refreshingly simple and truly rousing number.
GRACE AND GRIT
Performer: Katy Perry
Song: By the Grace of God
Recap: Commentary by President Obama and some words from a domestic abuse survivor preceded Perry's performance of her emotional ballad, which showcased the singer — underappreciated for her positive, empowering spirit — at her most forthright and forceful.
EN ÉSPANOL
Performer: Juanes
Song: Juntos
Recap: If you're not familiar with the talented Colombian artist (and global star), this jaunty number provided only a glimpse of his charisma. But at least the song, featured in Disney's upcoming McFarland USA, got a Spanish-language performance on the Grammys broadcast.
SPIRIT AND FLESH
Performers: Hozier, Annie Lennox
Songs: Take Me to Church, I Put a Spell on You
Recap: Hozier looked and sounded suitably intense (and a little morose); but Church really took off when Lennox entered to remind him — and us — that soul is measured not by suffering but by transcendence. A sexier mood prevailed on her potent Spell; even Hozier, accompanying her with bluesy guitar, seemed to brighten up.
THEY'RE IN HEAVEN
Performance: Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
Song: Cheek to Cheek
Recap: Bennett still has the phrasing, and the joy; and Gaga, as she has proven, can get into the swing of things and hold her own vocally with a group of great jazz and trad-pop musicians.
YEEZUS RETURNS
Performer: Kanye West
Song: Only One
Recap: Delivering a song inspired by his late mother and young daughter, West seemed driven by a force above the stage, sometimes moving out of the spotlight seemingly unconsciously. Even the abundant reverb on his vocals didn't overshadow his passion.
CLASSIC, NOT CUTE
Performer: Ariana Grande
Song: Just a Little Bit of Your Heart
Recap: Clad in a simple, elegant gown, with pianist Lang Lang to her right and a string section to her left, former child star Grande offered no wide-eyed flirting but rather a direct, heartfelt performance that emphasized her shimmering voice — and showed genuine charm.
MYSTERY BLONDE
Performer: Sia
Song: Chandelier
Recap: The famously elusive artist got bold in this grandly theatrical production number, which nodded to her video for Chandelier with Kristen Wiig and Maddie Ziegler dancing wildly as the track played. It was more performance art than music.
THE QUEEN AND THE PRINCE
Performers: Sam Smith, Mary J. Blige
Song: Stay With Me
Recap: If Smith's careful countertenor makes you melt, he had you at hello. If not, the entrance of the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul — an encouraging, almost maternal figure here — livened things up. And it was sweet the way Smith smiled after hitting those first few high notes, and again after Blige joined him.
BEYOND HIS HOMETOWN
Performer: Eric Church
Song: Give Me Back My Hometown
Recap: The country singer/songwriter performed while video clips documenting violence and protests around the world loomed large behind his band during their sober, and sobering, set.
MELLOW GOLD
Performers: Beck, Chris Martin
Song: Heart is a Drum
Recap: Though Beck had just nabbed the award for best album, he wasn't gloating during this gently atmospheric number, for which Martin was a relaxed, unobtrusive guest. Granted, Beck smiled now and then.
THEY'RE BACK IN BLACK
Performer: AC/DC
Songs: Rock or Bust, Highway to Hell
Recap: Emerging in a blaze of lights to start the show, the veteran rockers (with drummer Chris Slade replacing the embattled Phil Rudd) segued from a chugging take on a new song into the rock stomp of an old fave. They kept the crowd on its feet (and their caps on, in Brian Johnson's and Angus Young's cases).
BRINGIN' BACK THAT LOVIN' FEELIN'
Performers: Tom Jones, Jessie J
Song: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Recap: The seasoned crooner and the young star joined forces to pay homage to the songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who won the Grammys' Trustees Award. Jones and Jessie J sang with due reverence, though the duet didn't exude a ton of chemistry — or the individual personality each is known for.
DAPPER BUT DULL
Performers: Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani
Song: My Heart is Open
Recap: Stefani looked divine, and Levine predictably well-groomed — they made an attractive couple, no doubt. But neither her charm nor his smarm could make this flavorless song compelling.
HAPPY?
Performer: Pharrell Williams
Song: Happy
Recap: Perhaps searching for a new twist on a song that seems to never go away, Pharrell inserted an international flavor and weirdly dark tone, reinforced by Lang Lang's dissonant piano solo a couple of minutes in. But the choruses remained upbeat — and hey, the orchestra members wore yellow.