Let’s take a page from Olivia Rodrigo and get brutal.
The seven-time Grammy nominee is one of nearly two dozen artists who performed during the Grammy Awards television on Sunday, including Billie Eilish, Jon Baptiste, Brandi Carlile, Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X and Silk Sonic. The musicians – who are all vying for top awards this year – take the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, after the awards ceremony was delayed and moved from Los Angeles to Sin City due to COVID-19.
While it will be difficult to top the (watermelon-sugar) heights of when Harry Styles and BTS took the stage last year, here are the best (and worst) performances of the ceremony:
Silk Sonic, ‘777’
The R&B team-up of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, who released their joint effort of nine songs last November, opened the show with the album’s electrifying opening track, followed by striking “777.” Back in the ’70s in sleek white jumpsuits – bejeweled with playing card iconography on the sleeves – the dynamic couple named Sin City controlled in rolling, funky fashion, singing, “I’m about to buy Las Vegas after this role. “Call us gambling men, but it will be difficult to surpass the energy of this dynamic duo.
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Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Drivers License’
The 19-year-old pop-punk outburst is already a Grammy winner who goes to Sunday television, grabbing hours for the show her first prize for best pop-solo performance (for debut single “Driver’s License” ). Backed by an all-female band, and sporty glitter eyeliner and fishnet stockings, Rodrigo sounded enormous as she delivered a soaring rendition of her emotional breakup anthem while darting across a vibrant suburban backdrop, complete with a DMV-approved Mercedes.
J Balvin and Maria Becerra, ‘Qué Más Pues?’ and ‘In the Ghetto’
Rodrigo is a tough action to follow, but Balvin held more than his own with a sexy rendition of his “Jose” album track “Que Mas Pues?” With the Argentine singer Maria Becerra. Particular props should be given to the light staircase and neon-drenched backup dancers, who gave us some of the most enchanting handwriting on this side of Madonna’s “Vogue.”
BTS, ‘Butter’
Could BTS be more contagious? The K-pop prodigies charmed out as they performed an exuberant take on “Butter”, slipped across the stage in black tuxedos and honored everything from “Ocean’s Eleven” to “Mission: Impossible” while playing cards and discovering lasers in suave Vegas style. And we could not help but swoon as member V playfully cozied up to Rodrigo at the top of the number.
