Beyoncé rewrites music history. The most awarded artist of all time at the Grammys has won the award for best album of the year at the 67th edition of the Academy Awards of Music , thanks to “ Cowboy Carter” , her bold and erudite exploration of the black roots of the country genre. “It’s been many, many years,” Queen B acknowledged in accepting the most prestigious award of the event , which had eluded her four times, even for albums praised by critics and beloved by the public like Lemonade and Renaissance.
The Texan musician broke another taboo on Sunday night, also taking home the trophy for best country album of 2024 : "Cowboy Carter" had been snubbed (not even a nomination) at the last Country Music Awards. She is the first African-American person to win this title for a genre historically considered a white monopoly.
Taylor Swift , the big winner of last year's edition, did not lift any statuette and remained in the stalls of the Crypto.com Arena applauding and dancing sportily. The other two 'heavy' awards, for best album and best song of the year, went to "Not like us" by rapper Kendrick Lamar , born and raised in the black ghetto of Compton, Los Angeles.
In addition to the artists who performed and those who collected the golden gramophones (all women, except Lamar), the undisputed star of the evening in the Lakers' arena was the city of Los Angeles . The Recording Academy decided not to move the scheduled date for the Oscars of music, but transformed the show into an uninterrupted tribute to the megalopolis devoured by the flames that broke out almost a month ago and were 100% extinguished only last weekend.
The elite of the music and entertainment industry gathered for the first time after the most expensive catastrophe in U.S. history, and while celebrating songs and albums released in 2024, they raised more than $7 million for fire victims and celebrated the city’s creative energy and resilience . The top award, at the end of a nearly four-hour gala, was announced by a delegation of county firefighters. A choir of students from two burned-out schools accompanied a version of “We Are the World” by Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock, part of a tribute to legendary producer Quincy Jones, who died in November.
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars performed a version of "California Dreamin'" , a 1965 classic by The Mamas & the Papas that has been a hymn to the Golden State's most famous megalopolis ever since. The two returned to the stage to accept the award for best duet for the song "Die with a smile" . From the stage, the actress and singer said: "Trans people are not transparent, trans people deserve love and the queer community needs to be supported. Music is love".
The other jab at the newly re-elected President Donald Trump (never nominated) came from Shakira. The Colombian singer, who turned 48 yesterday, received the Grammy for best Latin album of the year for "Las mujeres ya no lloran", a hymn to the strength of women peppered with jabs at ex Gerard Piqué. "I dedicate the award to all of you, brothers and sisters who immigrate to this country. You are loved, you are precious, and I will fight for you. To all the women who work every day to support their families: you are a true shield," said the musician clutching the golden gramophone (the fourth she has won in her career).
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” was named the best pop album of 2024 by the Recording Academy’s 13,000 voters. The 25-year-old former Disney star also earned a shout-out from Swift, who chose her to open for her Eras tour. “Alligator Bites Never Heal” earned Doechii the award for best rap album, while Chappell Roan was named best newcomer.
(Online Union)
