Newcomer Sam Smith thanked his ex for breaking his heart – because the song he inspired won him four Grammy Awards.
Smith would win the first Grammy for “Best New Artist” the last award for “Record of the Year” – and two more in between – walking away from his first Grammy presence as the evening’s brightest star.
It was an evening of mostly somber performances that saved the best for last in what seemed like a ploy to keep viewers hanging on, the 2015 were mostly uneventful.
Smith’s big night, an upset for “Best Album” by Beck with an attempted acceptance speech crash by Kanye West, and a performance by Beyonce that many feel belonged to Ledisi were the buzzed about items in a show that felt at least as long as the 3 plus hours it aired.
Common and John Legend’s live presentation of “Glory” was the best of the night, but most fans had checked out by the time the two hit the stage – many of whom hung on just to see if Beyonce would do justice to the gospel standard “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” as she introduced the duo performing their Academy Award nominated song from the “Selma” soundtrack.
Other notable moments included Prince’s comment that “like books and black lives, albums still matter” during his presentation of the “Best Album” award and visual references to the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” symbolism of Ferguson protesters during the performances of Pharrell Williams and Beyoncé. Aside from Smith, other winners included Beyonce, Williams, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.
