Las Vegas (AFP).- The biggest names in music arrive in Las Vegas on Sunday for the 64th edition of the Grammy Awards, where the best of pop and the talented jazz player Jon Batiste compete for the most coveted awards in the industry.
The betting capital of the United States receives the gala for the first time, which should have been held in January in Los Angeles, but was postponed due to the increase in covid-19 cases.
Featuring a constellation of stars from all the nominated generations, the ceremony comes a week after Will Smith stunned millions of viewers after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscar gala in Hollywood.
Hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, the Grammy ceremony, which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, may also be a night of consolidation for rising stars, such as pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo, who competes in seven categories.
The 19-year-old former Disney actress caused a stir with her debut album “Sour” and her single “Drivers license,” giving her a chance to win all four major gramophones in one night (best new artist, album, recording and song of the year), an achievement only achieved by Billie Eilish in 2020 and Christopher Cross in 1981.
But all eyes are on Jon Batiste: the charismatic 35-year-old jazz player who won eleven nominations -the highest number of this edition- with his animated “We Are”.
Awarded an Oscar for his participation in the soundtrack of “Soul” (Pixar), musical director of the famous talk show by Stephen Colbert, son of a prominent family of the music industry in New Orleans and inclined to social activism, Batiste competes against established stars in two of the main categories of the night, in addition to others in the genres of R&B, jazz and contemporary classic.
“I’m so happy,” he said with his infectious smile to AFP on the red carpet of the pre-Grammy gala.
old acquaintances
Winners of the Grammy awards come for more in this edition. Billie Eilish, who won an Oscar for best song last week with “No time to die,” is competing in seven categories, while pop star Justin Bieber is up for eight trophies, as is R&B star HER.
The successful duo Lady Gaga36, and the legendary Tony Bennett, 95, are looking to add to their gramophone collection with their “Love for Sale” album, which battles it out across six categories.
Others are looking for their first gramophone, like the Spanish C. Tanganawho after a successful Latin Grammy campaign, is one of the favorites with his successful “El Madrileño” to win the award for best Latin or alternative rock album.
Also in the Latin categories, the reggaeton player bad bunny is seen by specialists as the strongest contender for the best urban music album, while the Colombian Camilo leads the bets, with “Mis Manos”, for the best Latin pop album, a category that the singer and actress also disputes. Selena Gomez, with “Revelation”.
The voices in Spanish will also be felt on stage with presentations by the Argentine María Becerra and the Colombian J Balvin, nominated for the best urban music album and who last year asked to boycott the Latin Grammys for considering that they relegated reggaeton to categories of the genre. .
performance night
The organizers will also include a special segment on Ukraine to urge viewers to contribute to fundraising to finance humanitarian aid and raise awareness of the horrors of war.
Global K-pop phenomenon BTS will also perform on Sundaybut despite his fame, he only fights one category with his hit “Butter”.
Eilish, Rodrigo, Batiste and HER were announced by the Recording Academy as part of the entertainment for the gala that rewards the best in music.
An unknown factor that weighed on the environment was whether the rapper kanye-west, who changed his name to Ye, will attend the ceremony. Disputing five categories, some media claimed that the Recording Academy had banned him from acting on stage due to the way he publicly handled the divorce and the new relationship with her ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
Some publications even recalled that Trevor Noah recently questioned West’s behavior, hinting that there may be some tension in the night. The organizers, who expanded the nominees for the main categories to ten, hope that the gala will be remembered as a recognition of diversity.
The Grammys celebration kicked off Friday with a moving tribute to Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.
The premiere of the ceremony, where several of the awards are announced and which precedes the televised gala, begins this Sunday at 7:30 GMT.
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
