SCAMMYS: “The Award Show That Doesn’t Live Up To The Hype”
The most anticipated night in music is also the most controversial. The biggest music award show in the world, The Grammys. Almost every musician’s dream is to receive one. In the past 10 years or so there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Grammys. Based on who has won awards and who has been snubbed for specific categories and nominations.
The Grammys seem to be very selective with who they choose to give their awards to. No one knows the process of how the winners are selected for each category but many of the same artists win every year.
There’s a list of mainstream artists who have never won but have been nominated 5x or more. Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Diana Ross, and Snoop Dogg to name a few and Rapper Nas, just won his first after years of being nominated.
The Grammys also like to use artists to perform at their shows for views but never award them or barely nominate them for their artistry. Which I believed they did with many artists this year, Lil Baby, Jhene Aiko, and Doja Cat.
The nominations this year were very competitive and close, based on the Grammys history we could all predict who would win but in the back of our minds, we all wanted to believe the Grammys would do right by some of our favorite artists.
As mentioned before, Rapper Nas finally won his first-ever Grammy for his Album “King’s Disease” after years of being nominated and never winning. Although many believed it should have gone to Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, Alfredo.
Megan Thee Stallion had a big night, winning 3 Grammys. Her first for Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, and Song of the Year for Savage Remix with Beyonce. Sharing the stage with Beyonce for a touching acceptance speech.
The biggest surprise and highlight of the night was Beyonce. Although she and her husband Jay Z showed up 2 hrs in. After winning for “Savage Remix” with Megan and sharing that moment with her, she became tied as the most grammy awarded singer with 27 wins. She then won another award for her single “Black Parade” and became the most awarded artist ever with 28 Grammys.
The Grammys became Beyonce’s show for the 30 minutes she spent there. She received a standing ovation and also gave a shout-out to her daughter Blue Ivy Carter who won her very first Grammy for “Brown Skin Girl”. Becoming the second youngest person to win a grammy at just 9 years old. Both of them created history or should I say (Her)story.
Although this was a great achievement for Beyonce we have to remember that out of all the 28 awards she has won, she never won for Album of the Year. She has been robbed of awards and snubbed as well.
To no surprise, the biggest award of the night went to none other than Taylor Swift. “Folklore” won Album of the Year. A category that Beyonce never seems to win in and has previously lost to Swift. It just so happened to be Taylor’s 3rd win in this category. Also making history, I wish I could say I was shocked but this is expected of the Grammys.
When the Grammy nominations were announced earlier this year the biggest snub was The Weeknd, with “Blinding Lights” being the biggest single of 2020, he didn’t receive one nomination.
Chloe X Halle released their 2nd album “Ungodly Hour” this year making them the biggest R&B duo of 2020. Keeping us on our toes all quarantine, they were nominated 3 times and lost in every category.
Doja Cat, was nominated for Best New Artist, and her debut album “Hot Pink” biggest single “Say So” was nominated twice and snubbed for Record of the Year and Pop Solo Performance. The song should have been a guaranteed win.
Lil Baby’s, “The Bigger Picture“, was a song that was very political for a rapper who doesn’t preach politics. He stepped out of his comfort zone and used his voice to speak for the people. He also had the best performance of the night, bringing awareness to Police Brutality and having activist Mike Jones and Tamika Palmer alongside him.
Roddy Rich’s, “The Box“, lost Song of the Year, and Rap Song. The “Box” was the first song to go #1 in 2020, an internet sensation.
Pop Smoke’s smash hit “Dior” was also snubbed for the best Rap Performance.
Ironically at the end of the night, Billie Eilish ended up pulling an Adele after winning Record of the Year and insisting that Megan Thee Stallion should have won for Savage Remix. Adele had done this when her album “25″ won album of the year over Beyonce’s “Lemonade” in 2017.
Another Grammy night ended with another artist doing the job the Grammys should have done. Giving credit where it’s due, to the right artist.