Grammys 2020: Seven things to watch out for – and how to watch the ceremony

The 62nd annual Grammy Awards consider spot in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

Billed as “music’s most important evening”, the ceremony is a lot more like “music’s longest day” – with festivities kicking off at lunchtime in LA and stretching out into the evening. Relaxed sneakers are recommended.

Pop star Lizzo potential customers the nominations this 12 months, with 8 in full, together with album and tune of the 12 months. Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X are close guiding with 6 every.

All 3 depict a new vanguard of pop – charismatic and non-conformist, with music that described the very last twelve months (Lizzo’s Real truth Hurts, Billie’s Poor Person and Lil Nas X’s Aged Town Street).

But, as Snoop Dogg is aware only far too nicely, nominations you should not always translate into trophies. The rapper has gone house empty-handed 17 moments – a sufferer of the Grammys’ tendency to reward institution heavyweights above vivid new talent.

We will avoid predicting the winners for that quite purpose… But here are seven other times to check out out for.

1) The Aged Town Street all-stars

Who’d have considered that a cowboy rap tune recorded by a gay teen for just $50 would turn out to be the longest-managing number a single in US chart heritage?

Properly, that is the tale of Aged Town Street, Lil Nas X’s likeably daft breakout track, which racked up 19 months at the major of the Billboard charts very last 12 months.

The single’s sustained good results was partly owing to a continuous stream of remixes that refreshed the tune and released it to new audiences.

To rejoice his 6 Grammy nominations, Lil Nas X is bringing out everybody who collaborated on a remix – together with Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, BTS and 13-12 months-outdated place singer Mason Ramsey – for an all-star performance.

Ideally, their dwell edition will be introduced as a one, which will in change be eligible for following year’s Grammys, and the cycle will go on until the sunlight dies and the universe ends. It truly is what we should have.

2) References to vote rigging

10 days right before the Grammys, the Recording Academy dropped a bombshell: It was suspending its main govt Deborah Dugan with immediate influence.

Dugan responded by submitting a discrimination grievance in which she instructed the voting method for the Grammys was compromised.

Some of her claims merely confirmed what everybody usually suspected – that people who carry out on the evening are presented preferential treatment. But Dugan also alleges that artists and their associates are permitted to sit on the “key committees” who make a decision the shortlists, and insert on their own into the managing.

She reported these “conflicts of desire” had “tainted” the awards, a assert which the Recording Academy known as “spurious” and “categorically untrue”.

But will anybody be bold sufficient to accept the claims – or refuse to settle for a trophy – at the ceremony?

3) The Lana Del Rey issue

Lana Del Rey is deservedly a contender for album of the 12 months – but her record’s sweary title will induce a headache for the organisers. How will they refer to it on television? And what goes on the trophy if she wins?

Lana’s answer for the supermarket version of the file was to cut down the title to an acronym: NFR. But we want the Cockney edition: “Norman Flaming Rockwell”.

Even though she’s deemed an underdog following to Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next, it is really really worth noting that NFR was a important darling that topped the BBC’s “poll of polls” for album of the 12 months.

• The best albums and music of 2019 unveiled

four) An outdated artist profitable best new artist

That is not as daft as it appears: One particular of the main contenders for best new artist, Lizzo, is basically on her 3rd album – the twist remaining that the 1st two were not hits.

But it is really really hard to begrudge her nomination when she’s celebrated her breakthrough with these types of an irrepressible joie de vivre, busting out flute solos, preaching entire body-positivity and bringing a huge pair of inflatable buttocks to the MTV Awards (see previously mentioned).

Her key competitors arrives from spook-pop sorceress Billie Eilish, whose album When We All Tumble Asleep The place Do We Go was America’s most important-promoting debut of 2019, promoting 2.five million copies.

Both equally singers are nominated in all four of the Grammy’s most important classes – file of the 12 months, tune of the 12 months, album of the 12 months and best new artist – with Eilish remaining the youngest-ever artist to attain that feat.

five) Run-DMC accomplishing with Aerosmith

Rock titans Aerosmith will acquire the MusiCares Man or woman Of The Year award, which recognises the two musical and philanthropic endeavours (the band have a charity supporting abused girls, a subject they 1st tackled in the tune Janie’s Got A Gun).

They’re going to also get to participate in a medley of their hits – with Run-DMC joining them to recreate the 1986 rap-rock crossover Wander This Way. It’ll be the 1st time the two bands have performed alongside one another given that 2007, in London’s Hyde Park.

One particular person who won’t be joining the celebration, nevertheless, is Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, who’s been instructed he are not able to participate in with the band soon after recovering from a foot harm. He even took the issue to court docket, but misplaced the scenario on Wednesday.

6) Trophies for Harry Potter and Michelle Obama?

Feel it or not, Harry Potter already has two Grammys – the two in the best audiobook classification – and JK Rowling’s boy wizard could double that tally this 12 months.

Imogen Heap’s attractive score for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is nominated for best musical theatre album classification although a new recording of Hedwig’s Concept, which appeared in all 8 Potter films, is up for best instrumental arrangement.

In the meantime, Michelle Obama is nominated in the spoken phrase classification for the audiobook of her memoir, Turning into. Her partner Barack has already gained the classification two times, but a 3rd trophy would really convey the area alongside one another.

7) Nipsey Hussle tribute… and a tune from Fame

Rapper Nipsey Hussle’s everyday living was lower tragically limited very last 12 months, when he was shot outdoors a garments shop he owned in Los Angeles.

The 33-12 months-outdated was a lot more than a musician, although. He was a local community activist, who was deeply fully commited to rebuilding and regenerating the neighbourhood he grew up in. Following his demise, the Los Angeles Police Division hailed him as a “peacemaker”.

He by no means gained a Grammy in his lifetime, but organisers will accept his legacy with a star-studded tribute featuring DJ Khaled, John Legend, Meek Mill, and gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

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The night’s other large tribute is a lot more of a curveball.

Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Lang Lang, Ben Platt and John Legend (certainly, him again) are lined up to carry out The Body Electric, a tune you might vaguely bear in mind from the finale to the 1980 motion picture Fame, which centred on a team of college students at the New York Metropolis Higher School for the Undertaking Arts.

The section is apparently a self-congratulatory honour for Tv set producer Ken Ehrlich, who’s been putting alongside one another the Grammy ceremony for the very last forty several years.

Other, presumably a lot more-powerful, performances on the evening will occur from Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, the Jonas Brothers, Lizzo and Spanish star Rosalía.

Pop star Demi Lovato will also make her comeback soon after completing treatment for material abuse in 2018 adhering to a suspected overdose.

How to check out the ceremony

For the reason that the Grammys options somewhere around 2,735 classes, there are basically two ceremonies.

The 1st a single, formally known as the Grammy Awards Premiere, can be streamed dwell on Grammy.com from twenty:thirty (British isles) / 15:thirty (ET) on Sunday 26 February.

Hosted by British musician Imogen Heap, it will attribute performances by Nicola Benedetti, Yola and Angélique Kidjo although prizes like best immersive audio album and best regional Mexican audio album (Together with Tejano) will be handed out.

Sadly, the key ceremony is just not broadcast dwell in the British isles – but US viewers can catch it dwell on CBS from twenty:00 (ET).

Highlights will be proven on 4Music from 19:thirty on Monday, 27 January. Or you can occur to the BBC News web-site for complete as-it-happens protection.

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