Billie Eilish wins big at Grammys

The 62nd Grammy Awards started on a sad note. Host Alicia Keys opened the show with a tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who early Sunday morning perished in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. Then she called in the trio of Boyz II Men who sang the refrain of the beautiful It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday. Teary eyes all around more so because the Grammys was being held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles which is the home of Kobe’s team, The Lakers.

But the show must go on and it did in a really big way as the artists seem to rally together to give the beleaguered Recording Academy a big shot in the arm. It was as though they were saying that the suits at the top can do battle over inappropriate conduct among themselves but they will keep the music going. And they did in what turned out to be one of the most enjoyable Grammy Awards nights of recent times.

I admit there were instances when I was thinking if there could be a tie at the Grammys or maybe even a three-way win. This is because I was rooting for three favorites, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish and Lizzo. They were all there and I was glad that the Grammys gave them grand production numbers to showcase their songs.

Lizzo opened up the show with a medley of Truth Hurts and Cuz I Love You surrounded by plus-sized ballet dancers. Eilish accompanied by her brother and favorite producer Finneas did a new single, When the Party’s Over. And Lil Nas X got to strut his Old Town Road with one of the hippest, star combination numbers of the evening. He performed with Mason Ramsey, Diplo and the Korean super group BTS.

Lizzo, Lil Nas X and Billie Eilish all brought home Grammys. But it was the 18-year-old Eilish who was crowned queen of the 2020 edition. She won Record of the Year for Bad Guy, Album of the Year for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Song of the Year for Bad Guy and Best New Artist. Brother Finneas did not go home empty-handed. He was named Producer of the Year and Best Engineered Album, Non-classical. He is only 20 years old.

Oh yes, Michelle Obama got the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for her book Becoming. The memoir chronicles Obama’s early life up to her stay in the White House as the first African-American First Lady of the United States. The book has become a source of inspiration for young women wanting to find their calling and their voice. It has already sold over 10 million copies.

Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men sing in honor of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards

And now, here are the 2020 Grammy winners:

Record of the Year: Bad Guy, Billie Eilish.

Album of the Year: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Billie Eilish.

Song of the Year: Bad Guy, Billie Eilish.

Best New Artist: Billie Eilish.

Pop Solo Performance: Truth Hurts, Lizzo.

Pop Duo/Group Performance: Old Town Road, Lil Nas X ft. Billie Ray Cyrus.

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Look Now, Elvis Costello & the Imposters.

Pop Vocal Album: We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Billie Eilish.

Dance Recording: Got to Keep On, The Chemical Brothers.

Dance/ Electronic Album: No Geography, The Chemical Brothers.

Rock Performance: This Land, Gary Clark Jr.

Metal Performance: 7empest, Tool.

Rock Song: This Land, Gary Clark Jr.

Rock Album: Social Cues, Cage The Elephant.

Alternative Music Album: Father of the Bride, Vampire Weekend.

Best Music Video: Old Town Road, Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus.

Music Film: Homecoming by Beyoncé.

Best R&B Performance: Come Home, Anderson. Paak ft. Andre 3000.

Traditional R&B Performance: Jerome, Lizzo.

R&B Song: Sayso, PJ Morton ft. Jojo.

Urban Contemporary Album: Cuz I Love You, Lizzo.

R&B Album: Ventura, Anderson. Paak.

Rap Performance: Racks in the Middle, Nipsey Hussle ft. Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy.

Rap/Sung Performance: Higher, DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend.

Rap Song: A Lot, 21 Savage ft. J. Cole.

Rap Album: Igor, Tyler The Creator.

Jazz Vocal Album: 12 Little Spells, Esperanza Spalding.

Jazz Instrumental Album: Finding Gabriel, Brad Mehldau.

Large Jazz Ensemble Album: The Omni-American Book Club, Brian Lynch Big Band.

Latin Jazz Album: Antidote, Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band.

Comedy Album: Sticks & Stones, Dave Chappelle.

Musical Theater Album: Hadestown.

Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media: A Star Is Born.

Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: Chernobyl.

Song Written for Visual Media: I’ll Never Love Again from A Star Is Born.

For the rest of the winners in the other categories, Country, Gospel, Classical and others, please check out the Grammy website.