Rapper Kendrick Lamar’s performs “XXX” and “DNA”
An electrifying opening act by Kendrick Lamar was a seamless mix of rap and rock on the stage. The rapper kicked off the act in collaboration with U2 and comedian Dave Chappelle. Lamar started his performance in front of the American flag and had men dressed in soldiers’ uniform beside him. Lamar performed “DNA” and “XXX” in collaboration with U2 and was later joined by Bono. The 30-year-old is no stranger to performing at the prestigious Grammys. He had done a live mashup of “m.A.A.d. City” and “Radioactive” along with the rock band Imagine Dragon back in 2014.
Kesha’s powerful “Praying” performance
Wearing a “Time’s Up” pin, Kesha took the stage by storm with her empowering anthem:“Praying”. Joined by women including Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Bebe Rexha, and other artists, all wearing white, the vocalist dedicated her performance to the “Time’s Up” movement and to the women who are fighting cases of assault and abuse the world over. Kesha is herself involved in a legal battle with her former producer since 2014.
In a tweet after her much talked about her performance, Kesha said, “I just want to say that I needed this song in a very real way. I’m so proud and nervous and overwhelmed to be performing it at the Grammys on Sunday, and if you need it I hope this song finds you.”
Blue Ivy shushing parents Beyonce and Jay-Z
In an epic moment, Blue Ivy was seen asking mum Beyonce and dad Jay-Z to stop clapping at the awards night. The six-year-old appeared to be an ultimate sass queen as she asked her parents to shush and calm it down. Sandwiched between her parents, the munchkin wore a long white jacket and glittery heels as she enthralled the audience with the gesture. As Camila Cabello came on the stage to make her passionate speech about Dreamers, Beyonce and Jay-Z clapped excitedly. While the Internet remains divided on the gesture, with some believing that Blue Ivy asked her parents to not embarrass her, others say that she was so touched by the speech that she asked her parents to maintain silence.
Hillary Clinton’s surprise appearance
Hillary Clinton made an unexpected appearance at the 60th Grammys and read excerpts from Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, a controversial book that offers a takedown of President Donald Trump and his staff). The former presidential candidate read alongside Cardi B., DJ Khaled, Snoop Dogg, Cher and John Legend, who all targeted President Trump. The skit was set around Grammy host James Corden and had the celebs auditioning for a role reading the book in order to win next year’s award for the “Best Spoken Word Album”. Clinton read about Trump’s fast food fetish from the book, saying, “He had a longtime fear of being poisoned. One reason why he liked to eat at McDonald’s. No one knew he was coming and the food was safely pre-made.”
Janelle Monae’s empowering speech on Time’s Up movement.
Janelle Monae’s passionate speech to introduce Kesha’s “Praying” performance was dedicated to the Time’s Up movement and #MeToo. About the movements, she said, “Tonight, I am proud to stand in solidarity as not just an artist, but a young woman, with my fellow sisters in this room who make up the music industry—artists, writers, assistants, publicists, CEOs, producers, engineers, and women from all sectors of the business… We are also daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, and human beings. To those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: Time’s up. We say Time’s Up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind…”
