This year's Grammys was one of the best on record. Some of those favored may not have won, and people will be upset and disgruntled, blaming the Recoding Academy for getting it wrong, but the awards aren't what made Sunday night so special.
The performances at this year's Grammys were some of the most spectacular ever seen. There were certainly a few duds, but the others made up for it, putting any memories of poor performances to bed.
Among those that did not shine was Taylor Swift's Grammy opening. The country pop star sang her hit, which was nominated for 'Record of the Year,' 'We Are Never Getting Back Together.' But she took a different, odd approach to her performance that didn't feel like the Taylor Swift that America loves.
She wasn't strumming her guitar, singing soft, gentle melodies per usual. She got on stage with only a microphone, dressed in short shorts and showing off spotty dance moves, the whole time surrounded by circus, Alice in Wonderland-like images. It didn't feel right. It didn't feel like Swift. Not to mention the singing wasn't quite her best.
Swift is also receiving heavy criticism for her faux British accent in attempt to mock her ex-boyfriend, Harry Styles, during the performance. Yet the others brought so much to the show that Swift's opening act was soon forgotten.
Justin Timberlake rode into his musical comeback with a rendition of his new song 'Suit & Tie,' bringing Jay-Z out of his seat and onstage to perform. Timberlake and his band alike were all dressed to the nines, bringing back the 1950s suit and tie class. CBS even put a color grade on the live broadcast, showing the performance with a slight, worn sepia tone that added to the classic feel of the performance.
Bob Marley also got a tribute from an array of stars including Sting, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, and his sons Ziggy and Damian Marley. The group played 'Could You Be Loved' with perfectly pitched harmonies that captured all the love and emotion that the original brings. The performance had the entire audience out of their seats and singing to the late reggae legend's tune.
One of the night's biggest winners, Fun., also made a splash on stage. The 'best new artists' performance included rain that poured from the ceiling during the last minute of their song. The rain brought power to the performance and made Nate Ruess' clear, booming voice that much more epic.
The 2013 performers have undoubtedly set the bar for future Grammys. Other standout performaces not mentioned included Jack White, The Lumineers, Elton John with Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood. If you missed the show last night, here are a couple videos of the live performances that made the ceremony so special.
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