Trevor Noah hosted the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
It was a good night for new and old artists alike. Beyoncé received the most nominations this year with a total of nine. Harry Styles performed his hit single “Watermelon Sugar,” for which he won the Best Pop Solo Performance award. Taylor Swift’s Folklore won Album of the Year. Megan Thee Stallion was declared the year’s Best New Artist.
During the main ceremony, Taylor Swift performed a medley of songs from her two newest albums, including “Willow,” “August” and “Cardigan.” I was most excited for this performance because it was the first time she performed them for an audience since releasing Folklore and Evermore in July and December 2020, respectively. I have been a Taylor Swift fan for a long time and I enjoy both of her new albums, so that was the most enjoyable for me to watch.
No guests attended the Grammys in-person this year due to COVID-19. Instead, the show was a mixture of live and pre-recorded performances because a fully live show would have involved too many crew members in close contact. However, the show was meant to feel like it was done entirely live.
The Grammys was the second COVID-safe awards show that occurred in 2021, following the Golden Globes in February. The only thing that felt different about the show as opposed to in previous years was the lack of a live audience. I think it would have been better if fully vaccinated healthcare or other essential workers had been invited to watch the performances at the Staples Center. Comedian Trevor Noah attempted to lighten the mood and made several jokes about how music got the world through the pandemic.
By the time the 2022 Grammys happen, hopefully enough people will be vaccinated to allow for a live audience. It’s encouraging that artists were still able to release new music during a challenging year and we certainly have more good music to look forward to in the next year.
By Claire Heins, Staff Writer
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