NEWYORK –
A musical night filled with shocking shocks, historic victories, tributes to artists like the late rapper Takeoff, and hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, the 65th Grammy Awards has become a reality. vibrant again on Sunday. Once again, Beyonce is racing for the top title.
Again, the show ended with someone else winning Album of the Year.
This year is seen by many as a chance for the Grammys to honor the superstar with a prestigious award, especially on a night where she could (and did) become the most honored artist.
Instead, Harry Styles won, and a line in his acceptance speech hurt those who thought Beyonce should have won.
Here’s what happened, how it was perceived, and who picked out the top Grammy awards.
WHAT IS DISPUTE ABOUT STYLES’ WINNER?
Styles won for his third album, “Harry’s House,” and he even looked surprised when his name was called.
The British pop star is competing with other giants in the industry: the likes of ABBA, Adele, Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Coldplay, Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce.
While accepting the award, he said, “This is really, really good. I’m very, very grateful… I’m just — This doesn’t happen often to people like me. And here it is, it’s great. . Thank you very much.”
The quote “this doesn’t happen often to people like me,” drew criticism within hours of his win.
Styles was born and raised in the North of England and rose to fame in 2010 when he auditioned for the Simon Cowell-led talent show “The X Factor”. He came in third with boy band One Direction. His solo career has earned him numerous Grammy Awards and Billboard chart-topping albums and singles.
Styles didn’t say what he meant by his words. Some have interpreted it as he tries to show how far he has come from his youth. However, others see this comment as an example of white privilege.
WHY DOES EVERYONE BASE THE WORD OF STYLE?
Many Beyonce fans are fiercely defending the singer. They are called Beyhive after all.
Even though Beyonce has won 32 Grammy Awards – the most of any artist in history – many people are still worried by the fact that she has yet to win Album of the Year and she has lost all the songs. white doctor every time she’s nominated.
Washington Post pop critic Chris Richards, in a story titled “Beyonce Just Made Grammy History. Why Does It Still Feel Like She’s Still Losing?” wrote that her historical record feels empty.
“Why does that feel like not enough,” Richards asked. “Because over the past 20 years and still growing, the Recording Academy has regularly failed to recognize Black artists at the height of their creativity — and for her credit, Beyonce continues to update the top. that high with every new album.”
Similar criticisms were made in other stories and by online commenters, some of whom noted that a Black woman had not won Album of the Year since Lauryn Hill. in the late 90s.
Ashley Smalls, a doctoral student in Black pop culture and feminism at Penn State University, criticized Styles’ speech in a tweet: “`This doesn’t happen often with people who don’t know what to say. people like me’ when a Black woman hasn’t won that award since 1999 crazy lol.”
WHAT IS BEYONCE’S GRAMMYS HISTORY?
The artist along with her husband, Jay-Z, is nominated for the most nominations of all time with 88 but she has won only 32 times. Most notably, Beyonce has lost 4 times album of the year to Taylor Swift, Beck, Adele and now Styles.
Beyonce has been nominated in each of the most prestigious categories during her decades-long career, but she’s only won in those categories once for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”.
A black woman hasn’t won album of the year since Lauryn Hill received the award for her breakthrough album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in 1999. The last black person to win an award. This is Jon Batiste, last year for the album “We Are.”
WHO DECIDES ALBUM OF THE YEAR?
According to Billboard, Recording Academy boasts more than 12,000 voting members. All members are allowed to vote in four major categories — best new artist, record, song and album of the year. Members are also responsible for nominating in their area of expertise, as well as voting for the winners in this category.
Many artists have criticized the way the Grammys are nominated. Recording Academy is undergoing a membership diversification campaign and has a goal of having 2,500 female members by 2025.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR BEYONCE AND STYLES?
The two are on their way to international tours.
Styles’ next gig is in Thailand next week and he’ll be performing in Asia and Europe in the summer.
Beyonce will begin her “Renaissance” tour in May in Sweden and will perform in Europe and the United States.
