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Grammy takeaways: Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar take top awards

Writer's picture: The San Juan Daily StarThe San Juan Daily Star


Beyoncé seized key wins with “Cowboy Carter,” her high-concept, multigenre album that put country music and American traditions at its center. (Facebook via Recording Academy / GRAMMYs)
Beyoncé seized key wins with “Cowboy Carter,” her high-concept, multigenre album that put country music and American traditions at its center. (Facebook via Recording Academy / GRAMMYs)

By Ben Sisario


Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar were the big winners at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday at a ceremony that celebrated the thrills of chart-topping pop and also sought to raise relief funds for Los Angeles after its damaging wildfires.


Beyoncé seized key wins with “Cowboy Carter,” her high-concept, multigenre album that put country music and American traditions at its center. It took album of the year, the biggest award of the night, and gave Beyoncé her first win in the category after four conspicuous losses. She became the first Black artist to ever win best country album, and the first Black woman to win album of the year since Lauryn Hill in 1999.


Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” a vicious takedown of a rival rapper that became a No. 1 hit, won both record and song of the year — a notable double victory for any song and a rare win for rap in the Grammys’ two most prestigious song categories.


“Not Like Us” — which is not only directed at Drake but goes so far as to call him a pedophile — was a cultural sensation last year that also became the center of a lawsuit when Drake sued the record label the two men share for defamation.


Producers of the show, which was hosted by Trevor Noah, attempted to strike a balance between celebratory spectacle and somber recognition of the fires. Here are some takeaways from the night:


— Los Angeles was a primary character in the show, with an ensemble version of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” opening the night. The Grammys made repeated fundraising appeals to viewers, and a team of firefighters presented the album of the year category.


— Young women in pop made big splashes. Chappell Roan, the Missouri-born singer who broke out last year with subversive, catchy dance pop, won best new artist, cementing her rise as a major star. And Sabrina Carpenter, an actress and singer who finally broke through last year with her sixth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet,” won pop solo performance and pop vocal album.


— Lamar, a Pulitzer Prize winner, dominated rap, with “Not Like Us” winning all five categories in which he was nominated, including rap performance, rap song and music video.


— Florida rapper Doechii led an eye-catching performance and became only the third woman to win rap album, with “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” after Hill and Cardi B.


— Quincy Jones, a 28-time Grammy winner who had a huge influence over generations of musicians, was honored in an extended musical segment that was introduced by Will Smith. It featured performances by Cynthia Erivo, Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monáe, Herbie Hancock and Lainey Wilson.


— The ceremony also featured a burying-the-hatchet moment by the Weeknd, who returned to perform after boycotting the ceremony years ago as an act of protest against what he called its unfair voting processes. He was introduced by Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, who trumpeted changes he had made to the organization to make it more transparent and welcome a diverse new crop of voters.


— Charli XCX, the English pop singer-songwriter, won her first three Grammys ever, taking best dance pop recording (“Von Dutch”) and electronic/dance album (“Brat”). She also won best recording package as an art director of her album “Brat.”


— Pointed statements of political, social and industry activism ran through the show. Lady Gaga said that “trans people are not invisible.” Shakira dedicated an award to “all my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country.” And Roan took aim at the music industry by calling on record labels to provide “a livable wage and health care” to artists. “Labels, we got you,” she said. “But do you got us?”


Puerto Rican rapper, writer and producer Residente, at a recording studio in Manhattan, Aug. 18, 2019. Residente’s “Las Letras Ya No Importan” won the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album. (José Alvarado Jr./The New York Times)
Puerto Rican rapper, writer and producer Residente, at a recording studio in Manhattan, Aug. 18, 2019. Residente’s “Las Letras Ya No Importan” won the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album. (José Alvarado Jr./The New York Times)

Here is a complete list of Grammy Awards winners.


Record of the Year

“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar


Album of the Year

“Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé


Song of the Year

“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, songwriter (Kendrick Lamar)


Best New Artist

Chappell Roan


Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Daniel Nigro


Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Amy Allen


Best Pop Solo Performance

“Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter


Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars


Best Pop Vocal Album

“Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter


Best Dance/Electronic Recording

“Neverender,” Justice and Tame Impala


Best Dance Pop Recording

“Von Dutch,” Charli XCX


Best Dance/Electronic Album

“Brat,” Charli XCX


Best Remixed Recording

“Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ Working Late Remix),” FNZ and Mark Ronson, remixers (Sabrina Carpenter)


Best Rock Performance

“Now and Then,” The Beatles


Best Metal Performance

“Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!),” Gojira, Marina Viotti and Victor Le Masne


Best Rock Song

“Broken Man,” Annie Clark, songwriter (St. Vincent)


Best Rock Album

“Hackney Diamonds,” The Rolling Stones


Best Alternative Music Performance

“Flea,” St. Vincent


Best Alternative Music Album

“All Born Screaming,” St. Vincent


Best R&B Performance

“Made for Me (Live on BET),” Muni Long


Best Traditional R&B Performance

“That’s You,” Lucky Daye


Best R&B Song

“Saturn,” Rob Bisel, Cian Ducrot, Carter Lang, Solána Rowe, Jared Solomon and Scott Zhang, songwriters (SZA)


Best Progressive R&B Album

“So Glad to Know You,” Avery*Sunshine

“Why Lawd?,” NxWorries (Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge)


Best R&B Album

“11:11 (Deluxe),” Chris Brown


Best Rap Performance

“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar


Best Melodic Rap Performance

“3:AM,” Rapsody featuring Erykah Badu


Best Rap Song

“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, songwriter (Kendrick Lamar)


Best Rap Album

“Alligator Bites Never Heal,” Doechii


Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

“The Heart, the Mind, the Soul,” Tank and the Bangas


Best Jazz Performance

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Me,” Samara Joy featuring Sullivan Fortner


Best Jazz Vocal Album

“A Joyful Holiday,” Samara Joy


Best Jazz Instrumental Album

“Remembrance,” Chick Corea and Béla Fleck


Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

“Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence,” Dan Pugach Big Band


Best Latin Jazz Album

“Cubop Lives!,” Luques Curtis, Zaccai Curtis, Willie Martinez, Camilo Molina and Reinaldo de Jesus


Best Alternative Jazz Album

“No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin,” Meshell Ndegeocello


Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

“Visions,” Norah Jones


Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

“Plot Armor,” Taylor Eigsti


Best Musical Theater Album

“Hell’s Kitchen,” Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis and Maleah Joi Moon, principal vocalists; Adam Blackstone, Alicia Keys and Tom Kitt, producers (Alicia Keys, composer and lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)


Best Country Solo Performance

“It Takes a Woman,” Chris Stapleton


Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“II Most Wanted,” Beyoncé featuring Miley Cyrus


Best Country Song

“The Architect,” Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)


Best Country Album

“Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé


Best American Roots Performance

“Lighthouse,” Sierra Ferrell


Best Americana Performance

“American Dreaming,” Sierra Ferrell


Best American Roots Song

“American Dreaming,” Sierra Ferrell and Melody Walker, songwriters (Sierra Ferrell)


Best Americana Album

“Trail of Flowers,” Sierra Ferrell


Best Bluegrass Album

“Live Vol. 1,” Billy Strings


Best Traditional Blues Album

“Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa,” The Taj Mahal Sextet


Best Contemporary Blues Album

“Mileage,” Ruthie Foster


Best Folk Album

“Woodland,” Gillian Welch and David Rawlings


Best Regional Roots Music Album

“Kuini,” Kalani Pe’a


Best Gospel Performance/Song

“One Hallelujah,” Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell and Israel Houghton featuring Jonathan McReynolds and Jekalyn Carr; G. Morris Coleman, Israel Houghton, Kenneth Leonard, Jr., Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Naomi Raine, songwriters


Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

“That’s My King,” CeCe Winans; Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, Lloyd Nicks and Jess Russ, songwriters


Best Gospel Album

“More Than This,” CeCe Winans


Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

“Heart of a Human,” Doe


Best Roots Gospel Album

“Church,” Cory Henry


Best Latin Pop Album

“Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” Shakira


Best Música Urbana Album

“Las Letras Ya No Importan,” Residente


Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

“¿Quién Trae las Cornetas?,” Rawayana


Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)

“Boca Chueca, Vol. 1,” Carín León


Best Tropical Latin Album

“Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional),” Tony Succar, Mimy Succar


Best Global Music Performance

“Bemba Colora,” Sheila E. featuring Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar


Best African Music Performance

“Love Me JeJe,” Tems


Best Global Music Album

“Alkebulan II,” Matt B featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra


Best Reggae Album

“Bob Marley: One Love — Music Inspired by the Film (Deluxe),” (Various Artists)


Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album

“Triveni,” Wouter Kellerman, Eru Matsumoto and Chandrika Tandon


Best Children’s Music Album

“Brillo, Brillo!,” Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band


Best Comedy Album

“The Dreamer,” Dave Chappelle


Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording

“Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration,” Jimmy Carter


Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

“Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein,” Bradley Cooper, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (London Symphony Orchestra)


Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

“Dune: Part Two,” Hans Zimmer, composer


Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

“Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord,” Winifred Phillips, composer


Best Song Written for Visual Media

“It Never Went Away,” from “American Symphony”; Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson, songwriters (Jon Batiste)


Best Music Video

“Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar), Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar, video directors; Jack Begert, Cornell Brown, Sam Canter, Jared Heinke, Jamie Rabineau and Anthony Saleh, video producers


Best Music Film

“American Symphony” (Jon Batiste) Matthew Heineman, video director; Lauren Domino, Matthew Heineman and Joedan Okun, video producers


Best Recording Package

“Brat,” Charli XCX, Brent David Freaney and Imogene Strauss, art directors (Charli XCX)


Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

“Mind Games,” Simon Hilton and Sean Ono Lennon, art directors (John Lennon)


Best Album Notes

“Centennial,” Ricky Riccardi, album notes writer (King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band and Various Artists)


Best Historical Album

“Centennial,” Meagan Hennessey and Richard Martin, compilation producers; Richard Martin, mastering engineer; Richard Martin, restoration engineer (King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band and Various Artists)


Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

“I/O,” Tchad Blake, Oli Jacobs, Katie May, Dom Shaw and Mark “Spike” Stent, engineers; Matt Colton, mastering engineer (Peter Gabriel)


Best Engineered Album, Classical

“Bruckner: Symphony No. 7; Bates: Resurrexit,” Mark Donahue and John Newton, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Manfred Honeck and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)


Producer of the Year, Classical

Elaine Martone


Best Immersive Audio Album

“I/O (In-Side Mix),” Hans-Martin Buff, immersive mix engineer; Peter Gabriel, immersive producer (Peter Gabriel)


Best Instrumental Composition

“Strands,” Pascal Le Boeuf, composer (Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf and Christian Euman)


Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

“Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly and John Legend, arrangers (Jacob Collier featuring John Legend and Tori Kelly)


Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

“Alma,” Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johanye Kendrick and Amanda Taylor, arrangers (säje featuring Regina Carter)


Best Orchestral Performance Award

“Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina,” Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)


Best Opera Recording Award

“Saariaho: Adriana Mater,” Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Fleur Barron, Axelle Fanyo, Nicholas Phan and Christopher Purves; Jason O’Connell, producer (San Francisco Symphony; San Francisco Symphony Chorus; Timo Kurkikangas)


Best Choral Performance

“Ochre,” Donald Nally, conductor (The Crossing)


Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

“Rectangles and Circumstance,” Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion


Best Classical Instrumental Solo

“Bach: Goldberg Variations,” Víkingur Ólafsson


Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

“Beyond the Years — Unpublished Songs of Florence Price,” Karen Slack, soloist; Michelle Cann, pianist


Best Classical Compendium

“Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina,” Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Dmitriy Lipay, producer


Best Contemporary Classical Composition

“Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina,” Gabriela Ortiz, composer (Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale)

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