Grammys 2020: Seven things to watch out for – and how to watch the ceremony

Translating…

Lizzo and Lil Nas XImage copyright Getty Photography
Image caption Lizzo and Lil Nas X are amongst the leading nominees for this yr’s awards

The 62nd annual Grammy Awards happen in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

Billed as “music’s biggest evening”, the ceremony is extra take care of “music’s longest day” – with festivities kicking off at lunchtime in LA and stretching out into the evening. Gay shoes are rapid.

Pop star Lizzo leads the nominations this yr, with eight in complete, including album and music of the yr. Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X are close slow with six every.

All three symbolize a brand contemporary vanguard of pop – charismatic and non-conformist, with songs that outlined the final 12 months (Lizzo’s Fact Hurts, Billie’s Pass Guy and Lil Nas X’s Extinct Metropolis Twin carriageway).

But, as Snoop Dogg knows easiest too successfully, nominations compose not necessarily translate into trophies. The rapper has long past home empty-handed 17 cases – a victim of the Grammys’ tendency to reward establishment heavyweights over brilliant contemporary expertise.

We’ll steer obvious of predicting the winners for that very reason… But listed below are seven diversified moments to scrutinize out for.

1) The Extinct Metropolis Twin carriageway all-stars

Who’d procure belief that a cowboy rap music recorded by a homosexual child for appropriate $50 would develop to be the longest-running critical in US chart historic past?

Effectively, that’s the yarn of Extinct Metropolis Twin carriageway, Lil Nas X’s likeably daft breakout monitor, which racked up19 weeks on the tip of the Billboard charts final yr.

The one’s sustained success modified into partly on account of a fixed stream of remixes that refreshed the music and launched it to contemporary audiences.

To procure a splendid time his six Grammy nominations, Lil Nas X is bringing out all americans who collaborated on a remix – including Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, BTS and 13-yr-weak nation singer Mason Ramsey – for an all-star efficiency.

Optimistically, their dwell version will seemingly be launched as a single, which is difficult to in turn be eligible for next yr’s Grammys, and the cycle will proceed unless the solar dies and the universe ends. It’s what we deserve.

2) References to vote rigging

Image copyright Getty Photography

Ten days earlier than the Grammys, the Recording Academy dropped a bombshell: It modified into suspending its chief executive Deborah Dugan with instantaneous contain.

Dugan responded by submitting a discrimination criticism in which she rapid the vote casting course of for the Grammys modified into compromised.

Some of her claims merely confirmed what all americans repeatedly suspected – that folk that manufacture on the evening are given preferential treatment. But Dugan furthermore alleges that artists and their representatives are allowed to take a seat down down on the “secret committees” who pick the shortlists, and insert themselves into the running.

She said these “conflicts of hobby” had“rotten” the awards, a negate which the Recording Academy known as “faux” and “categorically false”.

But will any individual be audacious ample to acknowledge the claims – or refuse to accept a trophy – on the ceremony?

3) The Lana Del Rey instruct

Image copyright Getty Photography

Lana Del Rey is deservedly a contender for album of the yr – but her sage’s sweary title will position off a headache for the organisers. How will they seek advice from it on tv? And what goes on the trophy if she wins?

Lana’s resolution for the grocery store version of the sage modified into to lower the title to an acronym: NFR. But we resolve on the Cockney version: “Norman Flaming Rockwell”.

While she’s belief to be an underdog next to Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Subsequent, it’s price noting that NFR modified into a vital darling that topped the BBC’s “poll of polls” for album of the yr.

4) An weak artist worthwhile easiest contemporary artist

Image copyright Getty Photography

That will not be as daft because it sounds: Some of the leading contenders for easiest contemporary artist, Lizzo, is genuinely on her third album – the twist being that the first two weren’t hits.

But it’s laborious to begrudge her nomination when she’s renowned her breakthrough with such an irrepressible joie de vivre, busting out flute solos,preaching body-positivityand bringing a giant pair of inflatable buttocks to the MTV Awards (look above).

Her critical competitors comes from spook-pop sorceress Billie Eilish, whose album When We All Tumble Asleep Where Develop We Lumber modified into The us’s biggest-promoting debut of 2019, promoting 2.5 million copies.

Each singers are nominated in all four of the Grammy’s biggest classes – sage of the yr, music of the yr, album of the yr and easiest contemporary artist – with Eilish being the youngest-ever artist to attain that feat.

5) Speed-DMC performing with Aerosmith

Image copyright Def Jam Info

Rock titans Aerosmith will fetch the MusiCares Person Of The three hundred and sixty five days award, which recognises each musical and philanthropic endeavours (the band procure a charity supporting abused ladies, a topic they first addressed within the music Janie’s Got A Gun).

They’d furthermore ranking to play a medley of their hits – with Speed-DMC becoming a member of them to recreate the 1986 rap-rock crossover Skedaddle This Methodology. It would possibly perhaps per chance perhaps be the first time the two bands procure conducted together since 2007, in London’s Hyde Park.

One one that would possibly perhaps not be becoming a member of the occasion, on the opposite hand, is Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, who’s been told he can’t play with the band after making improvements to from a foot anxiousness. He even took the instruct to court, butlost the case on Wednesday.

6) Trophies for Harry Potter and Michelle Obama?

Image copyright Getty Photography / Warner Bros

Judge it or not, Harry Potter already has two Grammys – each in basically the most productive audiobook class – and JK Rowling’s boy wizard would possibly perhaps double that tally this yr.

Imogen Heap’s enticing bag for Harry Potter and the Cursed Little one is nominated for easiest musical theatre album class; while a brand contemporary recording of Hedwig’s Theme, which appeared in all eight Potter motion photos, is up for easiest instrumental plot.

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama is nominated within the spoken observe class for the audiobook of her memoir, Turning into. Her husband Barack has already won the class twice, but a third trophy would genuinely bring the room together.

7) Nipsey Hussle tribute… and a music from Status

Image copyright Getty Photography

Rapper Nipsey Hussle’s life modified into lower tragically immediate final yr, when he modified into shot initiating air a dresses retailer he owned in Los Angeles.

The 33-yr-weak modified into higher than a musician, though. He modified into a community activist, who modified into deeply dedicated to rebuilding and regenerating the neighbourhood he grew up in. After his death, the Los Angeles Police Division hailed him as a “peacemaker”.

He by no manner won a Grammy in his lifetime, but organisers will acknowledge his legacy with a star-studded tribute that contains DJ Khaled, John Story, Meek Mill, and gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

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Media caption33-yr-weak Nipsey Hussle modified into shot tiresome initiating air his dresses retailer in Los Angeles

The evening’s diversified great tribute is extra of a curveball.

Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Lang Lang, Ben Platt and John Story (sure, him again) are lined up to manufactureThe Body Electric, a music you would possibly perhaps vaguely undergo in mind from the finale to the 1980 movie Status, which centred on a neighborhood of faculty students on the New York Metropolis High College for the Performing Arts.

The section is it sounds as if a self-congratulatory honour for TV producer Ken Ehrlich, who’s been striking together the Grammy ceremony for the final 40 years.

Other, presumably extra-compelling, performances on the evening will come from Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, the Jonas Brothers, Lizzo and Spanish star Rosalía.

Pop star Demi Lovato will furthermore ranking her comeback after polishing off treatment for substance abuse in 2018 following a suspected overdose.

scrutinize the ceremony

Image copyright Getty Photography
Image caption Alicia Keys will host the ceremony for the second time

Since the Grammys aspects roughly 2,735 classes, there are genuinely two ceremonies.

The first one, formally known as the Grammy Awards Premiere, would possibly perhaps very successfully bestreamed dwell on Grammy.comfrom 20: 30 (UK) / 15: 30 (ET) on Sunday 26 February.

Hosted by British musician Imogen Heap, it’s going to characteristic performances by Nicola Benedetti, Yola and Angélique Kidjo; while prizes take care of easiest immersive audio album and easiest regional Mexican music album (At the side of Tejano) will seemingly be handed out.

Sadly, the principle ceremony will not be genuinely broadcast dwell within the UK – but US viewers can remove it dwell on CBS from 20: 00 (ET).

Highlights will seemingly be confirmed on 4Music from 19: 30 on Monday, 27 January. Or you would possibly perhaps come to the BBC Info net place for corpulent as-it-occurs coverage.

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