"Ladies and gentlemen, we are the Police and we are back!" Sting shouted, kicking off the 49th Annual Grammy Awards last Sunday night. The Police took the stage for a reunion performance and started the show with a rendition of "Roxanne," proving time has not diminished the band's talents.
The show began with a bang and included several surprises and many memorable performances. The most successful nominees of the evening were the Dixie Chicks, who won five awards: Best Country Performance, Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Not Ready to Make Nice," as well as Best Country Album and Album of the Year for "Taking the Long Way."
"For once in my life, I'm speechless," lead singer Natalie Maines said.
Mary J. Blige also had a remarkably successful evening, winning Best Female Vocal R&B Performance and Best R&B song for "Be Without You," and Best R&B Album for "The Breakthrough."
In her speech, Blige grew teary, thanking God, racing through the longest thank-you list of the evening and battling the cut-off music. "For so many years, I've been talked about negatively," she said. "I don't think you can have a peak if you don't have a valley."
During the evening, Blige performed "Be Without You" and "Stay With Me," later returning to sing "Runaway Love" in collaboration with Ludacris and Earth, Wind, and Fire.
Another soulful singer was introduced by recent Super Bowl performer Prince. "One word," he said. "Beyonc?©!" Beyonc?©, clad in a clingy, shimmering gown, belted out "Listen" from the movie "Dreamgirls" (2006), accompanied by an artistically silhouetted string section. Her powerful voice delivered a dazzling performance.
Justin Timberlake, the winner of Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "My Love" and Best Dance Recording for "Sexy Back," performed twice during the evening. Timberlake crooned "What Goes Around," accompanying himself on piano, surrounded by radiating halos of light. He then stood and began to sing into a handheld camera, treating the audience to an extreme close-up and creating an unappealing "Blair Witch Project" (1999) effect.
His second performance heralded a new element of the Grammy Awards - a live, American Idol-style on-air contest. Three undiscovered singers were selected, one of whom won a once in a lifetime opportunity: the chance to sing a duet at the Grammy Awards with Justin Timberlake. American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson announced Robyn Troup as the very first "My Grammy Moment" winner.
Troup sang Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and "My Love" with Justin Timberlake and T.I. Displaying amazing vocal talent, the young singer managed to hold her own with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Christina Aguilera's cover of the James Brown classic "It's a Man's World" brought her to her knees in passion. The song was part of the annual "In Memoriam," with this year's tribute including the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, and the founding member of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett.
The award show also combined back-to-back performances of Smokey Robinson singing "Tracks of My Tears," Lionel Richie performing "Hello," and finally 17-year-old R&B pop sensation Chris Brown with "Run It!" Brown's song was clearly the most exciting number of the night. Entering to a pyrotechnic display and wearing a red hoodie and a skull mask, Brown was quickly surrounded by a troupe of stepping backup dancers. He was joined by two amazing, krumping little kids as he sang and back-flipped off a giant trampoline.
In the other big medley of the show Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend and John Mayer came together on stage. Rae began with a crisp rendition of "Like a Star" and was followed by Legend's smooth "Coming Home," then Mayer's "Gravity." The combined performance neatly transitioned from acoustic female vocalist to R&B to soft pop.
Minutes later, John Mayer won Best Pop Vocal Album for "Continuum," beating out "Back to Basics" by Christina Aguilera, "Back to Bedlam" by James Blunt, "The River in Reverse" by Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint and "FutureSex/LoveSounds" by Justin Timberlake.
Ludacris' "Release Therapy" beat out Lupe Fiasco, Pharrell, the Roots and T.I. for Best Rap Album. "This goes out to my father, who is in critical condition right now," Ludacris said while claiming the award.
The final performance of the evening came from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Comedian Chris Rock introduced the seasoned rockers, saying, "They had their jocks in socks long before Justin Timberlake had his d--- in a box!"
Aside from Flea bounding about in an odd, yellow outfit and one frog kick on the drum set from Anthony Kiedis, it was an uncharacteristically mild performance. The Red Hot Chili Peppers sang "Snow (Hey Oh)" in the midst of a confetti snow storm, which coated the stage and the audience alike in a flurry of white flakes.
The Chili Peppers won Best Rock Album for "Stadium Arcadium," and the band concluded their acceptance speech with the best advice of the evening. "Get out there and start a rock band," urged drummer Chad Smith. "We need more rock bands!"
