2020 has been quite the year. Many tragic things have happened, and the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted so many careers, such as the entertainment and music industries.
Artists have struggled to record songs and produce videos, but in spite of all the challenges, musicians have shown incredible resilience and the ability to spread love and joy through their music during these unprecedented times.
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards was a reminder to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of many talented musicians.
Album of the Year
Album of the year is a combination of all the best albums of 2020. The nominations were “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa, “Hollywood's Bleeding” by Post Malone, “Women In Music Pt lll” by Haim, “Everydays Life” by Coldplay, “Djess Vol. 3” by Jacob Collier, “Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)” by Black Puma, “Chilomo” by Jhené Aiko, and “Folklore” by Taylor Swift. The winner for the Album of the Year was "Folklore" by Taylor Swift. With sixteen songs on her album, Taylor Swift was able to perform Alternative/Indie pop chill music. "Folklore" became the first million selling album of 2020 in the USA. Three of her tracks, "Cardigan," "The One," and "Exile" reached the top ten of the official charts in eight countries! Taylor Swift worked on something different in 2020. Instead of going the typical route of making pop music, she shifted outside of her comfort zone, and this Grammy Award shows that her innovative approach paid off.
Best R&B Performance
R&B is a combination of Rhythm and Blues, and many singers have had a wonderful R&B performance that kept listeners joyful and positive during this time. The nominations in this category were “Lightning & Thunder” by Jhené Aiko (featuring John Legend), “All I Need” by Jacob Collier (featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla Sign), “Black Parade” by Beyoncé, “Goat Head” by Brittany Howard, and “See Me” by Emily King. "Black Parade" by Beyonce was chosen as the best R&B performance. Beyonce's song "Black Parade" was a nonprofit charity single in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. During the Grammy Awards show, Beyonce expressed, “As an artist I believe it's my job and all of our jobs to reflect the times and it's been such a difficult time so I wanted to uplift, encourage and celebrate all of the beautiful Black queens and kings to continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world.” "Black Parade" reminds us all that Black voices should be heard and we should celebrate Black culture and support social justice and activism.
“As an artist I believe it's my job and all of our jobs to reflect the times and it's been such a difficult time so I wanted to uplift, encourage, and celebrate all of the beautiful Black queens and kings to continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world.”
Best Pop Vocal Album
Pop is a wonderful type of music, which makes its fans more enthusiastic, cheerful, and hopeful. “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa, “Changes” by Justin Beiber, “Chromatica” by Lady Gaga, “Fine Line” by Harry Styles, and “Folklore” by Taylor were all nominated for best vocal album. Dua Lipa's "Future Nostalgia" won the Grammy Award for the Best Pop Vocal Album. With twelve wonderful songs on her album, Dua Lipa was able to showcase upbeat pop, funk, electropop, and she was able to produce songs that express a positive message. Songs from her album like "Physical" and "Break My Heart" both reached top ten on the UK singles chart. Her songs "Hallucinate" and "Levitating" were both top hits in the pop industry. Her album was second top five single on the Hot 100. "Future Nostalgia" shows that there can be positivity throughout this difficult time.
Best Latin Pop or Urban Album
Even though some of us might be more accustomed to listening to songs in English, that's not an excuse to not listen to Spanish pop music. Although you might not understand the lyrics, you can still appreciate the sounds and the rhythm of the songs. The nominations for the Best Latin Pop or Urban Album were “Por Primera Vez” by Camilo, “Mesa Para Do”by Kany Garcia, “YHLQMDLG” by Bad Bunny, “Pausa” by Ricky Martin, and “3:33” by Debi Nova. "YHLQMDLG" by Bad Bunny won the Best Latin Pop or Urban Album of the Year. With twenty songs on his album, the popular Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny was able to produce a latin reggaeton rhythm in his music. His first single "Soy Peor" reached twenty two on the Hot Latin Song Chart, and the song reached 330 million views on YouTube. He collaborated with many artists, such as Daddy Yankee, Mike Towers, and J Balvin.
Even though the coronavirus has had a devastating impact, music has the power to bring positivity and joy. The 63rd Grammys was quite different than previous years because of the pandemic, but the artists deserve all the more recognition for creating music that has inspired and empowered us to feel more optimistic and hopeful in the midst of sadness and uncertainty.