The main events people look forward to at the beginning of the year usually fulfill their New Year's resolutions. However, once the buzz wears off and people start feeling bad about themselves again, it's awards season. We have already been through the start of the season with the Golden Globes, and this past show is the only time there has been a fully enjoyable award show without the usual celebrity drama. After that perfect moment is the usually most awaited award show that iconically aired this last weekend, the Grammys.
2024 was the year of pop music, or any music for that matter, with every genre and every artist popping with chart toppers that aren't just hits but genuinely really good songs. This said every music lover in America and many other countries were on the edge of their seats, wondering who out of these fantastic musicians would win these awards. International superstars were nominated, but not in their usual genres. The first pop star is a relatable girl next door, yet a billionaire pop sensation who just got off her worldwide tour, Taylor Swift, with her indie soft pop album, The Tortured Poets Department. The second one is the girl group turned queen of the pop industry after the mother of all scandals scathed her, Beyoncé, with her country anthem album, Cowboy Carter. The other albums and artists nominated, in case you are entirely off the radar and forgot, are as follows: Hit Me Hard and Soft (Billie Eilish), Short and Sweet (Sabrina Carpenter), The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (Chappell Roan), and Brat (Charli XCX), with many other star-studded nominees like Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, and Gracie Abrams.
Although the Grammys are not just about the music, they are about the most important part of any evening: the fashion. The Grammys are the home of famous outfits, like Madonna's “Boy Toy” white dress, Ariana Grande's 2020 gray gown, and J Lo’s iconic green Versace dress. This year was not one to top but definitely one to discuss. One of the most popular outfits was Taylor Swift's red mini, with a mysterious “T” chain on her thigh. With such a Swiftie atmosphere in the air around the superstar, there is little to no room to say anything bad, not even criticize Taylor. Firstly, for an event of such importance that's also in the middle of winter (even though it's Los Angeles, 50-degree weather is no place for a mini), very few people should wear a mini cocktail dress that looks like it's from Windsor. For a billionaire and super-powerful woman, Taylor should have much better taste and shouldn't look cheap. If Taylor only wore the dress, it would've been fine, but I can't get over the “T” chain. Many people think the “T” might stand for her name or debut album, alluding to her next re-recording, but I can firmly state none is genuine. The “T” obviously stands for her football star boyfriend, Travis Kelce, which isn't just a crime to fashion and music but one to herself. Taylor already can't make one moment about herself, and everything has to be an easter egg to her music or something about her boyfriend. I really wish that one night we could talk about Taylor Swift as the powerful and incredibly talented musical artist she is without talking about her boyfriend. Even in her Time's Person of the Year article, one of the biggest honors one can receive, she talked about Travis nonetheless.
In other fashion news, Jaden Smith wore a whole castle on his head, which was bold and highly distracting. Queen B herself had a controversy about her dress being “too naked,” while Bianca Censori crashed the Grammys completely naked. On a positive note, Chappell Roan wore a jaw-dropping vintage Jean Paul Gaultier gown with a painted ballet scene and married turquoise and yellow tones, perfectly reflected in her iconic eye makeup. Then again, she slayed the house down after her (amazing) performance, where she switched into an Acne Studios messy bow dress with a colossal princess henin instead of a tiara that matched her Midwest Princess. As a fashionista, all three of her outfits have no notes for me. I hope that Chappell becomes this generation's fashion icon because her taste and style deserve everything. On the other hand, Sabrina Carpenter wore a beautiful custom Versace long neckline bronze sparkly dress that is honestly to die for. Her red carpet dress was also magical; powder blue and feathers were lovely, but the best part was the back necklace neckline gliding down her back, making her look poised and classy.
Now, to the part all of you read this post for, the actual part of the actual Grammys where there are actual awards about actual music. It is difficult to critique this award show night because it was one of the greats, with Trevor Noah hosting like there was no tomorrow and no bad performance; they all were amazing. The two awards that, if they were given to other artists, I would throw a fit are Roan and Carpenters first Grammys, the former for Best New Artist and the latter for Best Pop Vocal Album. These two awards were completely deserved for those two long-time industry and insanely talented artists, which I am so glad I can call Grammy winners. Also, Best Rap Album going to Doechii was completely deserved, and I am so glad about it. Even though I am not very educated on rap music, I know music. Alligator Bites Never Heal is an extremely good album, and Doechii is an artist and performer.
Conversely, I will enter my provocative critiques, less as to who got awards and who didn't get awards. Don't get misconstrued and think I’m saying certain people deserve awards. I am not criticizing the recording academy or artists, but the people. Yes, you are reading this article, or if you have been online for five seconds in the last week, you know what I'm talking about. Many people have been discussing how artists are getting “snubbed,” such as Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. I hate to be a critic of artists with substantial protective fan bases, but instead of being blindly fanatic following these artists, you have to be unbiased, listen to music, and view it as it is. In my opinion, Billie was snubbed more than Taylor, but there is more to it. Hit Me Hard and Soft was a great album, but Billie got her rise to fame from her edge. She is entirely different from every artist, making her fascinating to listen to because she is so new and candid. Yet, this new album doesn't compare to her others; it is still very Billie and amazing, but there is some proof she has lost her edge, while other artists in her categories have just gained theirs. I am not saying that her album wasn't great; it was simply amazing, but her fellow nominees were her downfall.
With my other artist, Taylor Swift, there is yet again much to say about the Tortured Poets Department. There is a stark contrast between what critics like me have to say versus the fanbase with this album, which shows the blind fanaticism I was talking about earlier. Taylors album was, frankly, a mess. Swifties have been saying it was an album where she poured her heart, soul, and trauma into it, which is true, but that doesn't make it a Grammy-worthy album. Don't get me wrong; I love the album. Down Bad was my top song of 2024, and songs like So Long London, My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys, and Loml got me through some bad situations last year. But still, these songs don't make up for the album as a whole. Since Taylor is so wordlessly talented, everyone needs to raise the bar with her since we all know how much better she can do. The last controversial award was the coveted Album of the Year that everyone was talking about, which was ultimately awarded to Beyoncé. I listened to Cowboy Carter the day it came out and had mixed opinions. I loved 2 Most Wanted featuring Miley Cyrus, but the album as a whole was a tad forgettable but definitely not bad. What trips me up with this award is that the only album that deserved the award is Chappell Roans's A Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The new and fresh album had the best pop mix with a touch of midwestern country and indie. It was a masterpiece. So, can I say that Beyoncé didn't deserve her first AOTY award? Not entirely, because there is only one more option in my eyes that earned the award, and knowing the public, it would take a lot to get it to Chappell.
Through thick and thin, award season is not for the week. With videos of Billie Eilish crying, Sabrina and Olivia's ceasefire with a hug, and all of the glambots, tensions rise at this time of the year. Critiquing is hard, especially when all nominees are amazing, talented, and truly special artists. There was no artist in this year's Grammys that didn't deserve their nomination, and with the whole show a smashing success, I could write a much longer blog just about the positives of the show. Music brings people together, which we should be celebrating when we are all laughing and smiling from the comfort of our homes, streaming an award show with all of our favorite celebrities laughing and smiling in the same room.
So, if you need a critique, there is someone you can call because I am always watching over Hollywood like a hawk wearing Harry Winston.
Xoxo,
The Angeles Watcher
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