Bruno Mars triumphs at Grammys

R&B artist Bruno Mars won the top prize at the Grammy Awards on Sunday in another victory for pop-driven music over rap, now the most popular genre in the United States. Mars won six Grammys including song of the year for his hit single “That’s What I Like,” and both record, and album of the year for “24K Magic.” His win denied rappers Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z the honor of becoming the first hip-hop artist in 14 years to win the coveted album of the year award. “These songs were written with nothing but joy, with love, and that’s all I wanted to bring with this album, seeing everybody dancing,” Mars, 32, said. He also paid tribute to his album of the year rivals - Jay-Z, Lamar, Childish Gambino and Lorde - saying: “Thank you, guys, for blessing the world with your music.” Kendrick Lamar won five, beating Jay-Z to best rap performance and best rap song with HUMBLE and best rap album with DAMN. Lamar, 30, regarded as one of the most innovative rappers of his generation, won five prizes mostly in rap categories for his album “DAMN.” and single “Humble.” Rap became the biggest music genre in the United States in 2017, Nielsen Music reported. Veteran Jay-Z, whose soul-baring album “4:44” had gone into the show with a leading eight nominations, won nothing and chose not to perform at the three-hour show. The losses by Lamar and Jay-Z in the top categories marked another year when pop music won over more socially incisive work. Adele beat Beyonce in 2017, and in 2016 Lamar lost album of the year to Taylor Swift. Lamar opened Sunday’s show at New York’s Madison Square Garden with a medley of his hits, accompanied by dancers in military fatigues and later dressed in red hoodies as they mimicked being shot. On the red carpet, dozens of musicians wore or held white roses to support women’s equality and freedom from sexual harassment, a theme echoed on stage in an emotional performance by pop singer Kesha of her single “Praying.” Actress and singer Janelle Monae said the music business had to address issues of equal pay for women, abuse of power and harassment. “We come in peace but we mean business. And to those who would dare try to silence us, we offer you two words: Time’s up,” Monae said in a reference to the Time’s Up movement spreading from Hollywood to the music business. On a night when male artistes dominated the winners list, R&B newcomer SZA, the most-nominated woman with five nods, left empty-handed. Politics surfaced throughout the show. Pink arrived with her husband Carey Hart (in Giorgio Armani), her mom Judith Moore and their daughter Willow, six. A pre-taped parody sketch saw Hillary Clinton, John Legend, Cher, Cardi B and Snoop Dogg read excerpts from the critical book “Fire and Fury” about U.S. President Donald Trump’s first year in office, ostensibly as contenders for a future spoken word Grammy prize. Pop singer Camila Cabello, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, spoke in support of the so-called Dreamers - young immigrants brought to the United States illegally when they were children and whose future in the country is in doubt. Best new artiste winner Alessia Cara, along with Khalid and Logic, sang their song “1-800-273-8255” with a group of suicide survivors in a tribute to rock singers Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell, both of whom took their own lives last year. British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran beat Kesha to win two Grammys for his best-selling album “Divide” and single “The Shape of You” but did not attend Sunday’s ceremony. Rihanna flaunted her cleavage in the low-cut coat, which she wore slightly off of her shoulders; with Kendrick on stage. Pregnant Chrissy Teigen put her baby bump on full display in a shimmering silver Yanina Couture gown; her husband, John Legend, wore a Burberry suit. Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Julia Michaels, Bebe Rexha and Andra Day all wore white to perform with Kesha. For the full list of the winners; Album Of The Year Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (winner) Childish Gambino - Awaken, My Love! Jay Z - 4:44 Kendrick Lamar - Damn Lorde - Melodrama Record Of The Year Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (winner) Childish Gambino - Redbone Luis Fonsi - Despacito Jay Z - The Story of OJ Kendrick Lamar - Humble Song Of The Year Bruno Mars - Thats What I Like (winner) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber - Despacito Jay Z - 4:44 Julia Michael - Issues Logic ft Alessia Cara and Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 Best New Artist Alessia Cara (winner) Lil Uzi Vert Khalid Julia Michaels SZA Best pop album Ed Sheeran - ÷ (winner) Coldplay - Kaleidoscope EP Lana Del Rey - Lust For Life Imagine Dragons - Evolve Kesha - Rainbow Lady Gaga - Joanne Best rap album Kendrick Lamar - Damn (winner) Jay Z - 4:44 Migos - Culture Rapsody - Lailas Wisdom Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy Best Pop Solo Performance Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (winner) Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft Kesha - Praying Lady Gaga - Million Reasons Pink - What About Us Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (winner) The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber - Despacito Imagine Dragons - Thunder Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay Best Dance Recording LCD Soundsystem - Tonite (winner) Bonobo feat Innov Gnawa - Bambro Koyo Ganda Camelphat & Elderbrook - Cola Gorillaz feat DRAM - Andromeda Odesza Featuring WYNNE & Mansionair - Line Of Sight Best Dance/Electronic Album: Kraftwerk - 3-D The Catalogue (winner) Bonobo - Migration Mura Masa - Mura Masa Odesza - A Moment Apart Sylvan Esso - What Now Best Rock Performance: Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (winner) Chris Cornell - The Promise Foo Fighters - Run Kaleo - No Good Nothing More - Go To War Best Metal Performance Mastodon - Sultans Curse (winner) August Burns Red - Invisible Enemy Body Count - Black Hoodie Code Orange - Forever Meshuggah - Clockworks Best Rock Song Foo Fighters - Run (winner) Metallica - Atlas, Rise! K.Flay - Blood In The Cut Nothing More - Go To War Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage Best Rock Album The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding (winner) Mastodon - Emperor Of Sand Metallica - Hardwired...To Self-Destruct Nothing More - The Stories We Tell Ourselves Queens of the Stone Age - Villains Best alternative album The National - Sleep Well Beast (winner) Arcade Fire - Everything Now Gorillaz - Humanz LCD Soundsystem - American Dream Father John Misty - Pure Comedy Best R&B Performance Bruno Mars - Thats What I Like (winner) Daniel Caesar Featuring Kali Uchis - Get You Kehlani - Distraction Ledisi - High SZA - The Weekend Best Urban Contemporary Album The Weeknd - Starboy (winner) 6LACK - Free 6LACK Childish Gambino - Awaken, My Love! Khalid - American Teen SZA - Ctrl Best Rap Performance Kendrick Lamar - Humble (winner) Big Sean - Bounce Back Cardi B - Bodak Yellow Jay Z - 4:44 Migos feat Lil Uzi Vert - Bad And Boujee Best Rap/Sung Performance Kendrick Lamar feat Rihanna - Loyalty (winner) 6LACK - PRBLMS Goldlink Featuring Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy - Crew Jay Z feat Beyoncé - Family Feud SZA feat Travis Scott - Love Galore Best Rap Song Kendrick Lamar - Humble (winner) Cardi B - Bodak Yellow Danger Mouse feat Run The Jewels and Big Boi - Chase Me Rapsody - Sassy Jay Z - The Story Of O.J. Best Country Album Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 1 (winner) Kenny Chesney - Cosmic Hallelujah Lady Antebellum - Heart Break Little Big Town - The Breaker Thomas Rhett - Life Changes Best Musical Theatre Album Dear Evan Hansen (winner) Come From Away Hello, Dolly! Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media La La Land (winner) Baby Driver Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 Hidden Figures: The Album Moana: The Songs Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media La La Land (Justin Hurwitz) (winner) Arrival (Jóhann Jóhannsson) Dunkirk (Hans Zimmer) Game Of Thrones: Season 7 (Ramin Djawadi) Hidden Figures (Benjamin Wallfisch, Pharrell Williams & Hans Zimmer) Best Song Written For Visual Media How Far Ill Go - from Moana (winner) City Of Stars - from La La Land I Dont Wanna Live Forever - from Fifty Shades Darker Never Give Up - from Lion Stand Up For Something - from Marshall Best Producer Greg Kurstin (winner) Calvin Harris Blake Mills No I.D. The Stereotypes Best Music Video Kendrick Lamar - Humble (winner) Beck - Up All Night Jain - Makeba Jay Z - The Story Of O.J. Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 Best Music Film Various Artists - The Defiant Ones (winner) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - One More Time With Feeling The Grateful Dead - Long Strange Trip Various Artists - Soundbreaking Various Artists - Two Trains Runnin.

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Bruno Mars triumphs at Grammys