The Grammy Awards, the most prestigious awards ceremony in the music industry, returned to the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 5th, 2023, for its 65th edition. Hosted by Trevor Noah, the ceremony celebrated the best in music over the past year, showcasing the talents of some of the industry's biggest names.
The night was filled with standout performances, with artists taking the stage to deliver electrifying and emotional sets.
The show began with a high-energy performance by Bad Bunny, he delivered a show that showcased and gave tribute to Latinx culture and tradition. In my opinion, it’s one of the best performances I’ve ever seen of his. It was hard to stay in my seat as the band and dancers spread throughout the Grammy stage and audience floor.
Musics' biggest night continued with groundbreaking performances and award wins.
Harry Styles brought his music video choreography to life on the Grammy stage and sealed his position as the international star that he is, winning Album of the year.
Legends Smokey Robinson and Barry Gordy were honored by a medley of performances by THE Stevie Wonder, Country singer Chris Stapleton, the up-
and-coming R&B group WanMor and a
performance by Smokey Robinson himself. They sang hits of the Motown era, honoring the pioneering label and all that it did for black artists of the time.
A personal favorite, Miss Mary J. Blige performed her hit “Good morning Gorgeous” and instilled the importance of self-love, self-preservation, and self-care for everyone who watched and was moved. Similar in the vein of self-love and acceptance was Lizzo, who took the Grammy stage to church in a moving rendition of her hit songs "About Damn Time" and "Special." It was a reminder of the greatness of Lizzo not only as an artist but as a person. The way she poured into the performance oozed with self-confidence and celebration. As always, she remains a continuous breath of fresh air.
Photos from Getty Images of the 65th Grammy Award show
Hip-Hop was recognized and celebrated like no other in this award show. The Tribute celebrating Hip-Hop’s 50 Year Anniversary brought out the legends that assisted in making the genre what it is today. The tribute journeyed the hits from Hip Hop’s inception, in 1973, to 2023. Some performers included Busta Rhymes, Public Enemy, Missy Elliott, LL Cool J, The Lox, and many more. The viewer got the ability to see and listen to the evolution of Hip-Hop from the past to the current day. The other highlight performance in the Hip-Hop space was “God Did” performed by DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, John Legend, and Fridayy. The performance closed the award show and lasted for a record 8-mins long for a single song. The hit song broke the internet when released and proved to be a record that made a huge impact in the last year of music. Lastly, Dr. Dre was awarded the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award - this was a huge moment for Hip-Hop and spoke volumes about the impact of his work and legacy.
One of the biggest highlights of the night was Beyoncé’s making history by winning the most Grammys ever, with 32 wins. She broke the mold for the win of the Best Dance/ Electronica Album with Renaissance, holding back tears as she accepted her award. She was also given her flowers from artists such as Adele who while accepting her award, acknowledged Beyonce as an artist who changed her life.
Overall, the 65th Grammy awards was a night to remember, of jaw-dropping performances and legendary award wins. The biggest night in music did not disappoint.