Another highly anticipated Grammys has commenced, marking the 66th ceremony awarding some of the world’s most beloved singers and songwriters. As usual, the results had their fair share of fans enthused, with some members of fandoms enraged at awards deemed particularly controversial. Ultimately, from the electric performances to the countless credited nominees, this was one for the books!
While the world of music is often dominated by singles, 2023 saw the rise of a large degree of new albums from some of pop culture’s favorite artists. The Album of the Year nominees displayed the array of talent headlining the music industry, including Jon Batiste, Olivia Rodrigo, Janelle Monae, Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus, Boygenius, SZA, and Taylor Swift. Making history, Taylor Swift took the big prize, awarded for “Midnights,” which received six nominations. By coming out on top, Swift become the most awarded artist for Album of the Year in the history of the category. Additionally, the singer and songwriter announced a brand new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” shocking her fan base with a release date in April. “Taylor Swift is one of the most deserving people of such esteem. ‘Midnights’ shocked the world and received this award for good reason. I am so happy for her and am so excited for this next album,” Junior Corinne Evans said.
Outside of this exciting award, other artists received recognition, including Miley Cyrus for hit single “Flowers,” Billie Eilish’s song “What Was I Made For?,” and SZA’s “Ghost in the Machine.” While many of these awards were unanimously seen as well-deserved, there were quite a few upsets. On the one hand, Swift received undying love and support from her fans, but on the other, some frustrated fans thought that other artists should have been recognized instead. Particularly, Lana Del Rey went empty-handed, despite her nomination in the category for her album “Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?” Many people saw Lana as being robbed and continuing not to get the acclaim she deserved for her adored albums and songs. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Taylor Swift, but I think Lana should have won this award,” Senior Luke McCoulugh said. “It seems to be a trend for Lana’s talent to end up going unrecognized, and she is the last artist who deserves so little.”
Awards aside, many impressive performances went underway, with artists displaying their new hit singles. Billie Eilish, alongside her brother and co-writer Finneas, performed “What Was I Made For?” beautifully, leaving the audience in awe and emotionally moved. The song debuted this summer in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie, a film that has already received dozens of awards, several of which were on account of this moving single. Additionally, Miley Cyrus won both Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Flowers” and celebrated with an ad-lib-heavy rendition of the track. “The performances this year were so much fun and extremely well done. It showcased that these artists deserve and work for every nomination they receive,” Senior Sara Roman said.
Ultimately, this year’s Grammys was filled with awards of the highest esteem and recognized artists who have put noticeable hard work into crafting new songs and albums for their fanbases. So, Dubs, here is to another year of new music and performances from some of the most beloved artists of our time. See you next year!
