10 must-see moments from the Grammys

Rihanna killed it vocally, Katy Perry brought the tears and AC/DC were about the only band who didn't bore everyone off with a ballad.

These are the Grammy highlights, and the tweets that best explain them.

Get them while they're hot. And by hot I mean still available.

1) Rihanna, Kanye and Macca - FourFiveSeconds

Paul McCartney did you forget the words? #GRAMMYs

— Danielle Zimmerman (@Danielekincaid) February 9, 2015

2) Sia - Chandelier (with Kristen Wiig and Maddy Ziegler)

Kristin Wiig just perfectly summed up how us normals look when we sing Sia songs into the mirror alone at home. #GRAMMYS

— Rosemary Hallmark (@rohallma) February 9, 2015

3) Madonna - Living For Love

Taylor Swift was SO into Madonna at the #GRAMMYs: http://t.co/4K0kkYGDIt pic.twitter.com/EcdOSGFt6c

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) February 9, 2015

4) AC/DC - Rock or Bust / Highway To Hell

AC/DC gets a Teleprompter assist at #GRAMMYs. “It’s rock or bust.” http://t.co/Bc1xixvqat pic.twitter.com/F8yHQBD32Q

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 9, 2015

5) Katy Perry - By The Grace of God
Katy Perry's performance was preceded by a speech about domestic abuse by Brooke Axtell, from Austin, Texas (sadly clipped out of this video).

She spoke about her "romance with a handsome, charismatic man".

"I was stunned when he began to abuse me," she continued. "Authentic love does not devalue another human being. Authentic love does not silence, shame or abuse."

Brooke Axtell's is the most important voice we're gonna hear tonight. #GRAMMYs

— Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) February 9, 2015

6) Kanye invades the stage



7) While Jay-Z and Beyonce watch




8) ELO and Ed Sheeran - Evil Woman / Mr. Blue Sky

Paul McCartney dances like nobody Is watching, notices somebody watching #Grammys http://t.co/qRSmMuLIvi

— Gawker (@Gawker) February 9, 2015

9) Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud (with John Mayer)

So far the biggest thing I've learned tonight is that Ed Sheeran's album X is pronounced "multiply" and not "ex"

— daniel. (@dandal1on) February 9, 2015

10) Pharrell - Happy (with Hans Zimmer and Lang Lang)

Ah, we knew Pharrell's outfit looked familiar... http://t.co/0eOeNPwSbF #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/L7Eb0ZdkoS

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) February 9, 2015

Tweet

Newsflash: Justin Timberlake's comeback not entirely hopeless

Let's face it: Justin Timberlake's comeback "effort" Suit and Tie was a big pooey stinker (technical term). Meandering, dated and toothless, it totally lacked the spark of SexyBack, or even Senorita. If it were one of Justin's dance routines, it would have come with its feet encased in cement.

Having said that, it worked pretty well as a rat pack-era big band number at last night's Grammys - so maybe that was the intention all along?


Things improved even further when, post-Grammys, Justin burped a new, eight-minute "sexy jam" onto his YouTube page. It's called Mirrors and here are the reasons why it could rescue the campaign for his new album The 20/20 Experience.

:: It's not rubbish.

:: Bonkers lyrics - EG "with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soap, I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go". A pocket full of soap??

:: Just when you think it's over, it ain't over. That's some Lenny Kravitz level shit going on right there.

:: Combines the best bits of Cry Me A River (drum beat) and What Goes Around... Comes Back Around (epic length).

:: Timbaland does his trademark "piki piki" noise. Admittedly, we grew sick of that in 2007 but it now sounds fresh and exciting again due to the passage of time and nostalgia and having ears.

:: The sublime "switch-up" at six minutes, which features the vocal talents of the teacher from Charlie Brown.

:: Eight minutes and fifteen seconds later, it's still not rubbish.

Thank you Justin. Our faith is restored. (PS Can we have one like Dance With Me next?)

Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

Update: 15 June, 2013.
Do you know what? I think he's singing "pocket full of soul". Such a disappointment.

Tweet

Best bits from the Grammys

It wasn't a perfect night at the Grammys... Aside from the tragic events of Saturday justifiably casting a shadow over the ceremony, almost everyone chose to play the underwhelming fourth single from their latest album. Still, there were a couple of performances worth watching over your Monday morning teabreak and, if the internet police haven't taken them down, these are they.

Adele - Rolling In The Deep
Aside from the a capella intro that said "hello bitches, my voice is all better now", Adele seemed to be exercising more control over those powerhouse vocals. Sounds like she's had some coaching... but that doesn't stop the tingles running up and down your spine for a full four minutes. It's nice to have you back, missus.



Rihanna - We Found Love
"Make some noise for Whitney," screams Rihanna, whose "we found love in a hopeless place" lyric couldn't have been more appropriate given the circumstances.
WARNING: This video also contains Coldplay.



Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - We Take Care Of Our Own
This was the show opener - a huge, string-assisted behemoth. I haven't delved into the lyrics but I'm guessing the jingoistic overtones are delivered with a heavy dose of sarcasm, á la Born In The USA. You can't beat a bit of Bruce, you know.



Bruno Mars - Runaway
This is one of those "why didn't he do Grenade?" moments. The song is nothing to write home about, but Bruno's tribute to the hyperactive funk workouts of James Brown and The JBs is hugely exciting.



Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt - Etta James Tribute
Surprisingly moving, this low-key stroll through the blues was my personal highlight from the night's proceedings.




Taylor Swift - Mean
Taylor Swift is rocking the banjo. You've gotta love a girl who rocks the banjo.

Tweet

The Grammys in four video clips

The Grammys, eh? The world's premiere 14-and-a-half-hour-long award ceremony. Lots of thanking God, interspersed with performances by Muse and a country band you've never heard of. You certainly wouldn't want to sit through them. Unless you were tied to a chair in one of those Saw films and getting up would result in being cut in half with an axegrinder.

Anyway, I've sifted through the haystack to bring you the needles. Mind your fingers.

1) THE LADY GAGA
Came out of an egg, you know. Truly the Kinder Surprise of Pop.

Lady Gaga - Born This Way


2) THE CEE-LO
This is a tribute to Elton John's Muppet Show performance of Crocodile Rock, back in "the day". Gwyneth Paltrow plays Miss Piggy.

Cee-Lo Green + The Muppets - Forget You

3) THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Who deservedly won the Album Of The Year prize for The Suburbs. This performance was essentially their acceptance speech. I think we're supposed to believe it was impromptu and unscripted, but no-one seems the slightest bit flustered.

Arcade Fire - Ready To Start


4) THE B.O.B. AND THE BRUNO MARS AND THE JANELLE MONAE
For my money, this is the standout performance of the night - a soul revue pulled straight from the video for Hey Ya! Bruno Mars steals the show with his terrifying assault on a ride cymbal during Cold War.

B.O.B. / Bruno Mars / Janelle Monae


Inevitably, these videos will all disappear as soon as I hit the publish button. Here's the relevant Google searches in case you need 'em.
Lady Gaga :: Cee-Lo :: Arcade Fire :: Bruno, BOB and Janelle

Tweet