LOS ANGELES, Feb 9: British crooner Sam Smith won big at the Grammys by scooping up four gongs including song of the year and record of the year for his mega hit ‘Stay With Me’ but it was Beck who caused an upset by walking away with album of the year trophy for ‘Morning Phase’.
The other two awards won by Smith, 22, were best newcomer and best pop vocal album for his debut ‘In the Lonely Hour’.
Smith playfully thanked his ex-lover for making it all possible. “Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys,” he said.
The singer, however, was stopped from scoring a hat-trick in the top category by Beck who beat Smith and Beyonce.
Beck, 44, looked surprised as his name was announced but the audience was in for a bigger shock when Kanye West mock repeated his 2009 Taylor Swift stunt by trying to upstage the musician. Beck was presented the award by Prince, who said, “Like books and black lives, albums still matter.”
The musician’s other wins included in the best rock album category.
Beyonce put up a sombre but spectacular performance on ‘Take My Hand Precious Lord’ to introduce John Legend and Common’s ‘Glory’ from ‘Selma’ while a group of background performers held up their hands in a ‘hands up, don’t shoot’ image in a reference to the Ferguson shooting.
She won in three categories –best R&B song, best R&B performance on ‘Drunk in love’ and for surround sound award for self-titled ‘Beyonce’.
Williams also nabbed three trophies. He took home best urban contemporary album for ‘G I R L’, best pop solo performance and music video for his hit song ‘Happy’. His performance too included the ‘hands up, don’t shoot’ gesture.
Eminem won best rap album while Miranda Lambert won the best country album, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga nabbed best traditional pop vocal album and St Vincent won the best alternative rock album at the musical extravaganza that handed out trophies in 83 categories.
The ceremony was high on performances by Rihanna, West and Paul McCartney, Madonna, Kisten Wiig, Katy Perry and AC/DC among others.
President Barack Obama made an appearance to condemn sexual violence, saying, “It’s not OK – and it has to stop.”
The ceremony was hosted by rapper LL Cool, who returned for the fourth time. (PTI)
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