My 2025 Grammy’s highlights
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Kendrick Lamar sweeps the Grammys with his song “Not like Us.”
On Sunday, Feb. 2, the Annual Grammy Awards honored the top artists between Sept. 16, 2023, and Aug. 30, 2024. This era of music is noted as one of the biggest for female pop artists, including numerous groundbreaking works from artists. Nearly everyone there deserved a victory, making the sixty-seventh year of the Grammys a nail-biting experience filled with amazing performances.
Like many other college students, I do not have cable access. While devastated, I could not watch the award show in all its live glory, and that did not stop me from getting the scoop through interviews, clips, and pictures the next day. You heard that right— I put in the research, and now I will compile a brief list of my Grammy highlights and takeaways.
Chappel Roan wins Grammy for Best New Artist:
The surge of Chappel Roan last summer was single-handedly the best thing that happened to my work commute. Not a day went by during those hot months that I was not listening to The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023), and songs like “HOT TO GO!” and “Pink Pony Club” dominated my Spotify-wrapped. I am so happy for her recent success, especially since it led me to find her profile and grace my ears with her 80s-inspired discography.
Hit Me Hard Hit Me Soft (2024) loses album of the year:
Last year was filled with amazing albums: Charli XCX's Brat (2024), Sabrina Carpenter's Short n’ Sweet (2024), Chappell Roan's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023), and Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine (2024)—though, it went unnominated. My personal favorite, though, was Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Hit Me Soft (2024), and I was so excited for her to be recognized for her proudest work.
Unfortunately, that masterpiece of an album lost to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter (2024), a nomination I have yet to listen to. I may spend the next few days sulking, but it would be untrue to say her past album, Renaissance (2022), was not cohesive and unique, so Cowboy Carter (2024) might be one I give a chance. Despite my preferences, one cannot deny Beyoncé’s talent and achievement of being the first Black woman of this century to win this award.
Doechii’s performance:
Doechii is a rapper to whom I need to pay more attention. I knew her from her viral TikTok hit, “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake,” in 2021, but she had not been on my radar until the recent release of her album, Alligator Bites Never HEAL (2024). I am so glad to see her back in the spotlight; her performance was truly a testament to her skills as a performer. Between Doechii’s coordination with her commercial dancers, the choreography, and the power she gives behind every lyric (how she was not out of breath amazes me), anyone could mistake this live performance for a music video!
Kendrick Lamar sweeps with five Grammys:
Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” won in all five categories it was nominated for: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video. This is a vast (and surreal) accomplishment since the song is a diss against Drake, another rapper. I was floored watching the other artists in the audience sing along to the hateful– yet catchy —lyrics; how does one Drake come back from this?
Lady Gaga premieres a new single during a commercial break:
“Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga’s newest single and music video from her upcoming album, Mayhem (2025), is a song that fits in with the recent surge of club-pop. It is reminiscent of her older album, The Fame (2008), and is bound to be loved by fans of “Bad Romance” and “Just Dance.”