Grammy Winners and Losers

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Feb. 2. Many students and teachers have mixed opinions on the award show.
2024 was an incredible year for music, packed with new artists like Chappell Roan, rising artists like Sabrina Carpenter, and older artists such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish releasing new albums.
To kick off the ceremony, rapper Doechii accepted the award for Best Rap Album for her album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” This made her the third woman in Grammy history to win the award.
Pop sensation Taylor Swift was nominated for six awards, but she lost every nomination.
University Academy sophomore Kalyssa Kirk said, “Seeing Taylor Swift go home with zero wins this year makes me feel sad. I love the new album so much.”
Swift released her most recent album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” in early 2024, which earned nominations for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Music Video and Best Duo Performance. Swift won none of these awards.
On the contrary, Beyoncé finally added the Album of the Year award for her album, “Cowboy Carter,” to her 34 other Grammys. She has been nominated for Album of the Year six times, but she hadn’t won until this year.
Not only was the Grammys focused on music, but this year, the award show also focused on Los Angeles and its devastation from the disastrous fires in early January. Throughout the night, host Trevor Noah brought attention to the Los Angeles fires by asking for donations to fire relief funds. By the end of the night, $24 million was donated to fire relief efforts, according to Variety.
In addition, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars sang “California Dreaming” as a tribute to the horrors that occurred in Los Angeles.
Along with evoking sympathy for Los Angeles, the Grammys also caused many to realize how much music influences their own lives.
“Music is a form of artistic expression and often comes from real emotions. With a vast array of subjects and genres, there’s music out there for everyone,” Mr. Andrew Blakemore, an Upper School English teacher, said.
Many students believe slower, quieter music can help them study by drowning out outside noise. Students also use music to express themselves outside of school. Teenagers sometimes tend to feel alone as they navigate through life, but music is there to keep them grounded and focused.
“For us, music is a way of therapy and a coping mechanism,” Kirk said.
Music isn’t only important to teenagers, but adults as well.
Mr. Blakemore said, “Music can help us navigate through our feelings and help us learn about different perspectives.”
As music continues to adapt and change throughout the years, the Grammys consistently recognize musicians while also introducing people to new artists, which can impact listeners’ lives.