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The Sunday night soiree at the Los Angeles Convention Center transported guests to another continent. Bikini-d women in elaborate headdresses shook their feathered skirts to the music while topless men practiced the Brazilian martial art capoeira, performing kicks, flips and handstands.

Just a block away from where Whitney Houston was mourned as late Grammy royalty and Adele was crowned the current queen with six awards, the 2012 Grammy celebration provided a festive escape with its sexy dancers and colorful, upbeat vibe.

Ryan Tedder, who shared in Adele's album of the year prize as a producer, performed with his band, One Republic. He saluted Houston before leaving the stage.

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1096071--tropical-latin-theme-lightens-up-post-grammy-party Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:44:00 -0400 Sandy Cohen, The Associated Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1096071--tropical-latin-theme-lightens-up-post-grammy-party
The show was more about the tribute than the trophies — despite Adele's record-tying six-award night, which included a sweep of every major category — as winners and presenters alike carved time from their speeches to remember Houston, who died Saturday at age 48.

Host L.L. Cool J opened the show by acknowledging Houston — "We've had a death in our family," he said before reading a prayer and introducing a video tribute to the superstar — and Grammy winner after Grammy winner went on to pay their respects.

"Whitney, we will always love you," the rapper-turned-actor said.

Indeed, the mood was uncommonly muted at the typically breezy Grammys, and Houston was never far from the fore.

Legendary artists including Stevie Wonder and Bonnie Raitt shed light on Houston's far-reaching influence on the broadcast and backstage while several stars screamed her name out during performances.

And Jennifer Hudson — alone under a spotlight, struggling to remain composed — contributed a devastating version of Houston's "I Will Always Love You."

The show's producers did their best to respectfully pay tribute to Houston while keeping the mood of the show as buoyant as possible — a balance perhaps best personified by L.L. Cool J's intro, in which he followed the video tribute by shifting gears and trying to raise the audience's spirits by the sheer volume of his voice alone.

Bruno Mars made a similarly fleet-footed segue from shouting out Houston to chiding the crowd for not getting up and dancing during his frenetic performance of "Runaway Baby," while Rihanna took a breathless moment from her neon-streaked dance number "We Found Love" to shriek: "Make some noise for Whitney!"

Of course, the focus on Houston understandably drew attention away from what was supposed to be the final triumphant cap to the Year of Adele.

While the Foo Fighters also had a huge night with five trophies total and Kanye West won another four, Adele's haul was as mighty as expected for one of the most successful albums in recent memory.

Since releasing her mournful, scornful sophomore opus "21" back in January 2011, the 23-year-old's powerful pipes have lifted her ever higher and higher, with the stealth smash reaching sales levels thought to be inconceivable in the industry's lean era: diamond certification in Canada, 14 platinum plaques in the U.K. and six-time platinum sales in the U.S.

The momentum continued Sunday. She won every single category in which she was nominated, including best song, album and record of the year. She tied Beyonce's record for the most Grammy wins in a night by a female act.

"Thank you so much, thank you," she said as she claimed her final trophy, her composure finally cracking, tears streaming down her face.

"I just first of all say, mum: girl did good! Mum, I love you, I'm so sorry you're not here.... This record is inspired by something really normal and everyone's been through it, and that's a rubbish relationship."

"It's been the most life-changing year."

It wasn't hard to understand the Adele adoration after watching the Brit take the stage for the first time since undergoing vocal microsurgery in November.

Her performance of her gospel and disco-tinged neo-soul hit "Rolling in the Deep" opened free of musical accompaniment, with Adele providing ample evidence of the rejuvenation of her voice without any pesky instruments to muck up the mix.

With a reverent audience clapping along — heck, they gave her a standing ovation before she'd even started — Adele seemed to push the tune's soaring chorus even beyond its usual full-throated peaks, swaying gently and wearing an expression of cool calm as she effortlessly delivered one of the evening's most impressive vocal takes (rivalled only by Hudson's spine-tingling performance).

Afterward, she shrugged and curtsied as the crowd rose to its feet and roared its approval.

Clearly, she was a Grammy darling. And in fact, the show seemed to borrow from the same mix of factors that has propelled Adele to such heights — making the sounds of yesterday sound thrillingly new — to program its lineup of performances this year in general.

The focus was largely on celebrating the musical pillars of the past, with youthful acts offering faithful interpretations of undeniable classics while their masters looked on and eventually joined the fray.

There was the breezy tribute to the reunited Beach Boys, with Maroon 5's Adam Levine guiding his flawless falsetto over the waves of "Little Surfer Girl," breakout rockers Foster the People charging through "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and the whole gang joining together for the pocket masterpiece "Good Vibrations."

A similar setup was used for a stirring dedication to beloved country legend Glen Campbell. While he announced last year that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and was considering ending his career, his familiar voice sounded full and warm wrapped around his best-known classic "Rhinestone Cowboy," preceded by reverent covers of "Gentle on My Mind" and "Southern Nights" by the Band Perry and Blake Shelton, respectively.

And the show was bookended by fierce performances from industry legends, both of whom emphasized substance over spectacle.

Bruce Springsteen opened the gala with his fist-pumping new anthem of patriotic frustration, "We Take Care of Our Own," while the show's final number — from Beatles legend Paul McCartney — was no less inspired.

He led a medley of the "Abbey Road"-closing trifecta "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight" and "The End," assisted by the Eagles' Joe Walsh and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl. Ultimately, with those three and two more guitarists trading show-stopping solos, the Grammys ended in a hail of furiously plucked guitar notes.

Younger artists seemed to similarly subscribe to the less is more esthetic. Adele, the Civil Wars, Hudson, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson all contributed performances that put the focus squarely on their musical talent and not ambitious set designs or other incidentals, a theme coincidentally hammered home by Grohl as he accepted the fifth of the Foo Fighters' trophies.

"We made this (album) in my garage with some microphones and tape machine," he said of "Wasting Light."

"This means a lot because it shows the human element of making music is what's important ... it's not about what goes on in a computer."

For good measure — and with producers trying to play him off the stage — he added with a shouted flourish: "Long live rock 'n' roll!"

There were moments that nudged toward the future, too, chief among them a booty-shaking tribute to electronic music — held in a massive white tent erected just outside the arena — led by Lil Wayne, Foo Fighters, David Guetta and rodent-helmeted Canadian DJ Deadmau5, a three-time loser this year (Toronto's Drake was similarly shut out despite a trio of nods).

Also notable was the performance from controversial R&B singer Chris Brown, who earned a spot in Grammy infamy three years ago when he assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna the night of the awards bash.

There was no hint of lingering ill will in the audience's response to the 22-year-old's medley performance of "Beautiful People" and "Turn Up the Music" in which the multiple nominee danced about capably on a pyramid of coloured cubes. He received a standing ovation, at least from some in attendance, and went on to win best R&B album for "F.A.M.E."

"First and foremost, I just gotta thank God for this opportunity and thank the Grammys for letting me get on this stage and do my thing," he said after claiming the award.

"I don't know, man, I'm nervous, I don't know what to say."

Other multiple winners included Tony Bennett, Skrillex and Bon Iver — the indie-folk outfit that surprised the room in winning best new artist.

"I'm a little bit uncomfortable up here," said the band's visibly stunned brainchild Justin Vernon, stating the obvious, before the camera panned to capture his girlfriend, Ottawa singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards.

"With that discomfort I do have a sense of gratitude. I want to say thank you to all the nominees and all the non-nominees, who aren't here and never will be here."

And while some of the night's biggest performances provided no-frills thrills, the two-sided Grammys stage was hardly stark for the entire evening.

Exploring the nonsensical but entertaining theatrics that are typically Lady Gaga's exclusive domain, motor-mouthed rap eccentric Nicki Minaj kicked off her performance of "Roman's Revenge" and "Roman Holiday" sitting on a canopy-shrouded bed with a priest. Then — after a bizarre short-form music video — she appeared strapped into a slab of concrete amid a stage dressed to look like a majestic cathedral.

She ended up levitating at least a dozen feet above the stage while smoke machines went off.

Earlier, double winner Taylor Swift slipped into a simple peasant dress and strummed a banjo through her poison-penned screed "Mean" with the stage covered in scrap wood and decorated to evoke the look of an old-fashioned hoedown, while a blue-haired, metal-clad Katy Perry descended to the stage in a rectangular glass box she soon shattered, with fireballs bursting into the air behind her — generating an impressive, if not entirely thematically coherent, spectacle.

But no matter how flamboyant the setpieces at the Grammys became on Sunday, the event never forgot that Houston's majestic voice had forever fallen silent.

When Toronto's Melanie Fiona won the first two Grammys of her young career, her obvious joy was tempered by Houston's death — the cause of which was still unknown — just one night prior.

"Whitney Houston, I would not be standing up here if it was not for you," she said. "God bless you."

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095399--adele-sweeps-while-grammys-honour-houston Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:20:00 -0400 Nick Patch, The Canadian Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095399--adele-sweeps-while-grammys-honour-houston
The 28-year-old won a pair of Grammy prizes for her collaboration with Cee Lo Green, "Fool For You," but she was still reeling from the sudden death of her hero, Whitney Houston.

"My heart is heavy," Fiona said backstage. "It's kind of a weird feeling because there is so much excitement and adrenalin and nervousness going into this but there was such a heavy weighted feeling in my heart, which in a way levelled me out from being too extreme in either case.

"But now I feel so proud to be able to say that she was such a huge influence of mine and to be able to say I can attribute a lot of my success and this success today to what she's given to me as an artist."

Houston's death cast a pall over the Grammy festivities on Sunday, with artist after artist taking the time to pay tribute to her myriad accomplishments.

But Fiona kept the singer closer than most.

"Whitney Houston is the first voice and memory I have of music," she said. "My mom used to play her for me to fall asleep in the crib. Hers was the first song I ever sang. She has been an inspiration to me throughout my entire career, for her presence as an artist, her voice, and what she was able to do and the way she made people feel.

"I would not be up here as a nominee or as a winner without her influence and presence in my life, so it's very emotional for me."

Fiona interestingly won for a version of the Green song that wasn't included on his album, "The Lady Killer." Still, the sultry verse she added to the sizzling soul tune helped propel it to No. 1 on the R&B singles chart in the U.S.

Fiona almost didn't make it up to the stage to accept her award at all — presenter Jimmy Jam was ready to move on when Fiona didn't immediately materialize, so the singer sprinted down the aisle in high heels and a long gown.

When she did make it up there, she remembered to thank everyone back at home.

"Excuse me, it took me a while to run in a gown," laughed Fiona, whose sophomore album "The MF Life" is due out this spring.

"This is, to say the least, a dream come true for me. I used to grow up watching the Grammys. I attended these Grammys three years ago as just an observer and to be standing up here now, winning an award, is the highest honour I could have expected today.

"I want to thank so many people for helping me get here and being a part of this amazing record. Thank you so much to my parents, my family (and) my friends back home in Toronto, Canada."

Note to readers: This is a corrected story; a previous version incorrectly said Fiona was born in Guyana

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095713--melanie-fiona-s-heart-heavy-after-grammy-wins Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:45:00 -0400 Nick Patch, The Canadian Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095713--melanie-fiona-s-heart-heavy-after-grammy-wins
Coroner's officials say they will not release any information on an autopsy performed Sunday at the request of police detectives investigating the singer's death. The singer was found in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, but Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter declined to say anything more about the room's condition or any evidence investigators recovered.

He said there were no obvious signs of trauma on Houston's body, but that officials were not ruling out any causes of death until they have toxicology results, which will take weeks to obtain.

Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said that his agency may release more details Monday about Houston's death, but it will depend on whether detectives feel comfortable releasing any information.

A member of Houston's entourage found the 48-year-old singer unresponsive in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, just hours before she was supposed to appear at a pre-Grammy gala.

Rosen said there were no indications of foul play when Houston was found by a member of her entourage. Paramedics worked to revive Houston, but were unsuccessful and the singer was pronounced dead shortly before 4 p.m. He said he could not comment on the condition of Houston's room or where she had been found.

Meanwhile, Houston's daughter was transported by ambulance to a Los Angeles hospital Sunday morning and later released. A source close to the family who did not want to speak given the sensitivity of the matter said she was treated and released for stress and anxiety. Bobbi Kristina Brown, 18, who is Houston's daughter from her tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, had accompanied her mother to several pre-Grammy Awards events last week.

"At this time, we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter, Bobbi Kristina," Bobby Brown wrote in a statement released about an hour after she was transported from the hotel. "I appreciate all of the condolences that have been directed towards my family and I at this most difficult time."

Sunday's Grammys featured a musical tribute by Jennifer Hudson, whose version of Houston's most famous hit, "I Will Always Love You," ended with Hudson's personal note, "Whitney, we love you." Early in the show, LL Cool J introduced a clip of a glowing Houston at the 1994 Grammys singing her signature ballad, the most downloaded song for much of Sunday on iTunes.

A sensation from her very first album, she was one of the world's bestselling artists from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. She awed millions with soaring, but disciplined vocals rooted in gospel and polished for the masses, a bridge between the earthy passion of her godmother, Aretha Franklin, and the bouncy pop of her cousin, Dionne Warwick.

Houston herself won six Grammys and had been expected to perform at the pre-awards gala Saturday night thrown by music impresario Clive Davis, her longtime mentor.

Davis went ahead with his annual party and concert, which were held at the same hotel where Houston's body was found — and where it remained for most of Saturday night. He dedicated the evening to her and asked for a moment of silence.

Houston had been at rehearsals for the Davis concert on Thursday, coaching singers Brandy and Monica, according to a person who was at the event but was not authorized to speak publicly about it.

The person said Houston looked disheveled, was sweating profusely and liquor and cigarettes could be smelled on her breath. It was the latest of countless stories about the decline of a uniquely gifted and beautiful artist, once the golden girl of the music industry.

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton remembered Houston while preaching Sunday morning at the Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

"Yes, she had an outstanding range," he said. "Yes, she could hit notes no one else could reach. But what made her different was she was born and bred in the bosom of the black church."

The congregation applauded and answered him with shouts of "Amen" and "Tell it!"

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she became a rare black actress with box office appeal, starring in such hits as "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale." Bishop T.D. Jakes, a Texas minister and producer on Houston's final film project, a re-make of the 1970s release "Sparkle," said he saw no signs she was having any substance issues. He said Houston was a complete professional and moved the cast and crew to tears two months ago when she sang the gospel hymn "Her Eyes on the Sparrow" for a scene shot in Detroit.

"There was no evidence in working with her on 'Sparkle' that there was any struggle in her life," Jakes said Sunday. "She just left a deep impression on everybody."

Houston had the perfect voice and the perfect image: gorgeous, but wholesome; grounded, but fun-loving. And she influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out, sounded so much like Houston that many couldn't tell the difference.

But by the end of her career, Houston had become a stunning and heartbreaking cautionary tale. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanour and bizarre public appearances.

She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her precious voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes of her prime.

"The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy," Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side.

In her teens, Houston sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling. Clive Davis, who as head of Arista Records had already signed up Warwick and Franklin, was instantly smitten by the statuesque young singer.

"The time that I first saw her singing in her mother's act in a club ... it was such a stunning impact," Davis told "Good Morning America."

"To hear this young girl breathe such fire into this song. I mean, it really sent the proverbial tingles up my spine," he added.

Before long, the rest of the country would feel it, too. Houston made her album debut in 1985 with "Whitney Houston," which sold millions and spawned hit after hit. "Saving All My Love for You" brought the singer her first Grammy, for best female pop vocal. "How Will I Know," ''You Give Good Love" and "The Greatest Love of All" also became hit singles.

Another multiplatinum album, "Whitney," came out in 1987 and included "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

Some saw her 1992 marriage to Brown, the former New Edition member and soul crooner, as an attempt to toughen her image. It seemed to be an odd union; she was seen as pop's pure princess while he had a bad-boy image and already had children of his own. Over the years, he would be arrested several times, on charges including driving under the influence and failure to pay child support.

___

Associated Press writers Nekesa Mumbi Moody and Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles, Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Bruce Shipkowski in Newark, New Jersey; and Hillel Italie in New York contributed to this report.

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095587--investigators-seek-answers-to-houston-s-death Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:09:00 -0400 Anthony McCartney, The Associated Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095587--investigators-seek-answers-to-houston-s-death
In an interview featured in the March issue of Vogue magazine, the 23-year-old says people think she's "miserable" because of her songs like "Someone like you" and "Rolling in the Deep." She also finds people are "surprised" when they meet her because she's not melancholy like her music. In fact, the singer vows to "never" write a breakup record again and adds she's "done being a bitter witch."

Adele has a lot to be happy about. She won six Grammy awards Sunday night, including record and album of the year. "21" was 2011's bestselling album.

The March issue of Vogue goes on sale Feb. 21.

____

Online:

http://www.vogue.com/

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1096002--adele-tells-vogue-she-s-done-with-break-up-music Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:21:00 -0400 The Associated Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1096002--adele-tells-vogue-she-s-done-with-break-up-music
"There is no way around this. We've had a death in our family, and so at least for me, the only thing that feels right is to begin with a prayer for a woman we love, for our fallen sister, Whitney Houston." — Grammy host LL Cool J before leading a prayer for Houston, who passed away Saturday.

___

"Long live Whitney Houston, long live Amy Winehouse, long live Etta James. What can I say? There's a beautiful girl band up in heaven." Amy Winehouse's father, Mitch Winehouse, whom Tony Bennett invited on stage when accepting the Grammy for best pop performance by a duo or group for his duet with Amy Winehouse, "Body and Soul."

___

"Good singing is good singing. I'm a child of the '80s and she was the soundtrack to my adolescence. ... The way she used the words and the way her heart spilled out of her ... it was infectious and it was captivating every time. ... She was larger than life and the summation of good singing for me." Grammy winner and opera singer Joyce DiDonato on Houston.

___

"I just want to say to Whitney up in heaven: We all love you, Whitney Houston." Stevie Wonder from the stage before introducing Paul McCartney.

___

"There's really no feeling quite like writing a song about someone who's completely mean to you and completely hates you and then winning a Grammy for it," Taylor Swift, accepting the award for country solo vocal performance for "Mean," her rebuttal to unnamed critics (and perhaps Bob Lefsetz) who have picked on previous performances.

___

"To me this award means a lot because it shows that the human element of making music is what's most important. Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that's the most important thing for people to do. It's not about being perfect. It's not about sounding absolutely correct. It's not about what goes on in a computer. It's about what goes on in here (your heart) and what goes on here (your head). ... Long live rock 'n' roll!" Dave Grohl after Foo Fighters won their fifth Grammy, best rock performance for "Walk."

___

"I also want to say thank you to all the voters, of course. Sweet. Sweet hookup." Bon Iver's Justin Vernon accepting best new artist award.

___

"I'm a human bakery at the moment," an expectant Joy Williams said backstage after winning two Grammys as half of the duo The Civil Wars.

___

"And seeing as it's a vocal performance, I need to thank my doctors, I suppose, who brought my voice back." Adele on stage after winning best pop solo performance for "Someone Like You."

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"This record is inspired by something that's really normal and everyone's been through it, just a rubbish relationship. And it's gone on to do things I can't tell you how I feel about it. It's been the most life-changing year." Adele after winning album of the year for "21."

___

"Oh, a little bit of snot." Adele joking with the crowd after wiping her nose during her emotional album of the year acceptance speech.

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1096003--a-sampling-of-quotes-from-sunday-s-grammy-awards Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:18:00 -0400 The Associated Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1096003--a-sampling-of-quotes-from-sunday-s-grammy-awards
Album of the Year: "21," Adele

Record of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele

Song of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth

New Artist: Bon Iver

Pop Solo Performance: "Someone Like You," Adele

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: "Body and Soul," Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

Pop Vocal Album: "21," Adele

Alternative Album: "Bon Iver," Bon Iver

Rock Song: "Walk," Foo Fighters

Rock Album: "Wasting Light," Foo Fighters

Rock Performance: "Walk," Foo Fighters

Hard Rock/Metal Performance: "White Limo," Foo Fighters

R&B Album: "F.A.M.E.," Chris Brown

R&B Song: "Fool For You," Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim & Jack Splash

R&B Performance: "Is This Love," Corrine Bailey Rae

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "Fool For You," Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona

Rap Album: "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," Kanye West

Rap Performance: "Otis," Jay-Z and Kanye West

Rap Song: "All of the Lights," Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West

Rap/Sung Collaboration: "All of the Lights," Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie

Dance Recording: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex

Dance/Electronica Album: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex

Musical Theater Album: "The Book of Mormon," Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone

World Music Album: "Tassili," Tinariwen

Latin Pop Rock, Rock or Urban Album: "Drama y Luz," Mana

Tropical Latin Album: "Last Mambo," Cachao

Banda or Norteno Album: "Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends," Los Tigres Del Norte

Regional Mexican or Tejano Album: "Bicentenario," Pepe Aguilar

Country Solo Performance: "Mean," Taylor Swift

Country Album: "Own the Night," Lady Antebellum

Country Performance by a Duo or Group: "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars

Country Song: "Mean," Taylor Swift

Jazz Vocal Album: "The Mosaic Project," Terri Lyne Carrington & various artists

Jazz Instrumental Album: "Forever," Corea, Clark & White

Improvised Jazz Solo: "500 Miles High," Chick Corea

Large Ensemble Jazz Album: "The Good Feeling," Christian McBride Big Band

Blues Album: "Revelator," Tedeschi Trucks Band

Folk Album: "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars

Pop Instrumental Album: "The Road From Memphis," Booker T. Jones

Bluegrass Album: "Paper Airplane," Alison Krauss & Union Station

Americana Album: "Ramble at the Ryman," Levon Helm

Reggae Album: "Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life," Stephen Marley

New Age Album: "What's It All About," Pat Metheny

Children's Album: "All About Bullies... Big and Small," various artists

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Paul Epworth

Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: "Cinema (Skrillex remix)," Sonny Moore

Gospel Song: "Hello Fear," Kirk Franklin

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Performance: "Jesus," L'Andria Johnson

Gospel Album: "Hello Fear," Kirk Franklin

Choral Performance: "Light & Gold," Eric Whitacre

Classical Contemporary Composition: "Elmer Gantry," Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein

Producer of the Year, Classical: Judith Sherman

Orchestral Performance: "Brahms: Symphony No. 4," Gustavo Dudamel

Opera Recording: "Adams: Doctor Atomic," Alan Gilbert, conductor

Spoken Word Album: "If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)," Betty White

Comedy Album: "Hilarious," Louis C.K.

Compilation Soundtrack Album For Visual Media: "Boardwalk Empire," various artists

Score Soundtrack Album For Visual Media: "The King's Speech," Alexandre Desplat

Song Written For Visual Media: "I See the Light," Alan Menken & Glenn Slater

Historical Album: "Band on the Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Deluxe Edition)," Paul McCartney

Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists: "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)," Jorge Calandrelli

___

The full winners list in all categories will be available at http://www.grammy.com

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095738--list-of-grammy-winners-in-select-major-categories Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0400 The Associated Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095738--list-of-grammy-winners-in-select-major-categories
While others have said the singer appeared disheveled when she showed up Thursday to rehearse for music mogul Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party, Price said that wasn't the case when she saw her later that night at a party where the two sang together.

"She stood on her feet for over three hours, she cheered on every singer that hit the stage," said Price, who sang a duet with Houston on "Yes, Jesus Loves Me."

Houston died Saturday.

When she wasn't singing, Price said, Houston was dancing, either by herself or with others, including her 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.

"We had a wonderful time," Price said. "She celebrated me. She told me she was proud of me, she told me she loved me,"

The pair's friendship dates to 1998 when Houston heard Price on the radio and invited her to sing with her on "Heartbreak Hotel."

___

Tony Bennett, who kicked his own cocaine habit 30 years ago, made a pitch for the legalization of all drugs as he reflected on the death of Whitney Houston, whose drug problems have been well documented.

"In Amsterdam they legalized drugs and it calmed everybody down," Bennett said Sunday on the Grammy Awards red carpet.

"It stopped a lot of gangsters who sneak around and get people to take drugs. Everybody gets wounded that way. By legalizing it, you won't have that problem."

The 85-year-old crooner acknowledged his call for legalization is controversial. But he said he stands by it.

"It's called the elimination of ignorance," he said. "If you do something that makes things better, why not do it immediately, whatever it is."

___

One of the Grammy show's most poignant moments was one that TV viewers didn't see.

When Tony Bennett received the Grammy for best pop performance by a duo or group for his duet with Amy Winehouse, he invited the late singer's parents to join him on stage during the awards ceremony's pre-show segment.

"We shouldn't be here. Our darling daughter should be here," Winehouse's father, Mitch, said after he and the singer's mother, Janis, had embraced Bennett.

His daughter was thrilled, Winehouse said, to have recorded the Grammy-winning song "Body and Soul" with Bennett shortly before she died last year of accidental alcohol poisoning.

Mitch Winehouse also noted Whitney Houston's death Saturday and the recent passing of Etta James.

"What can I say? There's a beautiful girl band up in heaven," he said.

___

They've had their share of bad vibrations over the years, but only goodwill abounded when the Beach Boys put aside years of feuding and got back together for the Grammy Awards show.

"It was kind of a different experience," head Beach Boy Brian Wilson said backstage after he and his old bandmates performed "Good Vibrations."

"The guys are brilliantly performing their vocals," Wilson added. "I'm very proud of the guys."

The band that fell apart years ago over infighting and lawsuits is also marking its 50th anniversary with a new CD and tour that will include stops in Europe and Japan. They're also recording new songs written by Wilson and Joe Thomas.

Fellow founding member Mike Love, who just a few years ago wasn't talking to Wilson, his cousin, said the new songs are "fantastic."

He added he is particularly blown away by one called "That's Why God Made the Radio."

"It's a thrill to get together and execute that kind of song," said Love.

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Revenge is sweet for Taylor Swift.

"Mean," the country's star's searing response to being treated badly, won Grammys on Sunday for best country song and best country solo performance.

"There's really no feeling quite like writing a song about someone who's completely mean to you and completely hates you, and then winning a Grammy for it," she said happily.

Later in the evening, she sang the payback anthem for the Grammy telecast, accompanying herself on banjo and looking a little taken aback when the audience responded with a standing ovation.

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Was that an on-stage dis?

Maybe Katy Perry wasn't thinking about her ex, Russell Brand, when she sang the words, "You can keep the diamond ring, it don't mean a thing anyway."

But if not him, who?

Her hair blue and dressed in what looked like a metallic superhero outfit, Perry smashed through a glass box at the Grammy Awards show as she launched into the song "Part of Me."

It is to be released next month and will also be on Perry's forthcoming album, Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection."

Brand, who married Perry in 2010, filed for divorce Dec. 30.

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Forget about showing off her two new Grammys, Joy Williams of The Civil Wars wants the world to know she's got a bun in the oven.

"I'm a human bakery," the singer joked as she showed off her pregnant belly backstage after she and John Paul White collected Grammys for best folk album and best country duo/group performance.

"We'll be a little bohemian family by the time this baby comes," said Williams' husband, Nate, who manages the duo. "The adventure continues and so do the travels."

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Associated Press Entertainment Writers Alicia Quarles, Mesfin Fekadu and Sandy Cohen contributed to this report.

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095787--whitney-houston-remembered-on-grammys-red-carpet Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0400 Beth Harris, The Associated Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095787--whitney-houston-remembered-on-grammys-red-carpet
"We've had a death in our family," said host LL Cool J shortly after Bruce Springsteen opened the show by singing, with obvious poignancy, his new single, "We Take Care of Our Own."

Cool J led the crowd in a prayer for music's "fallen sister," as the Staples Center crowd bowed their heads. He declared the night one to "celebrate and remember," and played a clip of Houston performing "I Will Always Love You" from the 1994 Grammys.

Much later in the show, following the "in memoriam" segment, Hudson, the actress and former "American Idol" finalist, performed a tribute to the 48-year-old Houston by singing her hit ballad "I Will Always Love You." It was a tender, simple performance that encapsulated the glamour and vocal power Houston embodied.

She sang the last words of the song as: "Whitney, we love you."

Bathed in a solemn spotlight, Hudson performed in a sleek black gown, accompanied only by piano. She received a standing ovation while portraits of music luminaries who died in the past year were lit above her.

That Houston's death came so soon before the CBS broadcast meant "a full-blown tribute" wasn't possible, said Grammy show producer Ken Ehrlich. He turned to Hudson on Saturday evening to hurriedly assemble a performance that Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, said was pulled together in hours of frantic phone calls.

"Musicians, by nature, improvise," said Portnow on the red carpet before the show.

There were numerous nods to Houston throughout the night, including comments from Stevie Wonder ("I just want to say to Whitney up in heaven, we all love you, Whitney Houston") and Rihanna ("Make some noise for Whitney!").

But the Grammys didn't just honour Houston. It also took time to pay tribute to soul and blues icon Etta James, rap godfather Gil Scott-Heron and "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius.

But as attendees arrived at the Grammys, Houston was on everyone's mind. She had been expected to perform at the pre-awards gala Saturday night thrown by music impresario Clive Davis.

"Whenever there's tragedy, family pulls together — and this is my family," said producer Jimmy Jam. "There's going to a little bit of everything tonight, and that's how the emotions should be."

"I'm glad we're all together to grieve together," said singer Bonnie Raitt.

For those who were particularly close to Houston, the evening was a difficult one. Just days before, on Thursday, R&B singer Kelly Price performed a duet of "Yes, Jesus Loves Me" with Houston at a pre-Grammy celebration — Houston's last performance.

"I'm here," said an emotional Price, a friend and a frequent collaborator with Houston. "She gave the genre of R&B music a gift that can never be denied."

Heartfelt reaction swept across genres.

"Few people will ever touch the world as much as Whitney Houston," said country star Billy Ray Cyrus.

Musicians who grew up in the 1980s recognized the loss a soundtrack to their youth. R&B singer Ledisi burst into a warm, impromptu rendition of Houston's "How Will I Know" on the red carpet.

The Grammys were far from alone in honouring Houston. Reaction continued to pour in on social media. BET, MTV and VH1 ran tributes to the singer Sunday. Oprah Winfrey said she would remember Houston in a two-hour tribute Thursday on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

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Global Entertainment and Lifestyles Editor Alicia Quarles contributed to this report from Los Angeles.

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095684--grammys-honour-houston-celebrate-fallen-sister Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:44:00 -0400 Jake Coyle, The Associated Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095684--grammys-honour-houston-celebrate-fallen-sister
Album of the Year: "21," Adele

Record of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele

Song of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth

New Artist: Bon Iver

Pop Vocal Album: "21," Adele

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: "Body and Soul," Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

Pop Solo Performance: "Someone Like You," Adele

Rock Song: "Walk," Foo Fighters

Rock Album: "Wasting Light," Foo Fighters

Rock Performance: "Walk," Foo Fighters

R&B Song: "Fool For You," Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim & Jack Splash

R&B Album: "F.A.M.E.," Chris Brown

Rap Performance: "Otis," Jay-Z and Kanye West

Rap Song: "All of the Lights," Kanye West

Rap Album: "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," Kanye West

Country Vocal Solo Performance: "Mean," Taylor Swift

Country Performance by a Duo or Group: "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars

Country Album: "Own the Night," Lady Antebellum

Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album: "Drama y Luz," Mana

Jazz Vocal Album: "The Mosaic Project," Terri Lyne Carrington & various artists

Opera Recording: "Adams: Doctor Atomic," Alan Gilbert, conductor

Traditional Gospel Album: "Hello Fear," Kirk Franklin

Dance Recording: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex

Dance/Electronica Album: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex

Alternative Music Album: "Bon Iver," Bon Iver

Spoken Word Album: "If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)," Betty White

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The full winners list in all categories will be available at http://www.grammy.com

]]> http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095947--list-of-grammy-winners-in-select-major-categories Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:27:00 -0400 The Associated Press http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/entertainment/article/1095947--list-of-grammy-winners-in-select-major-categories