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As with last year, while you are waiting for the tape-delayed West Coast television feed of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, LAist will be covering the awards show as it unfolds live at LA Live!
This year a slew of LAist favorites, including Brooklyn-based indie pop duo MGMT (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4, #5), Parisian indie rock outfit Phoenix (LAist Review), local indie rockers Silversun Pickups (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6) and English indie pop duo the Ting Tings (LAist Review, #2, #3), have been nominated in various categories. They may be relatively diminutive in comparison to recording industry giants like Taylor Swift, the Black Eyed Peas, Kings of Leon and Lady Gaga, but we are rooting for the underdogs. Stay tuned for frequent updates!
1:30 PM The jokesters in LMFAO are presenting, doing what they do best—making complete fools of themselves. David Byrne, Neil Young, Imogen Heap and David Guetta have all earned Grammys in the non-televised awards. David Byrne won for best recording package. Neil Young won for best boxed or special limited edition package. Imogen Heap won for best engineered album (non-classical). She was all dolled up in a flashy, light-infused outfit w/ an umbrella. She won for best engineered album (non-classical). David Guetta won for best remixed recording (non-classical). Guetta was euphoric, explaining the importance of his win: dance culture is making some serious headway in the mainstream realm.
4:00 PM The young and beauteous Taylor Swift has picked up her first Grammys for best female country vocal performance and best country song. Beyoncé is giving her a run for her money, picking up four Grammys in varied R&B categories. No surprise here. The big surprise of the evening, however, is Phoenix winning best alternative music album. Those Parisians rocked our little world and we are, dare we say, hopeful for the future of the recording academy. And, lastly, Kings Of Leon have snagged two Grammys for their hit single "Use Somebody." The non-televised awards have concluded. Now, we wait for the "real deal."
5:00 PM The official show has kicked off with a bang. The overly quirky pop songstress Lady Gaga has graced the stage for a piano duet with Sir Elton John. She's clad in a curvaceous green gown. Sir Elton certainly dressed the part, donning a pair of stunnah shades—encrusted in rhinestones of course!
Stephen Colbert is presenting, inciting laughter
with his witty insight and truthyism. He says, " I did
not even know they're dating" about the aforementioned performance. He introduces his daughter and attempts to explain Jeff Beck's importance by way of guitar hero. He tips his cap to Jay-Z and breaks out a brand new iPad with the list
of nominees.
Song of the year goes to: Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"
That raises her grand total to five Grammys!
5:30 PM Green Day performed a pretty spectacular rendition of "21 Guns." There were more people onstage than were necessary, but it certainly added a dramatic element. I started listening to this band when I was in fourth grade and I would have never envisioned this gargantuan of a stature.
Best country album goes to: Taylor Swift
She wants to thank her record label for "letting her write every song on her album." What world are we living in again? Oh yes.
Beyoncé performed with a faux swat squad. Her voice is, excuse me for this, fierce! It's no wonder she's poised to take home a ton of Grammys. Kitschy contrivances like this performance constitute the cornerstone of what this award show is all about. But, at the very least, she's tipping her popstar cap to Alanis Morissette, covering "You Oughtta Know." Definitely a highlight in this unbearably heartfelt moment.
6:00 PM Pink pulled a cirque de soleil, slung in a white cloth wearing practically nothing. This is easily the most embarassing career move anyone has ever made in the history of humankind.
The Black Eyed Peas did their thing, dressed to the nines in futuristic garb. No surprises here, just pure pop and uninspiring theatrics.
6:30 PM Ringo Starr thanks Norah Jones for being shorter than him. Kings Of Leon win record of the year, touting their drunken state—a happy one no less. And Robert Downey Jr. uses a bunch of fantastic, highfalutin words, introducing Jamie Foxx and T-Pain's hilarious performance. This is quite possibly the most entertainingly shallow performance thus far. A Slash appearance was certainly not a given, but it seems fitting given what they were going for. This is the glitz and glam that award shows are made of.
