U2 STEALS CAREY'S GRAMMY SPOTLIGHT Irish rockers win big; Sly Stone makes surprise appearance Canadian Press and Associated Press Irish rockers U2 managed to upstage diva Mariah Carey at Wednesday night's Grammy Awards, picking up five trophies including album of the year for How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
The band also won song of the year for Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, a tribute front man Bono wrote for his late father.
"I want to thank my father Bob for giving me voice and a bit of attitude," said Bono as he accepted the trophy.
U2 also took home the prize for best rock album, best rock song for City of Blinding Lights and best rock performance for Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own.
Many expected the night to belong to comeback queen Carey, but her thunder was stolen by U2 — and an emotional Kelly Clarkson.
The inaugural American Idol winner tearfully accepted the Grammy for best female pop vocal performance, a category many expected Carey to win.
"I'm sorry I'm crying again on national television," she said referring to the memorable acceptance speech she gave following her Idol victory.
"You have no idea what this means to me."
She later returned to win best pop vocal album, shutting out former Beatle Paul McCartney who'd been favoured to win. It prompted a collective "wow" backstage where reporters from around the world were gathered.
"I don't know what's going on but thank you Jesus, God and everybody that's supported me," gushed a clearly shocked Clarkson.
Green Day edged out Carey in the record of the year category, winning for Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
Still, the evening didn't forget the diva, who ended a 16-year Grammy drought by picking up three awards, including best contemporary R&B album for The Emancipation of Mimi. She also gave a stirring performance which showcased her five-octave range.
Maverick rapper Kanye West, who headed into the night with eight nods for his popular genre-mashing album Late Registration, picked up three Grammys, including best rap album.
Clad in a white suit with black gloves, the producer-turned-rapper pretended to be surprised by the win.
"I had no idea. No, no, no idea," he said, proceeding to open a sheet of paper which read "Thank You List" in large black letters.
An award-show favourite for his outlandish behaviour, West thanked a variety of people, including his publicist.
"Imagine being my publicist, how hard that's gotta be," said the rapper who got into trouble last year when he said "George Bush doesn't care about black people" during a telethon for hurricane Katrina victims.
His haul also included best solo performance for Gold Digger while Diamonds From Sierra Leone, West's criticism of the diamond trade industry, won best rap song.
Another triple winner came from the country side.
Alison Krauss brought her career Grammy total to 20 after picking up another three Wednesday including best country album for Lonely Runs Both Ways which she recorded with her band Union Station.
"We're excited," gushed the country singer after she picked up the first, handed out during a pre-telecast ceremony. "(I) didn't think that was going to happen."
Radio favourites Black Eyed Peas won best rap performance for Don't Phunk With My Heart, while Rascal Flatts' Bless The Broken Road was named best country song.
Canadians didn't fare too well this year, as rock legend Neil Young, famed producer Daniel Lanois, indie darlings The Arcade Fire and crooner Michael Buble walked away empty-handed.
Young — who had never won a Grammy — lost to U2 in one category and to Bruce Springsteen in another.
While he's won six Grammys for his producing work, Quebec-born, Hamilton-raised Lanois lost his two chances at a gramophone-shaped statuette for his solo work.
He still had a shot at a Grammy for his work with U2 in the album of the year category.
Sarah McLachlan lost to Missy Elliott for the best short form music video. She was been nominated for World on Fire, a video which highlighted Third World poverty. Howard Shore's score for The Aviator lost out to the Ray soundtrack. Comedian Rick Moranis lost to Chris Rock in the best comedy album category. Winnipeg rapper Fresh I.E. also lost for rock gospel album.
Frequent Grammy nominee Walter Ostanek also went home empty-handed. It was the 19th time he'd been nominated for his polka music.
Organizers were said to be eager to regain TV ratings which have slipped in recent years. Last year, Desperate Housewives beat out the music show on both sides of the border.
To that end, the show opened with a technically advanced number which saw material girl Madonna, clad in a purple body suit, prance and sashay around the animated Gorillaz crew.
A short time later, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder got the crowd going with a rendition of Higher Ground — a tribute to the late Coretta Scott King.
Later, R&B diva Mary J. Blige sang One with U2 and McCartney rocked out with a rendition of Helter Skelter.
One of the biggest surprises of the night was a performance by the reclusive Sly Stone, who hadn't performed in public since 1993. A tribute to Stone had been planned, but it was a mystery as to whether the man himself would show up.
Toward the end of a sizzling all-star tribute, Stone emerged onstage sporting a tall blond Mohawk and breathed new life into one of his biggest smashes, "I Want To Take You Higher." Though the tribute was planned, many didn't expect Stone — who hasn't performed in public in years — to show up.
Keith Urban was answering questions backstage when Stone's performance began playing on a nearby monitor, and he had to stop talking.
"I think we just got upstaged," Urban said in amazement. "Everything pales in comparison." |