Grammys

Grammys

Photo: AP

Lady Gaga arrives inside an egg at the Grammy Awards

DOUG JOHNSON: The Recording Academy’s Grammy Awards show surprised everyone watching. Not only did the always interesting Lady Gaga show up inside a large egg-like structure, but unknown artists also won top prizes. Bob Doughty has more.

BOB DOUGHTY: It was unforgettable to see Lady Gaga come out of that egg and perform her hit song “Born This Way.”

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It was even more exciting when Jewel and John Legend announced the winner of the best new artist Grammy. Pop star Justin Bieber had been widely expected to win the award. His album “My World 2.0” has spent the past forty-six weeks on Billboard’s Two Hundred top-selling albums chart. Justin Bieber is so popular with girls around the world the excitement he creates is called “Bieber Fever.”

But on February thirteenth, the Grammy went to jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding. You might remember her name from a story we did on the twenty-five year old musician last April.

Here, Esperanza Spalding performs “Little Fly” from her album “Chamber Music Society,” released last August.

 

AP

Esperanza Spalding accepts the Grammy for best new artist


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The biggest winner at the Grammy awards last Sunday was the country band Lady Antebellum. They walked away with five awards, including record of the year, song of the year and best country album for “Need You Now.” Here the band performs the title cut.

AP

Members of Lady Antebellum, from left, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood

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There was at least one emotional winner at the ceremony. Singer Mavis Staples received her first Grammy ever. The seventy-one year old cried tears of joy as she told the crowd the award was “a long time coming” but worth the wait.

Mavis Staples won the Grammy for best Americana album for “You Are Not Alone.” Here she performs “I Belong to the Band.”

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Finally, in another surprise win, the Canadian group Arcade Fire became the first indie rock band to win the Grammy for album of the year. We leave you with Arcade Fire performing “The Suburbs” from its winning album of the same name.

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DOUG JOHNSON: I’m Doug Johnson. Our program was written by June Simms, George Grow and Caty Weaver who was also the producer.

Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.

AP

Arcade Fire backstage at the Grammy Awards