Remarkable women dominated the Grammy’s 2024
For a fangirl like me, the Grammys is one of my favourite nights of the year. We get to see some of the biggest names in music celebrated for their achievements. This season, the nominees were stacked with powerful, talented women such as Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Taylor Swift, and many more. The best new artist category had tough competition, with artists Coco Jones, Ice Spice, and Victoria Monét. Even though I do not listen to every single nominee’s music, I love watching the community come together, as well as seeing the stans on the internet make commentary.
Last year, the Grammy Awards was the show to watch. Beyoncé broke records, Lizzo and Adele had successful wins, and my favourite moment was Harry’s House being crowned Album of the Year. The 2024 Grammys was filled with just as much fun, sparkle, and of course, music.
Dua Lipa crushed her performance to open the show. She did a mash-up of a new song called Training Season, Dance the Night, and the single, Houdini. After watching, I knew her spot in pop stardom was solidified. Dua started in a cage-esque contraption with male backup dancers who lifted and rotated it while she climbed. During her transition, she walked to the main stage, containing even more dancers, and danced the night away! This was super high energy and the perfect start to the awards. I keep watching it over and over and I cannot wait until she releases Training Season!
Miley Cyrus had a very successful night. She was able to take home Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year for Flowers. Believe it or not, these are her first Grammy wins. It physically shocked me when I discovered that because I grew up with Miley as Hannah Montana. Since then, she has sustained her career with multiple diverse eras. These victories were a representation of all the hits in her catalogue that never won: The Climb, 7 Things, Party in the U.S.A., Wrecking Ball, and more!
While her red carpet look was not my favourite, she looked amazing in her other outfit changes throughout the evening. The introduction before Miley took the stage delineates how confident she feels and how she is doing this for herself. A powerful message to send right before a powerful performance. In a stunning outfit that paid homage to Tina Turner, Miley was having the time of her life while singing this smash hit. Her commentary added a humorous flare: “Why are you acting like you don’t know this song?” She danced alone the entire time, reflective of the lyrics of the song. Miley also yelled “I just won my first Grammy!” towards the end and extended the song with a unique outro. Then, she threw her microphone down and left! Talk about the real deal.
I also loved her speech after she won Record of the Year. Right as she accepted the award she said “This award is amazing, but I really hope it doesn’t change anything because my life was beautiful yesterday.” Miley knows that this award does not define her success, especially considering her entire discography and longevity in the industry. Miley has been through a lot over the years, but she remains humble and knows what is important to her in life.
Billie Eilish took home Best Song Written for Visual Media and Song of the Year for What Was I Made For? from the hit movie Barbie. This song is unbelievable and deserves every single ounce of praise it gets. It has already won a Golden Globe and is nominated for an Oscar. Billie, dressed as the Poodle Parade Barbie from 1965, gave a chilling performance. I am continuously astounded by her ability to sing in a high octave yet remain soft in her delivery. She did not miss a pitch, as usual, when singing live. I tear up every time she sings it, and this time was no exception. She and Finneas are such a talented duo, and I am impatiently waiting for her new era.
Speaking of another young star, Olivia Rodrigo looked beautiful on the red carpet in her elegant white dress. While the 20-year-old did not take home any awards this season, she remained in high spirits when she cheered on her peers. Olivia changed into a gorgeous red gown for her rendition of Vampire. The most striking element of this performance was the blood that started running down her arms, like the imagery in the music video. To be transparent, I was sad that GUTS nor Vampire did not win any awards, but I know that the competition was fierce. Olivia is gearing up for a world tour (that I wish I had tickets to) and I am positive that she will continue to receive nominations in the future.
SZA’s album SOS has had people (including me) in a chokehold since its release in December of 2022. She won Best R&B Song for Snooze, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Ghost in the Machine with Phoebe Bridgers, and Best Progressive R&B Album. I really thought she would win Album of the Year, but she was so grateful and practically crying on stage when she accepted the award for Snooze. Her voice sounded so clear when she performed it, along with Kill Bill. The background being flames was awesome, as well as the dancers with swords. Everyone was so precise in this bit, and it was cool to see the male dancers flying in the air.
Taylor Swift took home Best Pop Vocal Album, as well as the most prestigious award, Album of the Year, for Midnights. I mean, after this album was released, it dominated the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. While accepting the former, she announced another studio album, The Tortured Poet’s Department, releasing April 19th. This was a huge moment because she had changed her social media accounts hours before. Her fans speculated that it was for reputation (Taylor’s Version), but instead got a brand-new album that is coming soon. I am confident that we will see her in the running for more Grammys next year!
It was spectacular to see so many women in music crowned for their projects. We also saw winners in Karol G, Victoria Monét, and Lainey Wilson. Music legend Joni Mitchell, age 80, performed on the Grammys stage for the first time, despite her tenure in the industry and multiple Grammys wins. Additionally, Tracy Chapman appeared with Luke Combs to sing Fast Car. It was extraordinary to see everyone come together last weekend, but most importantly, the victories of these women serve as a testament to their talent, hard work, and continuous impact on the music industry.
