At Sunday's 59th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, the air felt sticky with deja vu. A boffo-selling soothsayer, Adele, had been pitted against a superstar-turned-agitator, Beyoncé, for the night's heaviest prizes: song, record and album of the year.
Sound familiar? Last year's Grammy telecast staged an oddly similar showdown between Taylor Swift's "1989," a radio-dominating sales juggernaut, and Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly," the unofficial score to the Black Lives Matter movement. After decades of sustained tone-deafness to the vitality of rap and R&B, the Recording Academy had an opportunity to get behind a timely and tenacious recording, but it was Swift who went home with the album of the year trophy tucked beneath her arm.
This year, Adele brought her broom. "25" won album of the year, and her heart-squeezing ballad, "Hello," ended up besting Beyoncé's commanding "Formation" for song and record of the year. Having swept every category she was nominated in back in 2012, the British balladeer pulled off a repeat on Sunday, also winning best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album earlier in the night.
Chance the Rapper took home another one of the night's big, genre-blind awards near the top of the show, besting bro-pop duo the Chainsmokers, rapper-singer Anderson .Paak, and country phenoms Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini for, winning best new artist. (And never mind that his breakout album, "Acid Rap," landed all the way back in 2013 – he's new enough to the greater Grammy electorate.)
"Independence means freedom," Chance declared in his best new artist acceptance speech, burnishing his image as an independent artist, even though his latest album, "Coloring Book" was initially blasted out into the universe via Apple Music.
[Artists 'resist,' turn Grammys into a political statement]
And while this exuberant Chicago native makes vivacious and deserving music, his good fortune may have been the result of a savvy charm offensive. After dropping "Coloring Book" as a streaming-only release, Chance enthusiastically lobbied the Recording Academy to consider streaming exclusives to be eligible for Grammy nomination. It worked out better than he could have expected. Later in the show, "Coloring Book" won best rap album, and to top things off, Chance delivered an exultant, gospel-soaked performance of "How Great" and "All We Got."
But even if the academy is finally showing a little flexibility in how it allocates prestige across genres and formats, the telecast's producers seemed determined to restage the same show we've seen in recent years, packing it with ill-fitting collaborations that the show's producers have proudly branded as "Grammy moments."
Fresh off her solo performance at last weekend's Super Bowl halftime show, Lady Gaga joined Metallica for a performance riddled with technical difficulties. Ballerini and Danish pop group Lukas Graham were forced to smoosh their respective hits – "Peter Pan" and "7 Years" – into one nonsensical ballad. And when hitmaker Demi Lovato, country group Little Big Town, R&B singer Andra Day and pop striver Tori Kelly teamed up for a 40th anniversary tribute to the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack, the only thing the four acts appeared to have in common was their availability.
There were some gorgeous ballads (Alicia Keys and Maren Morris teamed up for the latter's "Once") and some rough ones (Adele began singing "Fastlove" in tribute to George Michael, landed in the wrong key, had to start over, and ended the song in disappointed tears). Later in the show, various artists teamed up for an energetic tribute to the late Prince, featuring his proteges, the Time, and Bruno Mars, ghoulishly dressed up like his royal Purpleness.
Other big names materialized throughout the night with midtempo songs. The Weeknd, Katy Perry and rap legends A Tribe Called Quest weren't up for any of the night's awards, but their latest recordings will be eligible next year. Why not follow Chance's lead and get a jumpstart on romancing the electorate?
These more up-tempo tracks – especially Tribe's high-spirited medley, during which longtime collaborator Busta Rhymes shouted a few harsh words at President Trump – made for a much-needed breath of fresh air. Last year's ballad-heavy Grammys scored a viewership of roughly 25 million, the show's lowest pull since 2009. So the faster tempos felt purposeful.
Another tactic for keeping viewers plopped on their couches: replacing five-time host LL Cool J with the host of CBS's "Late Late Show," James Corden, best known for singing his lungs sore during his rampantly viral "Carpool Karaoke" sketches.
Mercifully, Corden only hosted one big singalong during the show – a rendition of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Jennifer Lopez and others – and kept the proceedings moving along with a few good interstitial yuks.
The vast majority of the year's awards were given out in a pre-telecast ceremony that aired online Sunday afternoon. Country music outsider Sturgill Simpson patted himself on the back while accepting the award for best country album with a little self-deprecation: "I guess the revolution will not be televised."
Frank Ocean wouldn't be televised, either. Last year, the hermitic R&B star sent a new album, "Blonde," to the tippy-top of the charts, but chose not to submit it for Grammy consideration.
"That institution certainly has nostalgic importance," Ocean said of the Grammys in a conversation with the New York Times. "It just doesn't seem to be representing very well for people who come from where I come from, and hold down what I hold down."
On the day of the Grammys, Ocean took to Tumblr to post a more profane, pointed screed at the telecast's producers about his refusal to participate. "If you're up for a discussion about the cutural bias and general nerve damage the show you produce suffers from then I'm all for it," Ocean wrote. "Have a good night."
Ocean's boycott feels like the most pointed rebuke to the Recording Academy in years – and it seems to have triggered a strength-in-numbers ripple effect before he even started typing on Tumblr. Among the other nominees who sat this year's ceremony out: Kanye West, Drake and Bieber.
For some of the brightest stars in pop music's firmament, the revolution starts at home.
Grammy Award winners 2017: Complete list
1. RECORD OF THE YEAR
Hello
Adele
Greg Kurstin, producer; Julian Burg, Tom Elmhirst, Emile Haynie, Greg Kurstin, Liam Nolan, Alex Pasco & Joe Visciano, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne & Randy Merrill, mastering engineers
Track from: 25
Label: XL Recordings/Columbia Records
2. ALBUM OF THE YEAR
25
Adele
Danger Mouse, Samuel Dixon, Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Ariel Rechtshaid, Shellback, The Smeezingtons & Ryan Tedder, producers; Julian Burg, Austen Jux Chandler, Cameron Craig, Samuel Dixon, Tom Elmhirst, Declan Gaffney, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Emile Haynie, Jan Holzner, Michael Ilbert, Chris Kasych, Greg Kurstin, Charles Moniz, Liam Nolan, Alex Pasco, Mike Piersante, Ariel Rechtshaid, Rich Rich, Dave Schiffman, Joe Visciano & Matt Wiggins, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne & Randy Merrill, mastering engineers
Label: XL Recordings/Columbia Records
3. SONG OF THE YEAR
Hello
Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Adele)
Track from: 25
Label: XL Recordings/Columbia Records; Publisher(s): Universal – Songs of Polygram Int'l, Inc./EMI April Music Inc./Kurstin Music
4. BEST NEW ARTIST
Chance the Rapper
5. BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Hello
Adele
Track from: 25
Label: XL Recordings/Columbia Records
6. BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Stressed Out
Twenty One Pilots
Track from: Blurryface
Label: Fueled By Ramen
7. BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin
Willie Nelson
Label: Legacy Recordings
8. BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
25
Adele
Label: XL Recordings/Columbia Records
9. BEST DANCE RECORDING
Don't Let Me Down
The Chainsmokers featuring Daya
The Chainsmokers, producers; Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young, mixer
Track from: Collage
Label: Disruptor Records/Columbia
10. BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM
Skin
Flume
Label: Mom+Pop Music/Future Classic.
11. BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Culcha Vulcha
Snarky Puppy
Label: Ground Up Music
12. BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
Blackstar
David Bowie
Track from: Blackstar
Label: ISO/Columbia Records
13. BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
Dystopia
Megadeth
Track from: Dystopia
Label: UME
14. BEST ROCK SONG
Blackstar
David Bowie, songwriter (David Bowie)
Track from: Blackstar
Label: ISO/Columbia Records; Publisher(s): Nipple Music admin. by RZO Music, Inc.
15. BEST ROCK ALBUM
Tell Me I'm Pretty
Cage the Elephant
Label: RCA Records
16. BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Blackstar
David Bowie
Label: Columbia Records
17. BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
Cranes in the Sky
Solange
Track from: A Seat At The Table
Label: Saint Records/Columbia Records
18. BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
Angel
Lalah Hathaway
Track from: Lalah Hathaway Live
Label: Hathaway Entertainment/Entertainment One
19. BEST R&B SONG
Lake By The Ocean
Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
Track from: blackSUMMERS'night
Label: Columbia Records; Publisher(s): SonyATV Tunes LLC o/b/o Muszewell/EMI April Music Inc. o/b/o itself and Ben Ami Music
20. BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Lemonade
Beyoncé
Label: Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
21. BEST R&B ALBUM
Lalah Hathaway Live
Lalah Hathaway
Label: Hathaway Entertainment/Entertainment One
22. BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
No Problem
Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
Label: Chance the Rapper
23. BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
Hotline Bling
Drake
Track from: Views
Label: Cash Money Records/Republic Records
24. BEST RAP SONG
Hotline Bling
Aubrey Graham & Paul Jefferies, songwriters (Drake)
Track from: Views
Label: Cash Money Records/Republic Records; Publisher(s): Sandra Gale/EMI Music Publishing/Nyan King Music Inc./EMI April/Sony ATV
25. BEST RAP ALBUM
Coloring Book
Chance The Rapper
Label: Chance The Rapper
26. BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
My Church
Maren Morris
Track from: Hero
Label: Columbia Nashville
27. BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Jolene
Pentatonix featuring Dolly Parton
Label: RCA Records
28. BEST COUNTRY SONG
Humble and Kind
Lori McKenna, songwriter (Tim McGraw)
Track from: Damn Country Music
Label: Big Machine Records; Publisher(s): Songs of Universal, Inc./Hoodie Songs
29. BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
A Sailor's Guide to Earth
Sturgill Simpson
Label: Atlantic
30. BEST NEW AGE ALBUM
White Sun II
White Sun
Label: Be Why
31. BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
John Scofield, soloist
Track from: Country For Old Men
Label: Impulse!
32. BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
Take Me To The Alley
Gregory Porter
Label: Blue Note
33. BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Country For Old Men
John Scofield
Label: Impulse!
34. BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM
Presidential Suite: Eight Variations On Freedom
Ted Nash Big Band
Label: Motema Music
35. BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM
Tribute To Irakere: Live In Marciac
Chucho Valdés
Label: Jazz Village
36. BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG
God Provides
Tamela Mann; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
Track from: One Way
Label: TillyMann Music; Publisher(s): Second Half Music Publishing
37. BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG
Thy Will
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family; Bernie Herms, Hillary Scott & Emily Weisband, songwriters
Track from: Love Remains
Label: EMI Records Nashville; Publisher(s): W.B.M. Music Corp./EKT Publishing, admin. by W.B.M. Music Corp./WB Music Corp./Thankful For This Music, admin. by WB Music Corp./Songs of Universal, Inc./G650 Music
38. BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
Losing My Religion
Kirk Franklin
Label: Fo Yo Soul Recordings/RCA Records
39. BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
Love Remains
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
Label: EMI Records Nashville
40. BEST ROOTS GOSPEL ALBUM
Hymns
Joey+Rory
Label: Gaither Music Group/Farmhouse Recordings
41. BEST LATIN POP ALBUM
Un Besito Mas
Jesse & Joy
Label: Warner Music Mexico
42. BEST LATIN ROCK, URBAN OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
iLevitable
iLe
Label: Sony Music Latin
43. BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC ALBUM (INCLUDING TEJANO)
Un Azteca En El Azteca, Vol. 1 (En Vivo)
Vicente Fernández
Label: Sony Music Entertainment México
44. BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM
Donde Están?
Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo
Label: En Grande Music, LLC
45. BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE
House Of Mercy
Sarah Jarosz
Track from: Undercurrent
Label: Sugar Hill Records
46. BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG
Kid Sister
Vince Gill, songwriter (The Time Jumpers)
Track from: Kid Sister
Label: Rounder Records; Publisher(s): Vinny Mae Music admin. by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
47. BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
This Is Where I Live
William Bell
Label: Stax
48. BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM
Coming Home
O'Connor Band With Mark O'Connor
Label: Rounder Records
49. BEST TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM
Porcupine Meat
Bobby Rush
Label: Rounder Records
50. BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM
The Last Days Of Oakland
Fantastic Negrito
Label: Believe Global/Blackball Universe
51. BEST FOLK ALBUM
Undercurrent
Sarah Jarosz
Label: Sugar Hill Records
52. BEST REGIONAL ROOTS MUSIC ALBUM
E Walea
Kalani Pe'a
Label: Kalani Pe'a Music Llc
53. BEST REGGAE ALBUM
Ziggy Marley
Ziggy Marley
Label: Tuff Gong Worldwid
54. BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM
Sing Me Home
Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble
Label: Masterworks
55. BEST CHILDREN'S ALBUM
Infinity Plus One
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Label: Underground Records
56. BEST SPOKEN WORD ALBUM (INCLUDES POETRY, AUDIO BOOKS & STORYTELLING)
In Such Good Company: Eleven Years Of Laughter, Mayhem, And Fun In The Sandbox
Carol Burnett
Label: Penguin Random House Audio
57. BEST COMEDY ALBUM
Talking For Clapping
Patton Oswalt
Label: ASpecialThing Records
58. BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM
The Color Purple
Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo & Jennifer Hudson, principal soloists; Stephen Bray, Van Dean, Frank Filipetti, Roy Furman, Joan Raffe, Scott Sanders & Jhett Tolentino, producers (Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell & Allee Willis, composers/lyricists) (New Broadway Cast)
Label: Broadway Records
59. BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Miles Ahead
(Miles Davis & Various Artists)
Steve Berkowitz, Don Cheadle & Robert Glasper, compilation producers
Label: Columbia/Legacy
60. BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
John Williams, composer
Label: Walt Disney Records
61. BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Can't Stop The Feeling!
Max Martin, Shellback & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, James Corden, Zooey Deschanel, Walt Dohrn, Ron Funches, Caroline Hjelt, Aino Jawo, Christopher Mintz-Plasse & Kunal Nayyar)
Track from: Trolls
Label: Villa40/RCA Records; Publisher(s): Tennman Tunes admin. by Universal Music-Z Tunes LLC/ MXM Music admin. by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Inc./DWA Songs
62. BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION
Spoken At Midnight
Ted Nash, composer (Ted Nash Big Band)
Track from: Presidential Suite: Eight Variations On Freedom
Label: Motema Music
63. BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPPELLA
You And I
Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)
Track from: In My Room
Label: Membran
64. BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS
Flintstones
Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)
Track from: In My Room
Label: Membran
65. BEST RECORDING PACKAGE
Blackstar
Jonathan Barnbrook, art director (David Bowie)
Label: ISO/Columbia Records
66. BEST BOXED OR SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PACKAGE
Edith Piaf 1915-2015
Gérard Lo Monaco, art director (Edith Piaf)
Label: Warner Music France
67. BEST ALBUM NOTES
Sissle And Blake Sing Shuffle Along
Ken Bloom & Richard Carlin, album notes writers (Eubie Blake & Noble Sissle)
Label: Harbinger Records/The Musical Theater Project
68. BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM
The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series, Vol.12 (Collector's Edition)
Steve Berkowitz & Jeff Rosen, compilation producers; Mark Wilder, mastering engineer (Bob Dylan)
Label: Columbia/Legacy
69. BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL
Blackstar
David Bowie, Tom Elmhirst, Kevin Killen & Tony Visconti, engineers; Joe LaPorta, mastering engineer (David Bowie)
Label: ISO/Columbia Records
70. PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Greg Kurstin
– Cheap Thrills (Sia featuring Sean Paul) (S) – Hello (Adele) (S) – Love You to Death (Tegan and Sara) (A) – Million Years Ago (Adele) (T) – Something in the Way You Move (Ellie Goulding) (T) – Water Under the Bridge (Adele) (T)
71. BEST REMIXED RECORDING
Tearing Me Up (RAC Remix)
André Allen Anjos, remixer (Bob Moses)
Label: Domino Recording
72. BEST SURROUND SOUND ALBUM
Dutilleux: Sur Le Même Accord; Les Citations; Mystère De L'instant & Timbres, Espace, Mouvement
Alexander Lipay & Dmitriy Lipay, surround mix engineers; Dmitriy Lipay, surround mastering engineer; Dmitriy Lipay, surround producer (Ludovic Morlot & Seattle Symphony)
Label: Seattle Symphony Media
73. BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL
Corigliano: The Ghosts Of Versailles
Mark Donahue, Fred Vogler & David L Williams, engineers (James Conlon, Guanqun Yu, Joshua Guerrero, Patricia Racette, Christopher Maltman, Lucy Schaufer, Lucas Meachem, LA Opera Chorus & Orchestra)
Label: Pentatone Music
74. PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL
David Frost
– Bach: The Cello Suites According to Anna Magdalena (Matt Haimovitz) – Bates: Anthology Of Fantastic Zoology (Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra) – Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 5 (Jonathan Biss) – Brahms & Dvořák: Serenades (Boston Symphony Chamber Players) – Fitelberg: Chamber Works (ARC Ensemble) – Ispirare (Melia Watras) – Overtures To Bach (Matt Haimovitz) – Schoenberg: Kol Nidre; Shostakovich: Suite On Verses Of Michelangelo Buonarroti (Ildar Abdrazakov, Alberto Mizrahi, Riccardo Muti, Duain Wolfe, Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus) – Shadow Of Sirius (Jerry F. Junkin & The University Of Texas Wind Ensemble)
75. BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE
Shostakovich: Under Stalin's Shadow – Symphonies Nos. 5, 8 & 9
Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
76. BEST OPERA RECORDING
Corigliano: The Ghosts Of Versailles
James Conlon, conductor; Joshua Guerrero, Christopher Maltman, Lucas Meachem, Patricia Racette, Lucy Schaufer & Guanqun Yu; Blanton Alspaugh, producer (LA Opera Orchestra; LA Opera Chorus)
Label: Pentatone Music
77. BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Penderecki Conducts Penderecki, Volume 1
Krzysztof Penderecki, conductor; Henryk Wojnarowski, choir director (Nikolay Didenko, Agnieszka Rehlis & Johanna Rusanen; Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra; Warsaw Philharmonic Choir)
Label: Warner Classics
78. BEST CHAMBER MUSIC/SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Steve Reich
Third Coast Percussion
Label: Cedille Records
79. BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL SOLO
Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway
Zuill Bailey
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Nashville Symphony)
Track from: Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway; American Gothic; Once Upon A Castle
Label: Naxos
80. BEST CLASSICAL SOLO VOCAL ALBUM (Tie)
Schumann & Berg
Dorothea Röschmann; Mitsuko Uchida, accompanist
Label: Decca
Shakespeare Songs
Ian Bostridge; Antonio Pappano, accompanist (Michael Collins, Elizabeth Kenny, Lawrence Power & Adam Walker)
Label: Warner Classics
81. BEST CLASSICAL COMPENDIUM
Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway; American Gothic; Once Upon A Castle
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Tim Handley, producer
Label: Naxos
82. BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION
Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway
Michael Daugherty, composer (Zuill Bailey, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
Track from: Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway; American Gothic; Once Upon A Castle
Label: Naxos
83. BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Formation
Beyoncé
Melina Matsoukas, video director; Candice Dragonas, Juliette Larthe, Nathan Scherrer & Inga Veronique, video producers
Label: Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
84. BEST MUSIC FILM
The Beatles: Eight Days A Week The Touring Years
(The Beatles)
Ron Howard, video director; Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Scott Pascucci & Nigel Sinclair, video producers
Label: Apple Corps Ltd./UMe