The 64th annual Grammy Awards returned back to normal after two years of the global pandemic, the performances took it up a notch in celebration of togetherness.
Music’s Biggest Night returned back to its standard script: a steady stream of dad jokes from host Trevor Noah, a mish-mash of performances that were either a sensory overload or were tear-inducing. We have rounded up the best performances from the 2022 Grammy Awards.
@recordingacademy on Instagram
BTS
The members of BTS all spread out to kick off their performance, onstage, in the audience and rappelling down from the ceiling by a rope, while Kim Tae-Hyung (known as V) sat next to Olivia Rodrigo and whispered in her ear. When they launched into their smash hit, “Butter,” the audience was already in a frenzy. Like usual BTS delivered on all fronts and was one of the most entertaining performances of the evening.
@recordingacademy on Instagram
H.E.R.
H.E.R. appears to be at every major event, So it just makes sense that she would play every major instrument during her Grammy performance. Starting on the microphone, fronting Jimmy Jam, who was on the keytar, and Terry Lewis to perform “Damage.” Secondly, she got on the drum kit for “We Made It” before handing it over to Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. Next came Lenny Kravitz. H.E.R. and Kravitz shredded in tandem on guitar to “Are You Gonna Go My Way”.
@recordingacademy on Instagram
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X was not going to waste anyone’s time on the Grammy stage. His medley of “Dead Right Now,” “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and “Industry Baby” was a perfect showcase of his latest viral hits. In true Lil Nas X fashion, there was a political comment within the performance. There was a brief showing of social media posts and news clips showing the conservative backlash to his music video for “Montero” before he launched into the song. Lastly, he was joined by rapper Jack Harlow to close out his performance of “Industry Baby”.
Recording Academy
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish honoured Foo Fighters’ drummer, Taylor Hawkins, during her 64th Annual Grammy performance, just nine days after Hawkins’ sudden and tragic death. Taking to the stage to perform her hit song “Happier Than Ever” wearing a custom oversized t-shirt by Willy Chavarria. The front of the t-shirt had a picture of Taylor Hawkins’ face and the back had his name in capital letters.
@recordingacademy on Instagram
Olivia Rodrigo
Her mega-smash-hit “Drivers License” took over social media and streaming playlists this last year (who didn’t sing this at the top of their lungs in their car). The song is a gripping ballad of heartbreak over a first love and the wrenching longing that comes when it all comes to an end. Replicating the cool purple-ish hues of her music video, Olivia Rodrigo showed her developing stage presence in this raw performance.
@recordingacademy on Instagram
Chris Stapleton
The 2022 Grammy Awards definitely made up for lost time and were the perfect representation of easing back into a post-COVID restriction world!
Published by HOLR Magazine.