Grammys for Fun, Gotye and Mumford

11 February 2013 Last updated at 08:32 GMT The BBC's Alastair Leithead was in LA where the awards were handed out

The 55th Grammy Awards have taken place in Los Angeles, with Fun, Gotye and Mumford and Sons among the winners.

Fun's anthem We Are Young, featuring Janelle Monae, was named song of the year, with the New York band going on to win the best new artist prize.

Gotye's international hit Somebody That I Used To Know received the record of the year, one of three prizes received by the Belgian-Australian artist.

Surprised Mumford and Sons took home the album of the year prize for Babel.

Highlights from the red carpet as stars arrive for the 55th Grammy Awards

The English folk rockers received their honour from fellow-countrywoman Adele, who had earlier won best pop solo performance for her live version of Set Fire to the Rain.

Adele, who won six awards last year, said: "I just wanted to be part of the night, because I loved it last year, obviously. Thank you, I just wanted to say a massive, send big love to all the other girls, and all us females doing this because we work so hard and we make it look so easy."

Mumford and Sons had received six nominations ahead of the ceremony. In the event, though, their only other prize came for best long form music video.

Ben Lovett from the band said: "I just want to say how beautiful Adele is looking tonight, and how great it is to be presented this award by another British musician.

"Yeah, there's a few of us out there, and the Grammys have opened their arms to us, and we're very grateful for all of this country and the Grammy foundation for being so welcoming."

Indie rock group The Black Keys enjoyed the most success overall, receiving four of the six awards for which they had been shortlisted.

Gotye won three Grammys in all, including one for record of the year

The event, held at Los Angeles' Staples Center, kicked off with Taylor Swift singing her hit We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.

The 23-year-old star was joined by performers on stilts, a White Rabbit and human puppets for the Alice in Wonderland-themed performance.

Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John appeared shortly afterwards to perform Sheeran's single The A Team, with further performances coming from Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys and country star Carrie Underwood.

Sting, Bruno Mars and Rihanna joined forces for a Bob Marley tribute that featured Rihanna and Marley's son Ziggy duetting on his father's 1980 classic Could You Be Loved.

Sir Elton returned later to perform in another all-star collaboration, paying tribute as he did so to the 26 people killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings last December.

The event was preceded by a pre-awards ceremony at a neighbouring venue at which the majority of this year's prizes were handed out.

Winners announced ahead of the main event included the late Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar, whose award for best world music album was collected by his daughter Anoushka.

Taylor Swift was the first performer at this year's ceremony

"I wish he was here to do it himself," said Shankar. The 31-year-old had been nominated in the same category alongside her father, who died in December.

Sir Paul McCartney's Kisses on the Bottom record was named best traditional pop vocal album, while The Beach Boys won best historical album, their first ever Grammy, for The Smile Sessions.

Yet it was The Black Keys and its singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach who dominated the pre-telecast awards show, receiving prizes for best rock song and best rock album.

Auerbach received an additional prize for non-classical producer of the year, with his band going on to win best rock performance during the main awards ceremony.

"Welcome to the greatest music show on earth," said rapper LL Cool J at the beginning of the evening in his role as ceremony host.

The event saw a surprise appearance from Prince, who appeared sporting black sunglasses and a white cane to present the record of the year award to Gotye.

The Belgian-Australian musician said he was overwhelmed to meet one of his musical heroes.

"A little bit lost for words, to receive an award from the man standing behind us with the cane. Many years listening to this man's music growing up, and a big reason I was inspired to make music. Thank you."

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2013 Grammy Awards: Mumford & Sons' Babel, fun., Gotye, Black Keys Make the Most Noise

by Natalie Finn Sun., Feb. 10, 2013 8:37 PM PST

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Four little lion men roared tonight at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

Though a number of their competitors racked up wins in threes, Mumford & Sons made the most triumphant trip to the podium when their sophomore studio effort, Babel, was named Album of the Year.

"We didn't get a look in last year, 'cause she was nominated," Marcus Mumford said, gesturing to Adele, who presented her fellow Brits with their Grammys, "and we figured we wouldn't win anything because The Black Keys were sweeping up all day, and rightfully so."

Complete list of winners

And how did the night turn out for the other artists who, like Mumford & Sons, were tops in nominations? 

Belgian-Australian artist Gotye took all three prizes he was nominated for, including the prestigious Record of the Year Grammy for the quirky and catchy "Somebody That I Used to Know," featuring Kimbra. The two also shared a win for Best Pop/Duo Group Performance and Gotye's Making Mirrors was named Best Alternative Music Album.

New York-bred trio fun. had more than just some night, collecting Grammys for Best New Artist (always ironic when you formed five years ago) and Song of the Year for their ubiquitous live-it-up anthem "We Are Young."

"I don't know what I was thinking, writing the chorus for this song," deadpanned frontman Nate Ruess, accepting for Song of the Year earlier in the night. "If this is in HD, everybody can see our faces. And we are not very young."

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"And to our families, we've been touring for 12 years and we haven't made money for a long time, and they've let us live at home for a very long time," added guitarist Jack Antonoff, who had a lot of opportunities for congratulatory hugs from girlfriend Lena Dunham down in the audience. (Though fun. only formed in 2008, its members have been struggling musicians since the early '00s.)

"We're so old!" marveled Ruess when they topped The Lumineers, Alabama Shakes, Hunter Hayes and Frank Ocean to win Best New Artist.

Chris Brown gives Rihanna's "Stay" a standing ovation

But no need to cry for Ocean. One of the most talked-about artists of the year, he made his Grammys performance debut and topped fellow upstart Miguel and recent sparring partner Chris Brown in the brand-new category of Best Urban Contemporary Album with his critical smash, Channel Orange.

Ocean also shared Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with Kanye West, Jay-Z and The-Dream for "No Church in the Wild," one of three Grammys for Jay-Z—who was in attendance and turned in a suave rendition of "Suit & Tie" with Justin Timberlake—and West, who skipped the ceremony in favor of a Brazilian getaway with Kim Kardashian.

Though they were shut out of the top categories, The Black Keys were also three-time winners, the duo from Akron, Ohio, choosing to keep it short and humble while in acceptance mode for Rock Performance for "Lonely Boy." Before showtime, "Lonely Boy" was named Best Rock Song and their El Camino won for Best Rock Album.

And while surely it won't come up at their next jam session, Dan Auerbach actually edged Patrick Carney in the personal glory department, the singer-guitarist also being named Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, to lead all comers with four Grammy wins.

Justin Timberlake teamed with Jay-Z in his return to live performing on "Suit & Tie"

Chris Brown had to settle for the consolation prize that was Rihanna—whose slow burn of a performance of "Stay" with Mikky Ekko was itself a winner—cuddling up next to him. (Remember the time when lawyers had to be consulted to make that OK?)

Kelly Clarkson's Stronger bested fun. for Best Pop Vocal Album—a turn of events that seemed to surprise Clarkson more than anybody.

"I'm so sorry, I got stuck to Miranda Lambert!" she exclaimed after getting stuck on the country singer's sequins. "There's a story and a song, for later—after alcohol. I'm just kidding, children. I get nervous speaking in front of people!"

See arrival pics from the Grammys red carpet

"I didn't know I was going to win!" she quickly added. "fun., I've been covering you all summer, sorry, I love that song. I think it's so awesome...Miguel, I don't know who the hell you are, but we need to sing together. I mean, good God! That was the sexiest damn thing I've ever seen! What?!"  

The first award handed out during the live prime-time portion of the show went—déjà vu alert!—to Adele, for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Set Fire to the Rain," live at Royal Albert Hall, the only Grammy she was up for this year.

"My good luck charm, J.Lo!" the British lass, who eschewed her usual black for a bright red floral pattern, said in accepting the award from a Grecian gown-rocking, Angelina-leg-extending Jennifer Lopez.

Justin Bieber tried—and pretty much failed—to pull off a competing livestream

"Honestly, I just wanted to come and be part of the night—'cause I loved it last year, obviously. Thank you, I just want to send a massive big love to all the other girls and all us females doing this, 'cause we work so hard and make it look so easy. See you later, have a wonderful night!"

And that's how you do short and sweet, something the three-and-a-half-hour-long Grammy Awards isn't necessarily known for.

"Country music has always been so good to me, and I thank the good lord that I'm part of such a wonderful, talented, amazing family," said a glowing Carrie Underwood (who also thanked her "amazing, perfect husband," Mike Fisher), a winner for Best Country Solo Performance for "Blown Away."

"Blown Away" was also named Best Country Song, which went to writers Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins, and Underwood gave a searing—if stationary—performance of the tune while some digital trickery allowed for the skirt of her ball gown to act as a canvas for a constantly morphing array of colorful graphic art.

Check out who may have violated CBS' cleavage crackdown this year

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Grammys for Fun, Gotye and Mumford

11 February 2013 Last updated at 08:32 GMT The BBC's Alastair Leithead was in LA where the awards were handed out

The 55th Grammy Awards have taken place in Los Angeles, with Fun, Gotye and Mumford and Sons among the winners.

Fun's anthem We Are Young, featuring Janelle Monae, was named song of the year, with the New York band going on to win the best new artist prize.

Gotye's international hit Somebody That I Used To Know received the record of the year, one of three prizes received by the Belgian-Australian artist.

Surprised Mumford and Sons took home the album of the year prize for Babel.

Highlights from the red carpet as stars arrive for the 55th Grammy Awards

The English folk rockers received their honour from fellow-countrywoman Adele, who had earlier won best pop solo performance for her live version of Set Fire to the Rain.

Adele, who won six awards last year, said: "I just wanted to be part of the night, because I loved it last year, obviously. Thank you, I just wanted to say a massive, send big love to all the other girls, and all us females doing this because we work so hard and we make it look so easy."

Mumford and Sons had received six nominations ahead of the ceremony. In the event, though, their only other prize came for best long form music video.

Ben Lovett from the band said: "I just want to say how beautiful Adele is looking tonight, and how great it is to be presented this award by another British musician.

"Yeah, there's a few of us out there, and the Grammys have opened their arms to us, and we're very grateful for all of this country and the Grammy foundation for being so welcoming."

Indie rock group The Black Keys enjoyed the most success overall, receiving four of the six awards for which they had been shortlisted.

Gotye won three Grammys in all, including one for record of the year

The event, held at Los Angeles' Staples Center, kicked off with Taylor Swift singing her hit We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.

The 23-year-old star was joined by performers on stilts, a White Rabbit and human puppets for the Alice in Wonderland-themed performance.

Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John appeared shortly afterwards to perform Sheeran's single The A Team, with further performances coming from Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys and country star Carrie Underwood.

Sting, Bruno Mars and Rihanna joined forces for a Bob Marley tribute that featured Rihanna and Marley's son Ziggy duetting on his father's 1980 classic Could You Be Loved.

Sir Elton returned later to perform in another all-star collaboration, paying tribute as he did so to the 26 people killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings last December.

The event was preceded by a pre-awards ceremony at a neighbouring venue at which the majority of this year's prizes were handed out.

Winners announced ahead of the main event included the late Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar, whose award for best world music album was collected by his daughter Anoushka.

Taylor Swift was the first performer at this year's ceremony

"I wish he was here to do it himself," said Shankar. The 31-year-old had been nominated in the same category alongside her father, who died in December.

Sir Paul McCartney's Kisses on the Bottom record was named best traditional pop vocal album, while The Beach Boys won best historical album, their first ever Grammy, for The Smile Sessions.

Yet it was The Black Keys and its singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach who dominated the pre-telecast awards show, receiving prizes for best rock song and best rock album.

Auerbach received an additional prize for non-classical producer of the year, with his band going on to win best rock performance during the main awards ceremony.

"Welcome to the greatest music show on earth," said rapper LL Cool J at the beginning of the evening in his role as ceremony host.

The event saw a surprise appearance from Prince, who appeared sporting black sunglasses and a white cane to present the record of the year award to Gotye.

The Belgian-Australian musician said he was overwhelmed to meet one of his musical heroes.

"A little bit lost for words, to receive an award from the man standing behind us with the cane. Many years listening to this man's music growing up, and a big reason I was inspired to make music. Thank you."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

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