13 Most Awkward Grammy Moments
You can't say the Grammys weren't entertaining this year, but holy hell did shit get weird. There were classic rock performances that no one but Paul McCartney seemed to understand (Taylor Swift tried); super-shade thrown by the one and only Prince; strange PSA and religious undertones; and of course Pharrell in a "please talk about this" hat.
Here are the top 13 weirdest moments -- and let me tell you, there was a lot to choose from.
1. When Taylor Swift tried to dance to ELO
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Taylor, you dance for our entertainment in a way you probably don't realize.
2. When all the old folks kind of cheered for classic rock
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How do you know classic rock is playing at the Grammys? When everyone over 50 is standing up.
3. When awkward Ryan Seacrest tried to get awkward Kanye West to not be an asshole
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E! interviewers should just hand the mic to a superfan. Same effusive BS, but probably more interesting. In this odd little gem, Seacrest basically tells The Chosen One he has creative ADD, to which Kanye replies, deadpan, "It's also just... thinking."
4. When Kanye West sang an auto-tuned letter he wrote to himself from his mom
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRisdzyIECA[/embed]
Kanye takes every opportunity he can lately to bum us out: He won't smile for your picture, he won't perform anything close to rap at the Grammys, and he can't be bothered to wear actual Fashion so a maroon Heaven's Gate velour sweatsuit will have to do (is there a more depressing fabric?). It's horrible to lose a loved one, but of all the songs to perform at an awards show.....
5. When Madonna airlifted herself off the stage in a harness
After this, I'm convinced Madonna will someday be tooling around the stage in her wheelchair.
6. When Obama abruptly interjected to discuss domestic violence
It's undoubtedly an important issue, and it's true there was a huge audience to receive the message. But it came at a weird time, punctuated by a victim of domestic violence talking in a slam poetry voice about how it affected her personally. And somehow, we then are supposed to return to watching LL Cool J's face not age.
7. When God became the biggest winner of the night (next to Sam Smith)
Taking home the Grammy for Best R&B Performance for "Drunk In Love", Beyonce's acceptance speech pointedly thanked God and was followed up by hyperbolic megafans on Twitter resounding, "NO, BEYONCE, GOD THANKS YOU." Later, she sang the hymn, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," introduced by a typically somber Gwenyth Paltrow who offered up, "We live in complicated times." Yes, we do, where there is this thing called diverse religious backgrounds.
8. When Iggy Azalea came up empty
Take a page from ultimate winner Sam Smith, Iggy: Be yourself, not an impression of what you think hip-hop is.
9. When Pharrell was nearly played off stage during his acceptance speech and twice proclaimed himself awkward, and then performed in a bellman's uniform and declared himself in service to God
He's happy, we get it. But then why are his outfits so SAD? And why did he choose to play a version of this song that could have opened Phantom Of The Opera?
10. When the white-haired guy who made 'Sex Bomb' sang to the tone deaf robot some people know as Jessie J
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5c7Y4eP9Jk[/embed]
You know on American Idol when Randy Jackson used to call everyone "pitchy"? That was me throughout this entire performance. Tom Jones is awesome, but these two together are the epitome of an odd couple.
11. When "Interrupting Kanye" returned once again to avenge Beyonce, this time from Beck's birdlike claws
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"Interrupting Kanye" stopped himself before shit got too real, but he again felt the need to bum-rush the stage like an idiot because he didn't agree with the Academy choosing Beck over Beyonce. I'm sorry, are these The Kanye West-Sanctioned Annual Grammy Awards? No, so SIT DOWN. At what point do these antics mean he stops receiving the invite, or at the very least warrants extra security? How did he even get up there AGAIN?
12. When the Recording Academy tried to get us to feel sorry for filthy rich musicians.
"We need to strongly protect those who create the soundtrack of our lives." Guys, you get MILLIONS OF DOLLARS per show. What are we protecting, again? (And yes, I know I just quoted myself above, but I'm just keeping in step with all this awkward).
13. When Sia sang a song in the corner of a weird dressing room with a lookalike of herself who happens to be Kristin Wiig in a wig.
I JUST DON'T KNOW ANYMORE.
Best performance of the night?
