News Analysis India

Tag: Grammy

  • Bengaluru-based Ricky Kej wins second Grammy

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Music composer Ricky Kej, based out of Bengaluru, has won his second Grammy in the best new album category for ‘Divine Tides’.

    The US-born musician shared the award with Stewart Copeland, the drummer of the iconic British rock band The Police, who collaborated with Kej on the album.

    At the 64th Grammy Awards ceremony, held at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom, Kej greeted the audiences with a namaste when he took the stage with Copeland to receive the prestigious gramophone.

    The music composer later shared a post on Instagram expressing his gratitude for his second win.

    “So grateful to have won the Grammy Award for our album ‘Divine Tides’. Absolutely love this living-legend standing next to me – Stewart Copeland. Love all of you too! This is my 2nd Grammy Award and Stewart’s 6th,” he wrote alongside a picture with Copeland.

    In 2015, Kej took home a Grammy in the best new age album category for ‘Winds of Samsara’.

    Copeland’s previous Grammy wins came as part of his work with The Police in categories such as best rock instrumental performance (“Reggatta de Blanc”, “Behind My Camel”), best rock performance by a group with vocal (“Don’t Stand So Close To Me”, “Synchronicity”), and best pop performance by a group with vocal for “Every Breath You Take”.

    According to its official website, ‘Divine Tides’ is a nine-song album that aims to deliver the message that “each individual life plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance that serves all equally”.

    Meanwhile, New York-based Indian singer Falguni Shah also did the country proud at the 2022 Grammys.

    Known by her stage name Falu, Shah earned her first Grammy Award for ‘A Colorful World’ in the best children’s album category.

  • Indian-American singer Falguni Shah wins Grammy: No words to describe today’s magic

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: New York-based Indian singer Falguni Shah, known by her stage name Falu, won a Grammy Award for ‘A Colorful World’ in the best children’s album category.

    The Mumbai-born singer-songwriter took to Instagram to thank the Recording Academy, which conducts the Grammys, for the win.

    “I have no words to describe today’s magic. What an honor to perform for the opening number of the GRAMMY Premier Ceremony, and then take home a statue on behalf of all the incredible people who worked on A Colorful World.

    “We are humbled and thank the Recording Academy for this tremendous recognition. THANK YOU! (sic)” Shah wrote alongside her pictures from the event, which was held on Sunday night in Las Vegas.

    The singer, known for her “modern inventive style with a formidable Indian classically-shaped vocal talent”, was previously nominated for a Grammy in the same category for her 2018 album “Falu’s Bazaar”.

    Shah, who is in her early 40s, has trained in Hindustani Classical music in the Jaipur musical tradition and in the Benares style of thumrie under Kaumudi Munshi and semi classical music from Uday Mazumdar.

    According to her official website, she later continued studying under the late sarangi/vocal master Ustad Sultan Khan, and later with the legendary Kishori Amonkar (Jaipur style).

    Shah moved to the US in 2000 and her subsequent career there has led her to collaborate with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Wyclef Jean, Philip Glass, Ricky Martin, Blues Traveler and A R Rahman, among others.

  • Grammy 2022: Jon Batiste tops honours; Silk Sonic soars, Rodrigo crowned

    By Associated Press

    LAS VEGAS: Jon Batiste won album of the year honors for “We Are” at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, giving him five trophies on a night that saw the ’70s funk of Silk Sonic take record of the year and song of the year and newcomer Olivia Rodrigo take three awards.

    Batiste honored the artists he beat. “The creative arts are subjective,” he said. “Be you.”

    The multi-genre performer also won for his song “Cry,” the video for “Freedom” and his work with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on the soundtrack for “Soul.”

    “I just put my head down and I work on the craft every day. I love music,” he said.

    The R&B supergroup Silk Sonic took home awards in all four categories it was nominated in, including record of the year.

    ALSO READ | Grammys 2022: Silk Sonic’s ‘Leave the Door Open’ bags Record of The Year

    Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak were exuberant as they accepted the honor toward the end of the ceremony. The win puts Mars in historic company again: He becomes the only artist along with Paul Simon to take home the award three times.

    “We are really trying our hardest to remain humble at this point,” .Paak said. “But in the industry, they call that a clean sweep!” later adding “drinks is on Silk Sonic tonight!”

    The win came after the night’s festivities grew grim when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the gathering with an update on the war and his numbers included children injured and killed. “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos,” he said. “We are fighting Russia, which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence. Fill the silence with your music.”

    He ended by saying: “Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV. Support us in any way you can any, but not silence. And then peace will come to all our cities.”

    ALSO READ | ‘Fill the silence with your music,’ Zelenskyy tells Grammys

    John Legend then performed “Free” with Ukrainian exiles including singer-actress Mika Newton and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk.

    Rodrigo’s won for best new artist put her in esteemed company including Carly Simon, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Tom Jones, the Beatles and Billie Eilish.

    A veteran of the “High School Musical” series, she became the breakout music star of 2021, leading with her massive viral hit “Drivers License” and following with the single “Good 4 U” and the aching album “Sour,” which took best pop vocal album.

    “This is my biggest dream come true,” she said after her best new artist win. She thanked her parents for supporting her dreams, which at one point involved being an Olympic gymnast and quickly veered toward music.

    “I want to thank my mom for being so supportive for all of my dreams, no matter how crazy. I want to thank my mom and dad for being equally as proud of me for winning a Grammy as they were when I learned how to do a back walk.”

    Silk Sonic opened the Grammys in Las Vegas with their high-energy, infectious fix of retro soul and funk by performing their “777.” They returned to the stage a short time later to collect the song of the year trophy for “Leave the Door Open.”

    The win helps Mars tie the record for most song of the year wins. He had previously won for “24K Magic.”

    Both Mars and .Paak jumped out their seat, threw up their hands and danced to their song.

    “We’ll be singing this song together for the rest of our lives,” Mars said to .Paak

    Host Trevor Noah introduced the duo’s opening performance by saying they were singlehandedly bringing back the 1970s, “which might explain the inflation.”

    By the time the show started on CBS, Batiste has already taken home four Grammy Awards, including his first ever. Batiste won for best American roots performance, best American roots song, best music video and tied with Carlos Rafael Rivera for best score soundtrack for visual media. His song “Freedom” in the music video category beat out several other tough competitors, including Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and Eilish. All the honors were handed out during a pre-telecast ceremony.

    “I am so grateful for the gifts that God has given me and the ability to share that for the love of humankind,” Batiste said. “We just wanted everyone to see it. Any depression, any bondage or any darkness that was over your life is completely removed by just the love and the joy of the video.”

    It’s the first tie since 2019 when Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake tied with Anderson .Paak to win best rap performance.

    It was a family affair from cousins Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar, who won best rap performance for their song “Family Ties.” Lamar won his 14th Grammy and the first for Keem, who said “nothing could have prepared me for this moment” after stepping out onstage to claim his trophy.

    Chris Stapleton won his third Grammy for best country solo performance for “You Should Probably Leave.”

    Tony Bennett extended his record as the artist with the most traditional pop vocal album with 14 wins with “Love for Sale,” a duet album with Lady Gaga.

    Dressed in all black, BTS took the stage with a flirty moment between V and Rodrigo before the group performed their hit single “Butter.” The made an appearance after one of the members tested positive for COVID-19. All seven of the members – Jin, Jimin, V, RM, J-Hope, Suga and Jungkook – acted as if they were secret agents with neon-blue lasers, dancing with smooth choreography before going into a brief rap portion of the song.

    Foo Fighters won three awards Sunday, but were not in attendance to pick up their trophies following the recent death of its drummer Taylor Hawkins. An extended tribute to Hawkins played before the show’s In Memoriam segment honoring artists and music industry figures who’ve died.

    Eilish paid homage to Hawkins during her performance by sporting a black T-shirt with his image. She stepped onstage in an upside-down house along with her brother Finneas before stepping into the rain to perform the title track from her “Happier Than Ever.”

    TJ Osborne, who came out as gay last year, fought back tears as he and his brother accepted a Grammy for the Brothers Osborne song “Younger Me.” He noted the song was inspired by his coming out.

    “I never thought that I would be able to do music professionally because of my sexuality. And I certainly never thought I would be here on the stage accepting a Grammy after having done something I felt like was going to be life changing and potentially in a very negative way,” Osborne said.

    “And here I am tonight, not only accepting this Grammy Award with my brother, which I love so much, but I’m here with a man that I love and he loves me back. … I don’t know what I did be so lucky.”

    The ceremony shifted from Los Angeles to Las Vegas because of rising COVID-19 cases and the omicron variant in January, with organizers citing “too many risks.”

  • Jack Harlow to star in ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ remake

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Grammy-nominated rapper Jack Harlow is making his feature film debut in ‘White Men Can’t Jump’, a remake of the 1992 sports comedy.Charles Kidd II, known professionally as Calmatic, is directing the reboot from a script by ‘Black-ish’ creator Kenya Barris and Doug Hall. In the new take on ‘White Men Can’t Jump’, Harlow is playing the role that Woody Harrelson portrayed in the original film, reports variety.com.That movie, written and directed by Ron Shelton, starred Wesley Snipes and Harrelson as street basketball hustlers who begin at odds with each other and then team up for a bigger game. The filmmakers are currently in the process of finding the actor to fill the role originated by Snipes.They are also auditioning people to portray Harlow’s character’s longtime girlfriend, an aspiring ‘Jeopardya’ contestant played by Rosie Perez in the 1992 film.Barris is producing the film through his company Khalabo Ink Society. Brooklyn Nets basketball star Blake Griffin, Ryan Kalil and Noah Weinstein will serve as executive producers through their label Mortal Media. Hall and E. Brian Dobbins will also executive produce.Harlow recently showed off his basketball chops in this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend’s Celebrity Game, but it was his audition that sealed the deal and won over the filmmaking team behind the movie. Earlier this year, he dropped the single “Nail Tech”, his first new solo release since his major-label debut album “That’s What They All Say”.In between filming “White Men Can’t Jump”, Harlow is headlining the three-day Forecastle Festival in his home state of Kentucky.

  • BTS say they were nervous ahead of their first major in-person show in two years

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Global superstars BTS said they were “very nervous” ahead of their first major in-person concert, titled ‘Permission to Dance on Stage’, since 2019.

    The K-pop band, who was just nominated for their second Grammy, took to stage on Saturday night for the first of their four shows at SoFi Stadium here.

    The group was afraid to make a mistake during the performance, reported People magazine.

    Despite their nerves, each of the seven members — group leader RM (27), Jin (28), Suga (28), J-Hope (27), Jimin (26), V (25), and Jungkook (24) — expressed their excitement to get back on stage.

    “Before a concert, we always talk amongst ourselves and huddle in the green room. Before (the first song) ‘On,’ everyone said ‘I think I’m gonna cry.’ Everyone was very nervous,” Jin said during a press conference, attended by People magazine on Sunday.

    “We were afraid to make a mistake but that made us practise that much harder. Everyone said they were going to cry but no one actually did,” he added.

    Jimin also admitted to having a case of nerves ahead of the performance.

    “I was very nervous. I was scared,” he said.

    “We felt powerless and felt depressed. We wanted to bring healing to everyone. We’re back where we belong,” Jimin said about the pandemic years.

    Despite the pandemic putting a stop to live performances, the septet has only risen in popularity across the globe with the success of their songs “Dynamite”, “Butter”, “Life Goes On” and “Permission to Dance”.

    “It didn’t seem real until the AMAs. (They) gave us all of that energy for yesterday,” said Jungkook, who along with his bandmates took home three American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, a first for an Asian act, recently.

    RM described the ‘Permission to Dance on Stage’ event as “the beginning of our new chapter”.

    “It got me really emotional beyond words,” he added.

    The band kept a busy schedule even during the pandemic by connecting with their fan group, called ARMY, through online concerts and virtual appearances.

    They also made a highly-publicised appearance at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), their third, in New York as the special presidential envoy for future generations from their native South Korea.

    Following their UNGA address, the band also performed their latest English single “Permission to Dance” at the UN headquarters.

  • Selena Gomez receives first Grammy nom for ‘Revelacion’, pens gratitude note for fans

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: The Recording Academy has officially announced the Grammy nominees for the year 2022 and pop star Selena Gomez is among them who bagged the nomination for the prestigious award for her Latin music album, ‘Revelacion’.

    In the 2022 Grammy category for Latin Pop Album, Selena is up against Pablo Alboran, Paula Arenas, Ricardo Arjona, Camilo and Alex Cuba.

    Released in March, ‘Revelacion’ album is Selena’s first project to feature music prominently in Spanish, earning her the first-ever Latin Grammy nomination earlier this year for the music video for its opening track, ‘De Una Vez’.

    Taking to her Instagram handle, the ‘Rare’ singer also celebrated the news and penned a note of thanks to her fans.

    “Are you kidding me!? Revelacion is nominated for a GRAMMY! This project is so special to me for so many reasons and I could not have made it happen without this incredible team of people by my side. I am forever grateful to each and every one of you, and of course MY FANS,” she wrote.

    The big honour for the 29-year-old star comes months after the singer told an outlet that she was thinking about taking a step back from making music.

    “It’s hard to keep doing music when people don’t necessarily take you seriously. I’ve had moments where I’ve been like, ‘What’s the point? Why do I keep doing this?” she told an outlet, as per E! News.

    “‘Lose You to Love Me’ I felt was the best song I’ve ever released, and for some people, it still wasn’t enough, I think there are a lot of people who enjoy my music, and for that, I’m so thankful, for that I keep going, but I think the next time I do an album it’ll be different. I want to give it one last try before I maybe retire music,” she said of her 2019 Billboard-topping track.

  • ‘It’s hard to express in words’: BTS on first Grammy nomination

    By Associated Press
    NEW DELHI: Stuck at home during the pandemic, BTS created “Dynamite” and released the song to their isolated fans as a gift.

    Now, the gift has returned to theM, in the form of their first Grammy nomination.

    “A lot of people were sad and down and out because of the COVID situation and it was sort of our suggestion to pick (everyone) up,” Jin said in an interview this week with The Associated Press.

    “We were supposed to do the whole stadium tour all over the world. There was no plan to release a single like Dynamite,’” RM explained.

    ‘Dynamite’ gave us huge success in Korea, of course, a Grammy nomination, a performance, so you know, life is really interesting.”

    ALSO READ | Wasn’t meant to be ‘racist’: German radio station apologies for remarks about K-pop’s BTS

    ‘Dynamite’ became BTS’ first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when it was released last year.

    After years of logging Top 40 hits and selling out arenas and stadiums, the seven-member collective is competing for best pop duo/group performance and will also perform at Sunday’s show.

    BTS is the first K-pop act to compete at the Grammys.

    “It’s really hard to express in words,” Jimin said of the nomination.

    “Even now we can’t still believe that we were nominated, and we’ll be able to perform at the Grammys. So, we’re thankful. We’re honoured.”

    BTS’ explosive hit will battle another No. 1 smash – Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s ‘Rain on Me’, as well as Top 10 successes like Taylor Swift and Bon Iver’s ‘exile’ and Justin Bieber and Quavo’s ‘Intentions.’

    J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Dua Lipa’s “Un Dia (One Day),” which topped the Billboard Hot Latin songs chart, rounds out the five nominees.

    “I always listen to Rain on Me.’ It’s so great to listen to that song on the treadmill. It was a hit. It was fire last year,” RM said.

    “And, of course, Intentions,’ Exile’ was crazy. And J Balvin and Dua Lipa.”

    We’re nervous and actually, frankly, we’re not expecting (to win) so much because we don’t want to get disappointed because Lady Gaga, Taylor, Bieber, all the big names (are nominated).

    So, we’re kind of confused. It’s like rollercoaster, back and forth, back and forth, up and down.”

    Their Grammy performance will mark their second on the major awards show, they assisted Lil Nas X when he sang “Old Town Road” last year.

    Sunday’s performance follows the recent airing of “MTV Unplugged Presents: BTS,” which featured BTS covering Coldplay’s popular rock ballad, “Fix You.”

    In a tweet in Korean, Coldplay called BTS’ rendition “beautiful.”

    “Coldplay came to Korea about three years ago for a big concert and me and J-Hope went to their concert and we watched Fix You’ at that time’ and it meant so much,” RM recalled.

    “Hopefully we can work with them, or maybe have a meeting and sip some tea or coffee or anything. We love Coldplay.”

    The IFPI, the organization that represents the global recording industry, said last week that BTS was the best-selling act of 2020.

    The band is currently working on new music — as a group and soloists.

    They said the Grammy nomination does create some pressure for the next batch of songs they produce, but they’re not letting the success get to their heads.

    “We try to stay down to earth and put our feet to the ground and do what we do,” RM said.

  • Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk break up after 28 years

    By Associated Press
    NEW YORK: Grammy-winning electronic music pioneers Daft Punk have announced that they are breaking up after 28 years.

    The helmet-wearing French duo shared the news Monday in an 8-minute video called “Epilogue.” Kathryn Frazier, the band’s longtime publicist, confirmed the break up for The Associated Press.

    Daft Punk, comprised of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, have had major success over the years, winning six Grammy Awards and launching international hits with “One More Time,” “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” and “Get Lucky.”

    Bangalter and de Homem-Christo met at a Paris school in 1987. Prior to Daft Punk, they formed an indie rock band named Darling.

    They officially formed Daft Punk in 1993, and the helmeted, mute and mysterious musicians released their debut album, “Homework,” in 1997. They first found success with the international hit “Da Funk,” which topped the Billboard dance charts and earned them their first Grammy nomination. A second No. 1 hit and Grammy nomination followed with “Around the World.”

    Daft Punk spent time touring around the world and reached greater heights with their sophomore album, 2001’s “Discovery.” It included the infectious smash “One More Time” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” which Kanye West famously flipped into his own hit “Stronger,” released in 2007. It won West the best rap solo performance Grammy at the 2008 show, where West and Daft Punk performed together onstage.

    A year later, a live version of “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” won Daft Punk the best dance recording Grammy — their first win — and their “Alive 2007″ album picked up best electronic/dance album.

    But it was the 2014 Grammys where Daft Punk really took the spotlight, winning album of the year for “Random Access Memories” and making history as the first electronic act to win the highest honor at the Grammys. The duo won four awards that night, including record of the year for their bombshell hit “Get Lucky,” featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers.

    “Random Access Memories” was regarded as a genre-bending album highlighted by its mix of live instrumentation, disco sounds, funk, rock, R&B and more. Rolling Stone ranked it No. 295 on their list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” last year.