2010 Grammy Awards Winners: Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas Win Big; Taylor Swift Wins Album of the Year

The Grammy Awards are that once-a-year self-congratulatory pat on the back the music industry gives itself, where most of those nominated deserve to be so and the undeserving more often as not walk away winners of the little gramophone trophy. Each year it seems that the industry picks one or two acts to lavish not only a great many nominations upon but, when it is all said and done, also has no problem following through and handing over the Grammy. The 2010 Grammy Awards were no different than their previous 51 predecessor shows. Beyonce won six of the ten Grammy Awards for which she was nominated (a record for a female artist). Taylor Swift won four of her eight nominations. The Black Eyed Peas, Kings of Leon, Eminem, and Lady Gaga also won awards. But besides keeping an official tally of who won what, the only real reason to watch the Grammy Awards (in 2010 or any other year)is the live performances.

In the country genre, the Zac Brown Band (who won Best New Artist) and Miranda Lambert performed. Carrie Underwood got buried in a Michael Jackson tribute. They kept giving Taylor Swift awards in the country music category but, if you've ever listened to Taylor Swift's "Fearless" album (which won both Country Album of the Year and Album of the Year), you would be hard pressed to call it country.

There were a few nice surprises, such as the Kings of Leon winning Record of the Year for "Use Somebody" (because you just knew Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or Taylor Swift was going to win it). Stevie Nicks joined Taylor Swift on the Fleetwood Mac "Rhiannon," then backed up the young phenom on her hit single, "You Belong With Me," which, truth be told, would have sounded much better had Nicks sang it. Bruce Springsteen's win for "Building a Dream" for Best Rock Solo Performance was also a nice surprise. And it was nice to see some of the old rockers win an award, like guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck (Best Rock Instrumental Performance), AC/DC (Best Hard Rock Performance), and Judas Priest (Best Heavy Metal Performance).

The Black Eyed Peas and Beyonce took home most of the Grammy Awards in the Pop and R&B categories. The Peas won R&B Album of the Year. Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" won several awards, including Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Eminem took home Best Rap Album and shared an award with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent for "Crack A Bottle," which won Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group.

Michael Jackson's two oldest children accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award for their father.

But the 2010 Grammy Awards may have possibly begun with one of the best opening performances ever. Lady Gaga started the evening with "Fame Monster" set. She did a short medley of her hits and then was carried bodily up to the top of what looked like a smokestack labeled "REJECTED" and dropped in. The set then split in half and Elton John and Lady Gaga faced each other across pianos. They sang "Speechless," which included a break where they sang lines from Elton John standards. The audience was ecstatic and, when they finished the number, the Staples Center rocked with applause for the glam princess in her green heart-shaped unitard and Sir Elton John in his fly-eyed, diamond encrusted eyewear.

Still, the live performance winner was Pink's "Glitter In The Air," where the singer sung her song while suspended above the stage. Alice Cooper rated the the performance best: "I thought she stole the show tonight. I would do that maybe if I were on fire. That's the only way to make that better."

All in all, the 2010 Grammy Awards weren't all that terrible for a three-hour pat on the back.

List of 2010 Grammy Awards Winners (on page 3)

Album of the Year -- Fearless, Taylor Swift
Record of the Year -- Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
New Artist -- Zac Brown Band
Song Of The Year -- Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), written by Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles, Terius Nash, and Christopher Stewart (Beyonce)
Pop Vocal Album -- The E.N.D., Black Eyed Peas
Rock Album -- 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day
Alternative Music Album -- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix
R&B Album -- BLACKsummers' Night, Maxwell
Contemporary R&B Album -- I Am... Sasha Fierce, Beyonce
Country Album -- Fearless, Taylor Swift
Rap Album -- Relapse, Eminem
Electronic/Dance Album -- The Fame, Lady Gaga
Contemporary Jazz Album -- 75, Joe Zawinui & The Zawinui Syndicate
Contemporary Blues Album -- Already Free, The Derek Trucks Band
Rock or Rap Gospel Album -- Live Revelations, Third Day
Soundtrack Album -- "Slumdog Millionaire," Various Artists
Score Soundtrack -- "Up," Michael Giacchino
New Age Album -- Prayer For Compassion, David Darling
Comedy Album -- A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All!, Stephen Colbert
Short Form Music Video -- Boom Boom Pow, Black Eyed Peas
Long Form Music Video -- The Beatles Love - All Together Now, Various Artists

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For a full list of the 2010 Grammy Awards winners, go to Grammy.com.

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Sources:

"52nd Annual Grammy Awards," CBS Television
Grammy.com
Bodoglife.com