2011 Grammys Roundup: Winners, Surprises and Lady Gaga's Arrival in a Giant Egg

Happy Grammys discussion week, for there is quite a bit to discuss about this year's show.

Award Upsets

When you have so many favorites nominated for awards and one or two unrecognizable names, chances are you're going to bet on the favorites. Apparently, the Recording Academy wanted to change the status quo. Not only did Canadian band The Arcade Fire beat out the likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum and Enimem for the prestigious Album of the Year award, but 26-year-old jazz singer Esperanza Spalding won the Best New Artist category. Yes, yes that does mean she beat out Justin Bieber, much to the dismay of those infected with Bieber Fever. Spalding also beat out Florence and the Machine, Drake and Mumford & Sons for the award.

Even though Lady Antebellum didn't win Album of the Year, don't feel too bad for them. They racked up quite a few other awards, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Country Album, Country Performance and Country Song. Like I said, they're doing okay.

Lady Gaga won for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Eminem scored two awards for Rap Album and Rap Solo Performance and Train unsurprisingly won for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. Guess the relentless melody of "Hey, Soul Sister" being played everywhere paid off.

Random Grammys Musings

Christina Aguilera really can't catch a break. After facing public ridicule for botching the lyrics to the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, the songstress faltered again at the Grammys. This time it was her feet that stumbled. During her fantastic tribute to Aretha Franklin, Aguilera, who was backed by Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, Florence Welch and Yolanda Adams, took a little spill toward the end of the number, but appeared alright. Anyway, the audience didn't seem to take note while they gave the group a standing ovation. See the video here.

It seems as though everyone is trying to take a page from Lady Gaga's book of craziness. Cee-Lo is the music world's latest victim. Hitting the stage amidst an elaborate set complete with a puppet band and back-up singers, Cee-Lo donned an interesting get-up composed of feathers, feathers, and more feathers. Yellow, red and blue feathers emerged from his shoulders, and his NBCesque peacock tail waved happily along with the music. See the video here. It was definitely interesting, I suppose, but not as insane as Lady Gaga's getup.

Lady Gaga didn't even walk the red carpet. No, she was carried ... in an egg. Yes, an egg. Carried by several muscular men and accompanied by her choreographer/creative director and the supermodel/nurse Anne V., both women babbled to Ryan Seacrest about how the pop star was "incubating" and in a "creative embryonic stage."

These notable quotes came from Nurse Anne V.: "Lady Gaga's heartbeat is 126 bpm ... She will be birthed during her performance this evening."

Choreographer/creative director Laurieann Gibson later cut in during the conversation, asking randomly, "Is she dilating?!" and dropping lines like "She's going to shift the world."

Well, I suppose the performance was good, but I'm pretty sure the world stayed on course.

Grammy Winners 2011 Complete List, CBS News

Ella Stewart, Shocker! Lady Gaga Arrives at Grammys in Giant Egg, E!Online