Wrap Up of the 2010 52nd Annual Grammy Awards

The show opened with a long intro that made the performance appear almost like a freak show until Lady Gaga took stage in a green leotard with what looked like angel wings, no pants, long blonde Britney extensions and hot pink sparkly face paint around her eyes. She sang a snippet of "Poker Face," then Lady Gaga and Elton John slid out onto the stage (as rumored), both sitting in front of a piano, and perform a duet. Lady Gaga proved that she is every bit talented as she is eccentric.

This performance set the tone for the rest of the evening, which was loaded with performances (including a 3-D Michael Jackson tribute with Usher, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood, and others). Acceptance speeches and legacy were brief and only a small selection of the awards were presented live on the show (which made best comedy album all that more strange). They included an interactive feature to the show, allowing the audience to vote what song Bon Jovi would sing.

Song of the Year
Lady Gaga: Poker Face
Maxwell: Pretty Wings
Beyonce: Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)
Kings of Leon: Use Somebody
Taylor Swift: You Belong with me

Stephen Colbert announced the winner: Beyonce Knowles for Single Ladies (Put a ring on it). Beyonce was unable to accept the award as she was preparing for her performance on the show, so the writers (Thaddis Harrell,Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart) accepted on her behalf with a brief speech.

Green Day
Jennifer Lopez next introduced the cast of the upcoming Green Day musical "American Idiot" (what??). The cast members did a brief introduction and eventually supported the actual band Green Day to duet on "21 Guns." The mix of the live band with the chorus actually produced a fairly cohesive and pleasant result, but I can't imagine I will be buying tickets to that musical. Interestingly, it appears that the cast of the musical is led by a man, at least that is what I gathered from the commercial, but the Grammy's performance was only women.

Best Country Album
The Foundation: Zac Brown Band
Twang: George Strait
Fearless: Taylor Swift
Defying Gravity: Keith Urban
Call Me Crazy: Lee Ann Womack

As predicted, the Grammy went to Taylor Swift for Fearless (even though her music is more "pop" than "country").

Beyonce
The lady of the night, with more Grammy nomination than any other band or artist, belted out her hit song "If I Were A Boy." She really surprised everyone by covering Alanis Morissette's song "You Oughta Know."

Pink
Pink had a brief performance that was very similar to the trapeze act she performed at the MTV Video Awards, except this time she added water.

Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

Winner: Zac Brown Band

Black Eyed Peas
The performance by the Black Eyed Peas just reiterated that even though their music may be upbeat club/driving music, it is probably best left that way. I actually cringed listening to Fergie attempt to rap. Yet the group won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals and Best Pop Vocal Album.

Best Comedy Album
Spinal Tap: Back from the Dead
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All!
Internet Leaks: "Weird Al" Yankovic
My Weakness Is Strong: Patton Oswalt
Suckin' It For The Holidays: Kathy Griffin
Tall, Dark & Chicano: George Lopez

This seemed like a silly category and nominees, and I don't recall it being on the live show in past years, but the winner was Stephen Colbert.

Record of the Year
Halo: Beyonce
I Gotta Feeling: The Black Eyed Peas
Use Somebody: Kings of Leon
Poker Face: Lady Gaga
You Belong To Me: Taylor Swift

The winner was surprisingly, to me, Kings of Leon, Use Somebody

Best Rock Album
Black Ice, AC/DC
Live from Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood
21st Century Breakdown, Green Day
Big Whiskey and The Groogus King, Dave Matthews Band
No Line on the Horizon, U2

Winner: Green Day

Of the two country performances, Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum was fantastic, whereas Zac Brown Band was a little too country for me. Think Deliverance country.

Prince Michael, son of Michael Jackson, accepted a lifetime-achievement award on behalf of his father. Prince was incredibly impressive for a 12-year-old boy thrust into the limelight after a life of seclusion.

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Ego, Kanye West and Beyonce
Knock You Down, Keri Hilson, Kanye West, and Ne-Yo
Run This Town, Jay-Z, Rhianna, and Kanye West
I'm on a Boat, The Lonely Island & T-Pain
Dead and Gone, T.I. and Justin Timberlake

Run this town, Jay-Z, Rhianna, and Kanye West took home the win.

Album of The Year: Taylor Swift, Fearless
This was a huge shock for many, including myself, as many thought the win would go to Lady Gaga for her massively popular album "The Fame."

Other Nominees:
I am...Sasha Fierce, Beyonce
The E.N.D., Black Eyed Peas
Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band

A complete listing can be found at http://www.grammy.com/nominees