Brutally honest reviews of every performance

There are two reasons we listen to the Grammy Awards, and their names are Beyoncé and Adele.

Music megastars compete again on Sunday for album, record and song of the year, following Adele’s controversial sweep in all three categories in 2017. While we eagerly await the winners, there There will also be performances, with Harry Styles, Lizzo, Sam Smith and Brandi Carlile all scheduled to take the stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

It will be hard to top last year’s ceremony, which featured jaw-dropping performances from BTS and Billie Eilish. Here are the best and worst musical moments from this year’s show:

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Sam Smith and Kim Petras, “Unholy”

After her historic Grammy win and an introduction from Madonna, Petras slipped onto the stage with Smith to perform their titillating track “Unholy.” Smith danced and sang downstage in a top hat adorned with a devil’s horn, but it was Petras who stole the show with a searing pyrotechnic display, assaulting the camera from inside. a steel cage.

Kacey Musgraves, Quavo and Bonnie Raitt, In Memoriam

Musgraves kicked off the “In Memoriam” performance with a sleek, crystal-clear version of the late Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” strumming an acoustic guitar with a bed of flowers at her bare feet. Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow also paid a haunting tribute to Christine McVie, harmonizing beautifully as Mick Fleetwood softly played the talking drum alongside them. But the most emotional moment came from Quavo and Maverick City Music, who honored Migos member Takeoff with a heartbreaking medley of “Without You” and “See You Again.”

Harry Styles, “As It Was”

Fresh off a win for Best Pop Vocal Album for “Harry’s House,” the British heartthrob creditably propelled her No. 1 hit “As It Was” onto the Grammys stage. Styles traded in her show-stopping red carpet jumpsuit for a frilly metallic ensemble, skipping and jumping on a giant turntable with her back-up dancers dressed in street clothes.

Lizzo, “About Fucking Time”, “Special”

Lizzo continually brings top-notch showmanship to award show performances, and Sunday’s Grammys presentation was no exception. Wearing a short black dress and a jeweled cross necklace, the R&B/pop hitmaker made the Crypto.com Arena her church with a stirring gospel choir as she swept through her singles “Special” filled with affirmation.

Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Wan Mor, Motown Medley

Leave it to the legendary Wonder to give the night’s performance not even an hour after the show starts. Performing a medley of Motown hits to honor Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, Wonder kicked things off with the Temptations’ upbeat “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” swapping vocals with R&B group WanMor. He then dueted with Robinson on “The Tears of a Clown,” before blowing the roof off with his own “Higher Ground,” which featured blazing guitar riffs from country artist Chris Stapleton. The audience rose in ecstasy and danced from their seats, with the likes of Jay-Z singing along.

Brandi Carlile, ‘Broken Horses’

After a sweet introduction from his wife, Catherine Shepherd, and two daughters, the Americana singer gave an electrifying performance of her single “In These Silent Days.” With just strobe lights and a backing band, Carlile let her pulsating vocals do the heavy lifting – unleashing a truly incendiary guitar solo mid-song and earning a standing ovation from Taylor Swift.

Bad Bunny, ‘El Apagón,’ ‘Después de la Playa’

The Puerto Rican rapper proved why he’s one of the biggest stars in the world right now with his dynamic and infectious opening act. Flanked by dancers, brass players and giant puppets of Puerto Rican icons Tego Calderón and Andy Montañez, Bad Bunny marched to the stage, where a red curtain rose to reveal a glorious sunset, with palm trees and bongo drummers. The singer, dressed in a baseball cap and jeans, had the entire audience on their feet, with performers like Jack Harlow and Mary J. Blige dancing.

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