HOLLYWOOD - Newcomer Norah Jones, whose album Come Away With Me has been touted by critics and fans alike since it was released last March, was weighted down with five miniature gramophones when she left Madison Square Garden last night after the 45th Annual Grammy Awards--and that's just her personal stash. The album and its producers and writers took three more.The self-effacing musician, a mere 23 years old, took the honors humbly, visibly blown away by sharing the stage with some of music's all-time greats, including Aretha Franklin and Bonnie Raitt, who presented Jones with the record of the year award for the single "Don't Know Why."
"I can't believe this," a starstruck Jones said in her acceptance speech. "Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin. This is freakin' me out."
In addition to the record of the year award for the single, Jones' debut album won the night's top prize, album of the year, presented by heavyweights Elvis Costello and Peter Gabriel. Jones also won for best new artist, best pop vocal album and best female pop vocal album.
New York, New York
Although Jones was the night's big winner, there's no question that the Big Apple crowd was behind Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen all the way. His passionate rendition of his nominated single "The Rising," written after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, brought the entire audience to its feet.
Even as the music industry acknowledged those who died in the attacks, there was a clear call for peace from several performers and presenters. Fred Durst, presenting the best hard rock performance award, prefaced the announcement by saying, "I just really hope we are in agreeance [sic] that this war should go away as soon as possible."
Raitt followed suit. "Enough about building a mystery," she said. "Let's build some peace."
Rocker Sheryl Crow, who took home a Grammy for best female rock performance, wore a large peace sign around her neck and, during her performance with Kid Rock, a guitar strap with "No War" written on it.
Fitting Tributes
As usual, the Grammys featured an "In Memoriam" segment, paying tribute to the stars the music industry has lost since the previous show. Members of boy band 'N Sync performed a medley of Bee Gees songs in honor of the Grammy Legend Award honorees, and when Robin and Barry Gibb received their award, they delivered a tearful tribute to their brother Maurice, who died in January. His son joined his uncles on stage for a brief speech.
Later, a highly anticipated tribute to Joe Strummer of The Clash, who died in December, brought Costello, Springsteen and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, now lead singer for the Foo Fighters, together for the first time. The trio, along with Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band, Tony Kanal of No Doubt and Pete Thomas of the Attractions (recently renamed the Imposters), growled their way through punk classic "London Calling."
A list of major Grammy Award winners follows: