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:
Record of the Year
Norah Jones, “Don’t Know Why”
Album of the Year
Norah Jones, Come Away With Me
Song of the Year
Norah Jones, “Don’t Know Why”
Best New Artist
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Norah Jones, “Don’t Know Why”
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
John Mayer, “Your Body Is a Wonderland”
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
No Doubt, “Hey Baby”
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Santana & Michelle Branch, “The Game of Love”
Best Pop Vocal Album
Norah Jones, Come Away With Me
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
Sheryl Crow, “Steve McQueen”
Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
Bruce Springsteen, “The Rising”
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
Coldplay, “In My Place”
Best Rock Song
Bruce Springsteen, “The Rising”
Best Rock Album
Bruce Springsteen, The Rising
Best Alternative Rock Music Album
Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head
Best Hard Rock Performance
Foo Fighters, “All My Life”
Best Metal Performance
Korn, “Here To Stay”
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Mary J. Blige, “He Think I Don’t Know”
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Usher, “U Don’t Have To Call”
Best R&B Song
Erykah Badu featuring Common, “Love of My Life”
Best R&B Album
India.Arie, Voyage to India
Best Female Rap Solo Performance
Missy Elliott, “Scream a.k.a. Itchin'”
Best Male Rap Solo Performance
Nelly, “Hot in Herre”
Best Rap Album
Eminem, The Eminem Show
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Faith Hill, “Cry”
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Johnny Cash, “Give My Love to Rose”
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
Dixie Chicks, “Long Time Gone”
Best Country Song
Alan Jackson, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”
Best Country Album
Dixie Chicks, Home
