How political were the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on CBS Sunday night? According to host James Corden, the music audience's response to Hillary Clinton "might have been the biggest cheer of the night."
Host Corden talked about the Spoken Word Grammy and mentioned "some of the world's most inspiring voices" who've won in the past (all of whom just happen to be liberal politicians) then did a skit having celebrities audition to read the widely discredited book on President Trump, titled Fire and Fury. Lo and behold, Hillary Clinton ended the spot by reading an excerpt, garnering huge applause from the crowd. You know the poor woman just can’t leave the stage and the liberal elites in entertainment just love her.
Corden: Now, some people don't know this, but you don't always need to be a musician to win a Grammy. In fact, every year, the recording academy has honored the best spoken word album. And over the years, the award has gone to some of the world's most inspiring voices. Bill Clinton has won a Grammy. Barack Obama has won a Grammy. Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and Al Gore all have Grammys. We know that our current president does love winning awards and the good news for him is he may just be the subject of next year's winner. The question I've got is, who will be the narrator? Fire and Fury spoken word auditions take one.
John Legend: Trump won't read anything. He gets up halfway through meetings with world leaders because he is bored.
Corden: Cut! Sorry. It's-- it just feels a bit too smooth. I don't think it's going to work. Next.
Cher: His combover, semicolon, the color was a product called Just for Men. The longer it was left on, the darker it got. Impatience resulted in Trump's orange blond hair color.
Corden: Cut.
Snoop Dogg: Trump did not enjoy his own inauguration. He started to get angry and hurt that stars were determined to embarrass him. I definitely wasn't there.
Corden: Cut. Cardi B
Cardi B: Trump having his dinner with Steve Bannon, he was in bed by ten with a burger. Why am I even reading this [bleep]? I can't believe this. I can’t believe that he really-- that this is how he lives
DJ Khalid: The housekeeper staff for pick up his shirt from the floor. If my shirt is on the floor it's because I want it on the floor. Another one, it's-- matter, it's the best spoken word album in the game.
Corden: Cut, cut, this isn't going to work.
DJ Khalid: It's not going to work. Everything I do, work.
Corden: Stand by, take one.
Hillary Clinton: He had a long-time fear of being poisoned. One reason why he likes to eat at McDonald's. Nobody knew he was coming and the food was safely premade.
Corden: That's it. We've got it. That is the one.
Hillary: You think so?
Corden: Oh yeah.
Hillary: The Grammy is in the bag?
Corden: In the bag. That might have been the biggest cheer of the night.
After last year's #GrammysSoWhite kerfluffle, Cordon promised “the most diverse group of nominees” and rapper Kendrick Lamar, comedian Dave Chappelle, and U2's Bono and the Edge opened the show with a big musical number complete with giant American flag, camouflage costumed dancers, and gunshots ringing out.
Lamar was delivering a message about violence against African Americans and guns as he rapped the following lyrics:
Ain't no black power when your baby killed by a coward
I can't even keep the peace, don't you fuck with one of ours
It be murder in the street, it be bodies in the hour
Ghetto bird on the street, paramedics on the dial
Let somebody touch my momma
Touch my sister, touch my woman
Touch my daddy, touch my niece
Touch my nephew, touch my brother
You should chip a nigga then throw the blower in his lap
Matter fact, I'm 'bout to speak at this convention
Call you back
Just in case the audience wasn’t acutely enough aware that Lamar was making a statement about gun violence against black men, Chappelle emphasized it by saying, “I just wanted to remind everybody that the only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America…is being an honest black man in America.” Oh. Ok.
Late night show hosts just couldn’t resist bringing politics into their presentations. Far-left liberal activist comedienne Sarah Silverman co-presented an award but first said she was there to encourage people to vote. Her co-presenter said, “No, we’re not.” To this Silverman answered that it didn’t really matter, “The world is basically over anyway.” Really? The world is over because her candidate didn’t win the last election? Trevor Noah presented the award for Best Comedy Album to Dave Chappelle. Before doing so, he had to drag President Trump into the mix: “It takes me back, you know, like way-way back to when Trump wasn't president. By the way, Jay-Z, he sent your message. He said we should inform you.” This was in reference to a recent tweet sent by the president.
But wait, there’s more. A tribute to those killed by gun violence at the hands of mentally ill gunmen was performed by country music artists Maren Morris, Eric Church and Brothers Osborne. They sang Eric Clapton’s “Here in Heaven.” While country music artists have generally stayed away from voicing support of gun control, Morris was recently quoted about her decision to begin speaking up. Thankfully, the artists only sang and spared us any sanctimonious lecturing in conflict with our Second Amendment right to legally possess guns.
Recording artist, producer, and actress Janelle Monae introduced the #TimesUp segment of the show.
To those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: #Timesup. We say time's up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, and the abuse of power. It's not just going on in Hollywood, or in Washington, it's right here in our industry as well. And just as we have the power to shape culture, we also have the power to undo the culture that does not serve us well. So, let's work together, women and men, as a united music industry committed to creating more safe work environments, equal pay, and access for all women. And as we do, as artists, our next performer embodies the great tradition of delivering important social messages through their music.
Then singer Kesha performed with back-up by Cindy Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha, Julia Michaels and The Resistance Revival Chorus, all clad in white. Kesha recently spoke about her nervousness to perform at the Grammys. White roses were worn this evening in recognition of sexual abuse and harassment.
Not to be left out, the DREAMer activists were represented by a mini-speech delivered by Camilla Cabello, a Cuban-Mexican-American singer born in Havana. Cubans immigrants are not the same as most DREAMers but she didn’t make that distinction. She was too busy saying that DREAMers can’t be ignored.
Tonight, in this room full of music's dreamers, we remember that this country was built by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream. I'm here on this stage tonight because just like the dreamers my parents brought me to this country with nothing in their pockets but hope. They showed me what it means to work twice as hard and never give up, and honestly, no part of my journey is any different from theirs. I'm a proud Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City, and all I know is, just like dreams, these kids can't be forgotten and are worth fighting for.
Did she miss the recent government shut-down as the Democrats decided that amnesty for illegal aliens, including DREAMers, was more important than normal government operations working for all Americans?
The artist Logic went on a rant about immigration after his performance, saying in part, "On behalf of those who fight for equality in a world that is not equal, not just and not ready for the change we are here to bring, I say unto you: bring us your tired, your poor, and any immigrant who seeks refuge. For together we can build not just a better country, but a world that is destined to be united."
There was so much politicking that by the time Corden began an introduction designed to fake the audience into thinking Barack Obama was coming on stage I half believed it.
During the Grammy pre-show red carpet coverage, singer Joy Villa caused a stir by delivering a pro-life message with her choice of gown and handbag. You may remember her MAGA dress from last year’s Grammy’s.
But aside from Villa standing for life, this show checked all the items of a social justice warrior’s wish list – gun violence, racial divisions, illegal immigration, sexual harassment and abuse, and even inserted Hillary Clinton into the mix. What more could they want?
