The 68th Grammy Awards occurred on February 1, celebrating various artists and their achievements in the music industry. The Grammys were held at Crypto.com Arena with Trevor Noah hosting for the last time. The Emmy-winning comedian had run the show for six years straight since 2021. Though fans are sad to see him go, he joked that he “believes in term limits” after becoming the second-longest-running host in Grammy history. Viewers at New Hyde Park tuned in to watch their favorite artists’ wins and performances, comparing the wins to what they stream.
The host is not the only thing that was special about these Grammy Awards: Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” won Album of the Year, making history as the first-ever Spanish-language album to do so. “Golden” from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” took the prize for Best Song Written for Visual Media, officially becoming the first K-pop song to win a Grammy. British songwriter Olivia Dean won Best New Artist and her win marks nine consecutive years that a woman has won Best New Artist. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Defying Gravity” from the movie “Wicked.” Traditionally, “Broadway-style” songs don’t win Pop categories, so this result shocked many viewers.
“As someone who is a huge fan of pop music and not as big of a fan of Broadway, I think “Defying Gravity” deserved the win because of how strong the vocals and emotional delivery of the song was,” senior Shania Jacob said. “The performance really stood out and was very powerful.”
Even though Justin Bieber got nominated for many different awards, he ended up walking away empty-handed. However, his performance of “Yukon” was the most talked about among fans. Instead of a fancy outfit and set, he wore crew socks and boxers with a pink electric guitar. Many were divided by this — some saw this as a cry for help, while others saw it as artistic expression, claiming that you don’t need much to make music. Fans at NHP eagerly wanted Bieber to win, leaving them with mixed emotions about his Grammys snub and performance.
“Justin Bieber didn’t just deserve a Grammy, he defined the era they were supposed to reward,” seventh grader Presley Nonaillada said.
Some fans at NHP were rooting for Sombr to win Best New Artist. He’s a 21 year old who’s first hit song “Back to Friends,” currently holds over a billion streams on Spotify. His internet persona made him likable to fans, his relatable character and the purpose of his music engaging fans.
Olivia Dean isn’t actually a new artist – she’s been around for about a decade, releasing her first single, “Reason to Stay” back in 2018, which landed her a record label, but not fully into stardom. Among NHP fans, some think her win is rightfully deserved, since she’s worked hard to get to the point she has, while others think Sombr’s raw energetic songs are what the future of music should mirror.
Aside from the music, representation in the music industry is important for the growth of new cultures, sounds and spotlights. It helps to curate an appreciation for different tastes. With NHP’s diverse school background, members believe their music should reflect the same.
“Representation is crucial in the music industry just as in film, politics and everything else! The USA is a country of immigrants and our diversity is our strength, and it’s important that the music industry lifts up artists of all backgrounds,” music teacher Ms. Bagley said.
