Grammy 2011 Recap

Some pretty awesome things happened at tonight’s Grammy Awards. Though Pearl Jam didn’t win their second Grammy this year (they were beat out by Muse for Best Rock Album), here are a few highlights for me:

• Arcade Fire won Album of The Year. For a 12-piece indie rock group from Montreal who nobody beyond musical hipsters knew or cared about until three years ago, these guys have certainly come a long way. Kudos to the National Academy of Record Arts and Sciences for recognizing this great band, and congrats to the band on this huge win.
• The Black Keys won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. They’re kind of the the opposite of Arcade Fire, as a two-piece playing their own brand of blues rock, but they too are a band that a few years ago were unknown to the masses. Though it’s weird that a blues duo is considered an “alternative” band, I’m not complaining. These guys certainly deserve this win.
• Eminem and Dr. Dre performed a new song of Dre’s forthcoming album called I Need A Doctor. Alicia Keys Rihanna opened the performance with a cool intro to Love The Way You Lie, followed by an impressively intense freestyle courtesy of Mr. Mathers. As the song closed out, the intro to I Need A Doctor began, which Dre joined Em for halfway through.
• Norah Jones, John Mayer, and Keith Urban joined together for a acoustic performance of Dolly Parton’s classic Jolene, which sounded amazing.
• Cee Lo Green wowed the crowd with his muppetted version of Fuck You, with surprise guest Gweneth Paltrow helping out with the vocals.

Arcade Fire – Ready To Start (Grammys 2011)

Arcade Fire – Month Of May (Grammys 2011)

Cee Lo Green feat. Gweneth Paltrow – Forget You (Grammys 2011)

Norah Jones, John Mayer, and Keith Urban – Jolene (Grammys 2011)

Dr. Dre feat. Eminem – I Need A Doctor

The Black Keys – Black Mud