Grammy 2024: everyone sings well, everyone sings differently and doesn’t abuse autotune

The first thing that surprises about the Grammy Awards ceremony, at least for an Argentinian, is the gala It was announced for 9pm and started at 9pm., not a minute more nor a minute less. And although there are more than 5,000 guests, there is an early delivery and a red carpet that lasts more than two hours, it has to start at 9pm and it does.

They therefore don’t care that the presenter walks past the table shared by Ed Sheeran and producer Mark Ronson and tells them that Meryl Streep (Ronson’s mother-in-law) disappeared there, because the most awarded actress at the Oscars appears running As the situation unfolds on the air, he says hello and sits down. All before the eyes of the spectators.

The same thing happens when the presenter Trevor Noah Shows the celebrities sitting at each table. Behind him passes Taylor Swift who, no matter how hard she tries, is not easy to go unnoticed, especially in a place full of music personalities.

Noah warns her and although he doesn’t challenge her – it would be too much -, He jokes that in its wake economies revive and everyone becomes richer.. Taylor sits next to an icon like Lionel Richie and the presenter takes the opportunity to joke and say that the singer and composer (together with Michael Jackson) of We are the World he is now “richer”.

Everyone understands: this has to start at 9pm and if you are not in your seats at that time, stick to the consequences, or the jokes.

A success

The other thing that catches your attention is the level of each setting. It has nothing to do with a question of budget, which is a lot, or production, which is enormous. The effort made by the artists is evident. that they will do a live performance (yes, live, although there are pre-recorded choirs). Whatever their generation, they sing well, very well. And it’s easier to understand why they are where they are and why they are as successful as they are.

Start Dua Lipa, they put her on a stage where you fear she’ll be thrown into the air, and she sings well. It appears Billie Eilish (eh, two minutes earlier she was sitting at her table) and she sings well. Miley Cyrus wins her first Grammy, then it’s her turn to act and she sings well. The same Olivia Rodrigo: sings well. All with different productions and songs (ranging from Billie’s intimacy to Miley’s exuberance). And no automatic tuning.

What are we talking about when we talk about autotune? Of that vocal effect so fashionable in trap, reggaeton and current urban music, which it matches the voices until they are similar and hides any type of discordancebecause it is precisely the effect that autotune seeks, to alter the voices in a robotic way, making it difficult to understand who sings well and who sings badly.

And people from previous generations also sing well at the Grammys. It happens Tracy Chapman in his duet with Luke Coms and sings well. Go out Stevie wonders and stars in another duet, this time with the deceased Tony Bennett from the screen (yes, they both sing well). It happens Bonus with U2. Annie Lennox We are shaken by the memory of Sinead O’Connor and Nothing Compares 2 You (Song of the Prince). And until when Travis Scott, a rapper who lights up the scene -and doesn’t abuse autotune-. Come back Billy Joel. They all sing well.

Take into account

A couple more facts to take into consideration in this ceremony that brings together the best and most successful of the music industry.

A type of correctness. Win or lose, you’ll put your best face forward on camera, even if you’re frustrated inside. You will also celebrate each other’s songs: Taylor Swift, the big winner of the evening, stands on the songs of the other artists, sings them, dances to them.

And she is not the only one, there are many who do the same: it seems that they have listened and learned the arguments of others. And it even seems like they’re having fun.

The Grammys, as we said, are also the most important award in the music industry Connection with the other major stages of the show. We have already talked about Meryl Streep’s presence at the ceremony, without a doubt the female face of the Oscars (they are delivered on March 10 and televised by the same network that gave the Grammys).

This must also be said Oprah Winfreythe queen of American television, also played a major role at the Grammys, presented the tribute to her late friend Tina Turner and, like the rest of the artists, sang each other’s songs loudly all night.

It is unfair to compare such a production, worth millions of dollars, with Argentine celebrations such as the Gardel Awards or the Martín Fierro Awards. They are other budgets, other productions, other championships.

But you can take some guidelines to repeat later: pay attention to the rest of the artists, smile even when you get lost, be punctual and respectful of the show. And why not sing well and not abuse autotune.