Los Angeles: In a dazzling display of musical excellence at the 66th Grammy Awards, India took center stage as the fusion band ‘Shakti’, led by Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, secured the prestigious Grammy for “Best Global Music Album” with their remarkable creation, “This Moment”.
Expressing his gratitude in an emotionally charged acceptance speech, Shankar Mahadevan dedicated the award to India, his family, friends, and most notably, his wife, stating, “Thank you, boys. Thank you, God, family, friends, and India. India, we are proud of you…Last but not least, I would like to dedicate this award to my wife whom every note of my music is dedicated to.”Zakir Hussain, not to be outdone, clinched the ‘Best Global Music Performance’ Grammy for ‘Pashto’, a collaboration with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia. Adding to the triumph, Rakesh Chaurasia also claimed a Grammy for the Contemporary Instrumental album.
Amidst the musical celebration, the Grammy Awards night saw a moment of tension as rapper Killer Mike, despite winning three awards during the pre-show ceremony, was unexpectedly handcuffed and taken into police custody. The Los Angeles police provided no statement on the incident, emphasizing the resilience of the show.
The spotlight, however, shone brightly on female artists throughout the night, with Taylor Swift securing the Golden Gramophone for Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year for “Midnights”. Kylie Minogue marked her return with a win for Best Pop Dance Recording for “Padam Padam” after two decades. Miley Cyrus claimed her first Grammy for Pop Solo Performance with “Flowers”, while Billie Eilish took home Song of the Year for “What Was I Made For”.
Victoria Monèt emerged victorious as the Best New Artist for her debut album, “Jaguar II”, surpassing seven other nominees. Jay-Z, honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, used the platform to criticize the Grammys for not recognizing Beyoncé with Album of the Year, despite her impressive 32 awards in various categories.
In a rare appearance, legendary figures Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman, revered as godmothers of modern songwriting, graced the stage. The night’s stellar performances included Olivia Rodrigo and Dua Lipa.
