That Billie Eilish, the 18-year-old from LA, would become the gal's big winner was hardly a high praise - but nevertheless well deserved. She writes dark, deft lyrics to music that you can dance to - a perfect soundtrack for millennials growing up in a world of Australian forest fires, populist politicians and a collapsed housing market.
Billie Eilish's debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go has become a mega hit in terms of top performance, sales and streaming, and she is the youngest ever to win all four of the heaviest awards: Album of the Year, Best Recording, Best Song and Best New Artist - a big change from 2018 when only one woman was allowed to receive a prize during the entire gala broadcast.
Then gramish boss Neil Portnow defended himself with the fact that women simply have to "get in the collar" if they want to win some awards. A statement that led to Portnow's departure later that year, that a new manager was appointed and more equality among the award winners already during Grammy 2019.
During Grammy 2020, major conflicts are raging behind the scenes of the Recording Academy and among assigned managers. But on stage the mood was the better. Eilish was humble, shy and sisterly when she received the award for Album of the Year and said that it really should have gone to Ariana Grande and her Thank you, next ("it got me through some shit").
Another of the gal's brightest stars was Lizzo - as cool as competent. Before the start of the evening, she had eight nominations, most of all, and won three awards. But above all, she took her breath out of Staples center with her opening performance. She mixes pop, hip-hop and r'n'b with a large portion of soul, lots of humor and some political messages - including loving her body. In addition, she is a fin on the flute, an instrument that has been pulled and drawn with strong barrel status - something she managed to wash away at night, once and for all.
But even though the Grammy awards have come a long way when it comes to gender equality, it is not the same when it comes to diversity. During the revulsion, rapper Diddy criticized the jury for not paying enough attention to hip-hop and black artists in the heaviest categories. For the past ten years, only one black artist has taken home the Album of the Year: Bruno Mars. And Tyler the creator who won the rap album of the year told the New York Times that he thought he'd rather belong in the pop category.
Lil Nas X had many nominations this year for his debut single Old Town Road - a mix of hip hop and country. The song has been a super hit but was removed from the country music list in the US because it lacked sufficiently clear country elements. Something that gave rise to a debate about what country is and whether it is more difficult for a black artist to pass as a country artist. But during tonight's Grammy gala, he won double awards for the song and made a stand out with, among other things, South Korean pop band BTS. A clear knowledge of anyone who wants to push music, artists or people into narrow, compelling frames.