New York (AFP)

Almost a year to the day after the first closings of American concert halls under the blows of the pandemic, the Grammy Awards celebrate Sunday the music and its stars, with in the head Queen Beyoncé and a tube carried by the movement Black Lives Matter.

Like many other ceremonies, the traditional gala evening was delayed by the coronavirus and will take place this year essentially virtually, alternating live performances and pre-recorded sequences.

With nine nominations, it's Beyoncé - whose repeated defeats in major categories have often sparked controversy - who will once again lead the dance with young wolves Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Roddy Ricch, each competing in six categories. .

Queen B. is the female artist with the most Grammy nominations, 79 overall, tied with Sir Paul McCartney and just behind the all-round recorders: her own husband Jay-Z and the legendary Quincy Jones, who have 80.

His track "Black Parade", released in June in the wake of the gigantic anti-racist protests sparked by the deaths of George Floyd and other African-Americans killed by police, holds the rope for the prestigious Grammy recording of the year and song of the year.

However, many experts are betting on Dua Lipa, who had taken the risk of releasing a disco and very dancing album just before the confinements due to Covid-19 and for whom success was at the rendezvous.

A Grammy favorite in the past, Taylor Swift landed her nominations this year with the opposite strategy: she released "Folklore", a surprise album with simple and sweet accents of mohair sweaters and homecoming, in the midst of the pandemic.

- Rock and BLM -

Rewarded last year with a Grammy for his collaboration with the late Nipsey Hussle, rapper Roddy Ricch and his hit "The Box" made their way into the generalist categories, with a nomination for "Song of the Year ".

The rocker Brittany Howard, hitherto known with her group Alabama Shakes, made a success of her solo foray and obtained five nominations with her album "Jaime".

She is among the favorites in the Grammy rock categories, monopolized by women for the first time since the competition was created in 1959.

The young Billie Eilish, who caused a sensation last year by winning the trophies in the four queen categories, could still strike during this 63rd edition but Post Malone, Justin Bieber and rapper DaBaby are in ambush.

She will find especially on her way the burning Megan Thee Stallion, with four nominations including one for the "revelation of the year" where she has every chance.

The remix of her track "Savage" with Beyoncé is also in the race for the record of the year.

On the revelation side, the specialists also keep an eye on the Californian rocker Phoebe Bridgers who has been talked about a lot.

Confirmed artist, Fiona Apple, whose album "Fetch The Bolt Cutters" has been called a "masterpiece" by many critics, is in the front row of rockers, too long kept away by the Grammy-awarding Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

The Black Lives Matter movement and the artists it inspired are also present in force, with Lil Baby and "The Bigger Picture", selected twice, and the anti-racist anthem "I Can't Breathe" by HER which can claim the "song of the year".

- The audience at the rendezvous?

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Although he has been excluded from the generalist categories, singer Harry Styles and his trendy "Watermelon Sugar" are on the long list of stars who will try to turn into a real music festival an exercise that might otherwise seem like a long and tedious graduation ceremony via Zoom.

At the end of February, the Golden Globes paid the price, with an audience down 62% from the previous year.

Megan Thee Stallion is also expected to take the stage, as is Cardi B. who is not selected this year.

The duo ignited the radios this summer with the hit "WAP" but Cardi B. would have asked the jury to wait until next year and the probable release of an album to consider her candidacy.

Not sure the singers are performing their hit "WAP" on the Grammy stage at prime time, her lyrics literally dripping with the most explicit sexual metaphors.

Taylor Swift, Roddy Ricch, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Post Malone and DaBaby will be at the rendezvous, as will the South Korean idols of BTS, selected in the pop category.

The ceremony, hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, begins Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Los Angeles time (01:00 GMT Monday).

© 2021 AFP