Grammy Awards 2013
While the Grammy's are hardly, and quite frankly have never been, a true indicator of musical quality - they are none the less one of the longest running self congratulatory institution on the biggest possible worldwide stage that music has.
Even rarer is for someone from outside of the "Big 2" (UK and USA) to take home any awards, even rarer than that - someone winning awards who is operating on the outer rim of the studio system. After all, Awards Ceremonies are simply a way to advertise and boost sales of records. To think otherwise would be like believing that the greatest athletes and moments in sport weren't in some way affected by drug use or the organised crime betting schemes.
None the less, sometimes credit is given where credit is due - and no more so than seeing our very own Wally DeBacker (aka Gotye) taking out a whopping three Grammy Awards this week thanks to the breakout smash hit "Somebody That I Used To Know".
Now, the cynical folks of the world might suggest that in a category in which a band called Fun (who no one will know of within 5 years), Kelly Clarkson and meme generator Carly Rae is hardly representative of the BEST of the year... but to be considered is at least something.
The surprises were few and far between this time around. Gotye, obviously, had to win something for his huge success. Mumford & Sons were always destined to take out an award after becoming "mainstream indie" darlings, while Adele, The Black Keys and Frank Ocean all rounded out a year of predictable and not so predictable pop.
We've got the full list of winners, congratulations to all, check out below to see if any of your favourites crossed the line into certified glory!
Record of the Year: "Somebody That I Used to Know," Gotye feat. Kimbra
Album of the Year: Babel, Mumford & Sons
Song of the Year: "We Are Young," (Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost and Nate Reuss, songwriters (Fun. feat. Janelle Monae)
Best New Artist: Fun.
Best Pop Solo Performance: "Set Fire to the Rain" (Live), Adele
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: "Somebody That I Used to Know," Gotye feat. Kimbra
Best Pop Vocal Album: Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
Best Dance/Electronica Album: Bangarang, Skrillex
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Kisses on the Bottom, Paul McCartney
Best Rock Performance: "Lonely Boy," Black Keys
Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance: "Love Bites (So Do I)," Halestorm
Best Rock Song: "Lonely Boy," Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton and Patrick Carney (Black Keys)
Best Rock Album: El Camino, Black Keys
Best Alternative Music Album: Making Mirrors, Gotye
Best R&B Performance: "Climax," Usher
Best Traditional R&B Performance: "Love on Top," Beyoncé
Best R&B Song: "Adorn," Miguel
Best Urban Contemporary Album: Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
Best R&B Album: Black Radio, Robert Glasper Experiment
Best Rap Performance: "N****s in Paris," Jay-Z and Kanye West
Best Rap Song: "N****s in Paris," Jay-Z and Kanye West
Best Rap Album: Take Care, Drake
Best Country Solo Performance: "Blown Away," Carrie Underwood
Best Country Album: Uncaged, Zac Brown Band
Best Blues Album: Locked Down, Dr. John
Best Reggae Album: Rebirth, Jimmy Cliff
Best Comedy Album: Blow Your Pants Off, Jimmy Fallon
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Best Historical Album: The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Boxed Set), Beach Boys
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Dan Auerbach
