The #GRAMMYs were on Sunday, and despite them being incredibly boring (yet still having some amazing collaborations), one moment has seemed to make the most waves following the awards show. Kanye West, in a scene akin to his infamous 2009 MTV VMA mike grab, stormed the stage after Beck won the award for Album of the Year.
Was he just making a joke about his snafu from 6 years ago? Was he showing the world that the new Yeezus is a kinder, more laid-back individual? By the end of the broadcast, it certainly seemed so.
However, if you're a pop culture enthusiast, as I am, you probably popped on over to E! Network to watch the after show. And if you did, you realized that old Kanye was still here, perhaps even more opinionated than before. West began criticizing Beck for winning the award over Beyoncé, saying he needed to "respect artistry" and that he should hand his golden gramophone over to Queen Bey herself.
Below is a list of reactions spurred by Ye's actions. Just wait until you hear Beck's.
1. Beyoncé & Jay-Z look horrified
As Kanye made his way up to the stage, the looks on the "Drunk in Love" couple's faces were priceless.
2. Social Media: "It's a race issue"
A lot of people took Kanye's criticism's to be a jab at the GRAMMY association, and the lack of black winners/nominees. But when Sam Smith wins everything, how can there be diversity? In all seriousness, I think the comments were geared less towards Beck and more towards the GRAMMYs as a whole. But only West can tell us for sure.
3. Taylor Swift - did they make up too soon?
The "Style" singer was seen making up with Yeezy during the middle of the show. Little did she know, he was about to target another celeb in Beyoncé's defense.
4. The classiest of all: Beck's response
When speaking to Us Weekly the day after the broadcast, Beck agreed that he thought Beyoncé was going to win the award. But instead of bashing West's artistry, he shared his respect for the "Only One" singer.
"I was just so excited he was coming up," Beck told US Weekly. "He deserves to be on stage as much as anybody. How many great records has he put out in the last five years right?"
And when asked about the "true artistry comment, Beck said, "You can't please everybody, man. I still love him and think he's genius. I aspire to do what he does."
An all around class act from a guy whose first Album of the Year Grammy was marred with controversy.
"I was just so excited he was coming up," Beck told US Weekly. "He deserves to be on stage as much as anybody. How many great records has he put out in the last five years right?"
And when asked about the "true artistry comment, Beck said, "You can't please everybody, man. I still love him and think he's genius. I aspire to do what he does."
An all around class act from a guy whose first Album of the Year Grammy was marred with controversy.
My reaction
Not to compare myself to Kanye, but I personally was looking for Beyoncé to win Album of the Year. I remember when I first found out about the album and its secret release. I went through the videos, and although I didn't like every song, I remember thinking that it was so interesting how a huge artist such as the Queen herself could keep such a production hidden. I also remember reading up on the fact that she hired mainly female workers to help her with the album: producers, videographers, editors, etc. I thought that was the coolest part.
But I'm not ashamed to admit that I wasn't well enough informed on all the nominees to form an unbiased opinion. I think the people who are having an issue have to look at the people who vote on the awards. According to the GRAMMY website:
But I'm not ashamed to admit that I wasn't well enough informed on all the nominees to form an unbiased opinion. I think the people who are having an issue have to look at the people who vote on the awards. According to the GRAMMY website:
Recording Academy Voting Members are professionals with creative or technical credits on at least six commercially released tracks (or their equivalent). These may include vocalists, conductors, songwriters, composers, engineers, producers, instrumentalists, arrangers, art directors, album notes writers, narrators, and music video artists and technicians.
So, people that know more about the music industry than us sitting at home.
I think my final words on the subject are congrats to Beck, good luck to Kim K-West, and someone tell Jay-Z that Kanye's in love with his wife. That is all.