Social media storm as fun-loving Bruno Mars sweeps the Grammys and splits opinions on the awards
Rap and hip-hop may have dominated the nominations, but R&B star Mars beat Jay-Z, Kesha, Kendrick Lamar and Despacito to take home seven awards, sparking a debate over whether he represented the music industry in 2017
After a tumultuous political year, the Grammys took a stand for the rights of women and immigrants – but the top awards went to a singer whose mind is on sex, booze and parties.
The surprise sweep by Bruno Mars has renewed criticism in quarters that the music industry’s premier prizes are out of touch with the wider world, but for fans of the retro R&B and funk star, he is an undisputed talent who provides exactly the type of joy the world needs right now.
The Recording Academy, the group of 13,000 professionals who vote for the awards, had seemed set to change the narrative this year, with hip-hop for the first time dominating the nominations.
But rap mogul Jay-Z, who led with eight nominations, left New York’s Madison Square Garden empty-handed. Kendrick Lamar, who has given musical voice to the Black Lives Matter movement, for the second time swept the rap awards but was shut out in the general categories.