After a pandemic delay of over two months, the 2022 Grammys finally arrived on Sunday night. Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the first time, the show provided a return to normalcy after a scaled-down ceremony in 2021 that was held partially outdoors. The awards featured a variety of stars from across music, tv and movies, with performances from some of the most popular artists of today. If you weren’t able to watch, don’t worry. VALLEY has our picks for the top performances of the night.
BTS – “Butter”
First, we had to start with everyone’s favorite K-pop superstar group, BTS. The group charmed the crowd with their cheerful performance of hit single “Butter.” At the beginning of their performance, each member was spread out onstage and in the audience (even rappelling down from the ceiling) to kick off the song. They glided across the stage in matching tuxedos and showed off their impressive dance moves as they paid homage to several heist films including “Oceans Eleven” and “Mission: Impossible.”
Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever”
Billie Eilish’s performance of the title track from her second album did not disappoint. The star started off solo during the intro but was joined later by her brother/co-writer/producer Finneas — who was also nominated for his own award last night — for the song’s rock-based bridge. In the middle of the performance, water dramatically came pouring down from the ceiling to mimic the music video’s flooded house and rain-soaked finish. Another highlight of her performance was her T-shirt tribute to the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, which added an extra level of poignancy to an already intense moment.
Olivia Rodrigo – “Drivers License”
The 19-year-old breakout star solidified her superstar status during her performance of one of the biggest songs of the past year. Backed by an all-female band, the star performed her heartbreaking ballad “Drivers License” with a vivid suburban backdrop and a Mercedes on stage. Replicating the purple hues of her music video, the star showcased why this song has been on our minds all year long. The simple performance truly allowed Rodrigo to shine, reminding viewers why she deserved the best new artist award.
Jon Batiste – “Freedom”
If you weren’t a fan of Batiste before the Grammys, you’re definitely a fan after his high-energy performance of the hit song “Freedom.” The jazz/R&B singer delivered an eye-catching performance with expert choreography, a lively second-line style parade and shirtless men painted in gold. Batiste brought the bright color palette and high-stepping moves of his music video and even led his crew into the audience and danced his way onto Billie Eilish’s table. It’s safe to say that the Garden Arena was on its feet by the end of the song.
Silk Sonic – “777”
The R&B duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak appropriately opened the show with their hit song “777” which features an ode to sin city itself. The performance was everything you can love about the duo. It was high-energy, visually stunning and as funky as you would expect from Mars and .Paak. While it may seem easy to go too far with a Vegas-themed performance, Silk Sonic brought the party theatrics in their signature style. Their sleek white ’70’s inspired jumpsuits also highlighted the vibe of their award-winning album.
Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler – “In Memoriam”
These four artists put on an elegant and heartwarming performance as they sang a medley of songs by the late Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, who died last November. The quartet harmonized perfectly as they each took one of Sondheim’s classic hits. Platt sang “Not a Day Goes By” and Erivo and Odom Jr. sang “Send in the Clowns” before all joining together with Zegler for a rendition of “Somewhere.” It was the perfect performance for an intense and heartfelt moment.
There were a lot of other stand-out performances from the night that we had to mention. Winner of best country album Chris Stapleton put on a stellar vocal and guitar performance of his song ‘Cold.’ Nas performed a career-spanning medley of his greatest hits. Lady Gaga showcased an ode to jazz — and her longtime friend Tony Bennet — with ‘Love For Sale’ followed by a rendition of Cole Porter’s ‘Do I Love You.’ Finally, Oscar- and Grammy-winning star H.E.R performed a rousing medley of songs with special guests Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Travis Barker and Lenny Kravitz.
What was your favorite performance from the 2022 Grammys? Tweet us @VALLEYMag and let us know who was the best artist of the night.
