YouTube link to Amy Winehouse’s performance…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR0WZY2NHhQ
“Winehouse & Various Artists Rock the Grammys”

Amy Winehouse set the Grammy Awards ablaze as she took to the stage – more accurately to the studio – in London in a black cocktail dress and a few strategically placed flowers. Shouting “My Blake!’ during a big band rendition of “You Know I’m No Good,” the songbird showed no signs of illness as she continued through her concert and finished up with� the show-stopper “Rehab,” which awarded her the Record of the Year. “For my Blake incarcerated,” Winehouse dedicated in her acceptance speech after giving both a band member and her parents a squeeze. “And for London. This is for London!”

MTV.com reports that Rapper Kanye West - who was a multiple Grammy winner even before the televised ceremony kicked off - � kept the party goin’ with a Martian inspired backdrop and a flashing LED light jacket. Performances included “Stronger” which was named Best Rap Solo Performance, and the heartbreaker “Hey Mama,” a tribute� to his mother Dr. Donda West who sadly departed last year. Kanye walked away with Best Rap Album, to which he stated “It definitely feels good to be home at the Grammys…a lot of people said hip-hop was dead…a lot of people said the art form wasn’t poppin’ like that anymore. I wanted to cross the genres and show people how we can still express ourselves with something fresh and new…” After telling Amy Winehouse that they both deserved Album of the Year, he concluded by mentioning his mother: “I appreciate everything, and I know you’re really proud of me right now. And I know you wouldn’t want me to stop and you want me to be the number-one artist in the world. And mama, all I’m going to do is keep making you proud.”

Cirque du Soleil’s Las Vegas Fab Four� performed a homage to the Beatles, with the tunes “A Day in the Life,” “Love,” and “Let it Be.” Drummer Ringo Starr as well as John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, were among the audience members.

Singer Rihanna - who took home Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Umbrella” – was joined by 80’s funk group the Time. A bit of soul was mixed into the trendsetter’s “Don’t Stop the Music” and eventually morphed into the aforementioned band’s “Jungle Love.”

Unfortunately Fergie sounded � a bit flat while belting her hit “Finally.” Luckily, Beyonce and soul/R&B icon Tina Turner left the crowd breathless with their duet which included “Better Be Good to Me” and “Proud Mary.”

The Foo Fighters won Best Rock Album and performed “The Pretender” outside of the Los Angeles’ Staples Center.

Alicia Keys sang “Learning the Blues” as a virtual duet with Frank Sinatra, as well as taking to her piano to play “No One,” which won her Female R&B Vocal Performance.

American Idol star Carrie Underwood worked her way through “Before he Cheats” alongside a Blue Man Group-like ensemble of dancers/percussionists. She was awarded in the categories of Female Country Vocal Performance, and Country Song; both for the previously mentioned tune.

Although there were far too many winners to name, the following artists took home the gold…

Besides receiving Record of the Year, Amy Winehouse was crowned best New Artist and won Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Rehab” as well as Pop Vocal Album for Back to Black.

Justin Timberlake – Male Pop Vocal Performance: “What Goes Round…Comes Around,” Dance Recording: “LoveStoned/I Think She Knows,” featuring Nate (Danja) Hills and Timbaland

Prince – Male R&B Vocal Performance: “Future Baby Mama”

Maroon 5 – Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: “Makes Me Wonder”

Beastie Boys – Pop Instrumental Album: “The Mix-Up”

Joni Mitchell – Pop Instrumental Performance: “One Week Last Summer”

Bruce Springsteen – Rock Song: “Radio Nowhere”

The White Stripes – Alternative Music Album & Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for “Icky Thump”

~Carolyn French~