everyone sings well, everyone sings differently and they don’t abuse autotune

The first thing that surprises about the Grammy Awards ceremony, at least for an Argentine, is that the gala It was announced for 9 p.m. and it started at 9 p.m., not a minute more nor a minute less. And despite the fact that there are more than 5,000 guests, that there is a prior delivery and a red carpet that lasts more than two hours, it has to start at 9 p.m. and it does.

So, they don’t care that the presenter passes by the table shared by Ed Sheeran and producer Mark Ronson and tells them that Meryl Streep (Ronson’s mother-in-law) is missing there, because the most awarded actress at the Oscars appears running As the situation unfolds on air, he waves and sits down. All in front of the viewers’ eyes.

The same thing happens when the presenter Trevor Noah It shows the celebrities who are sitting at each table. Behind him passes Taylor Swift who, no matter how hard she tries, it is not easy for her to go unnoticed, especially in a place full of music figures.

Noah warns her and although he does not challenge her – it would be too much -, He jokes that in his wake the economies are reactivated and everyone is getting richer.. Taylor sits close to an icon like Lionel Ritchie and the presenter takes the opportunity to joke and say that the singer and composer (along with Michael Jackson) of We are the World now he is “richer.”

Everyone understand: this has to start at 9 p.m. and if you are not sitting in your places at that time, stick to the consequences, or the jokes.

The other thing that draws attention is the level of each setting. It has nothing to do with a question of budget – which is a lot – or production – which is enormous. The commitment that the artists took is clearly evident. that they are going to do a live performance (yes, live, even if there are pre-recorded choirs). Whatever generation they are, they sing well, very well. And it’s easier to understand why they are where they are and why they are as successful as they are.

Starts Dua Lipa, they put her on a stage where one fears she will be thrown into the air, and she sings well. She appears Billie Eilish (eh, two minutes before she was sitting at her table) and she sings well. Miley Cyrus wins her first Grammy, after that it’s her turn to act, and she sings well. The same Olivia Rodrigo: sings well. All with different productions and songs (we go from Billie’s intimacy to Miley’s exuberance). Each one has her style. And no autotune.

What do we talk about when we talk about autotune? Of that vocal effect so fashionable in trap, reggaeton and current urban music, which matches the voices until making them similar and hides any type of out of tunebecause that is the effect that autotune seeks, to alter the voices in a robotic way, making it difficult to understand who sings well and who sings badly.

And at the Grammys, those from previous generations also sing well. Happens Tracy Chapman in his duet with Luke Coms and sings well. Goes up Stevie Wonder and stars in another duet, this time with the deceased Tony Bennett from the screen (yes, they both sing well). Happens Bono with U2. Annie Lennox It shakes us with the memory of Sinead O’Connor and Nothing Compare 2 You (Prince’s song). And till Travis Scott, a rapper who sets the stage on fire -and does not abuse autotune-. Comes back Billy Joel. Goes up Joni Mitchell, we are stunned. They all sing well.

A couple more facts to take into account in this ceremony that brings together the best and most successful in the music industry.

A kind of fair play. Win or lose, you’ll put on your best face for the camera, even if you’re frustrated inside. You will also celebrate each other’s songs: Taylor Swift, the big winner of the night, stands on the other artists’ songs, sings them, dances to them.

And she is not the only one, there are many who do the same: it seems that they have listened to and learned the topics of others. And they even seem to enjoy them.

The Grammys, as we said, the most important award in the music industry, also Link with the other big legs of the show. We already talked about Meryl Streep’s presence at the ceremony, without a doubt the female face of the Oscars (they are delivered on March 10 and televised by the same network that gave the Grammys).

It must also be said that Ophra Winfreythe queen of American television, was an important part of the Grammys, she presented the tribute to her late friend Tina Turner and, like the rest of the artists, she sang each other’s songs out loud all night.

It is unfair to compare such a production – worth millions of dollars – with Argentine celebrations such as the Gardel Awards or the Martín Fierro Awards. They are other budgets, other productions, other leagues.

But you can take some guidelines to repeat later: pay attention to the rest of the artists, smile even when you get lost, be punctual and respectful of the show. And why not sing well and not abuse autotune.