Nada Loves the Grammys? Surprise Wins for Arcade Fire & Black Keys
Arcade Fire Wins Album of the Year Grammy
By Ben Allen
At the beginning of December, I wrote about Arcade Fire’s Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. At the time it seemed like a long-shot, and a huge deal that the influential Canadian group had even been nominated. The possibility of a band I like winning this award seemed farfetched and highly unlikely.
Well, last night, Arcade Fire won Album of the Year at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, ousting Lady Gaga for The Fame Monster,
Eminem for Recovery, Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, and Lady Antebellum’s
Need You Now.
Lead vocalist Win Butler’s first comment upon arriving at the podium was, “what the hell?
This summarized the Arcade Fire’s and many viewer’s surprise at their win. Butler continued, “we’re going to play another song because we like music.” The band returned to the stage and ripped through “Ready to Start” the third single off The Suburbs.
Arcade Fire were nominated for two other Grammys, neither of which were part of the telecast, and they lost both. Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals both went to The Black Keys, whose album Brothers was #1 on our list.