Every year, the Grammy Awards bring artists from all over the world to one ceremony to celebrate music excellence. This year marked the 68th ceremony honoring artists across various genres, while also highlighting the Big Four awards: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Among those categories, Bad Bunny won Album of the Year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” Kendrick Lamar and SZA earned Record of the Year for “Luther,” Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for “Wildflower,” and Olivia Dean received Best New Artist. While everyone at the event celebrated the accomplishments of these artists, listeners argued about what makes a song worthy of recognition.
“I think both [popularity and depth] kind of fall into it, but some people don’t get the meanings of songs,” sophomore Maria Cain said. “So I guess popularity falls more into that concept.”
Beyond the winner, the Grammys can alter listeners’ views of the artists, but they can also influence what they listen to.
“It depends on who they are, what their music is like, or what their content is, and if I’ve really heard of them, but more often than not, no, I like what I like,” junior Zachary Moore said.
However, some wins carry more weight than just the music; it is the cultural impact. Bad Bunny made history as he is the first artist to receive Album of the Year with an album predominantly in Spanish. His win is a breakthrough for the Latino community, representing their culture and influence.
“Bad Bunny representing America and [that] everybody is equal is a strong message to the world,” Cain said.
With all that being said, the Grammys remain one of the most important events in the music industry, highlighting talent and creativity across the globe. They showcase the influence to connect and influence audiences everywhere.
