Musicians join forces at award show
The 2012 Grammys provided some eclectic musical performances this year, pairing past performers with contemporary artists.
In their first performance together in over 20 years, the last surviving Beach Boys’ co-founders Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine performed at the Grammys with newer members Bruce Johnston and David Marks. The band put on a lively performance of “Good Vibrations” surrounded onstage by surfboards and large video screens showing colorful psychedelic patterns. The Beach Boys were introduced by a couple of contemporary bands. Indie rock trio Foster the People did a rendition of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” and pop rockers Maroon 5 covered “Surfer Girl.”
Chris Brown, David Guetta, Lil Wayne, Foo Fighters and Deadmau5 came together in a tribute to electronic dance music. Chris Brown led the way singing “I Can Only Imagine,” while David Guetta jumped behind the turntables. Lil Wayne rapped his verse of the duet. After the song was finished, the Foo Fighters emerged to perform their hit single “Rope,” which then transitioned into Deadmau5’s electronic glow-in-the-dark set.
Pop reggae artist Rihanna gave a high energy performance of her Calvin Harris produced hit, “We Found Love;” after, she was joined by Coldplay’s Chris Martin for a much more subdued performance of “Princess of China.” The full British pop rock band then came onstage to play “Paradise.”
R&B singer Alicia Keys and bluesy Bonnie Raitt joined forces to honor the late Etta James with their rendition of “Sunday Kind of Love.” The pair performed with only a keyboard and guitar backing their vocals. Glen Campbell was joined onstage by Blake Shelton and The Band Perry for what may have been one of his last televised performances. Other acts included Tony Bennet and Carrie Underwood, who performed “It Had To Be You” and Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean who performed their duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”
