[imagesource:twitter]

On Sunday night, the 66th annual Grammys filled up with music’s most prominent artists, including South African singer Tyla, who won big time, and everyone’s favourite comedian host, Trevor Noah – among others.

We’re taking this rare moment to relish in Saffa pride, alright?

We’re also doing our classic round-up of all the best and worst moments from the award show, including Tyla honouring SA in her acceptance speech, Trevor Noah’s hilarious (and well-received) jokes about Taylor Swift, Jay-Z’s little tut-tut-tut at the awards show, and someone named Killer Mike getting arrested backstage after receiving three awards.

History has revealed that laying into Taylor Swift can land you in the cancelled celeb bin pretty fast, so it’s risky business telling any kind of Swift joke. However, if there is anyone who can and should, it’s our boy Trevor Noah.

Previously, in the Golden Globes, the host Jo Koy was spit-roasted for telling that now-infamous joke about the massive musician. “The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? At the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift,” the comedian said. The camera cut to Taylor, who looked less than amused. Consequently, a huge social media storm was sparked, with people arguing over the merit of the joke, her reaction, and his comedic skills, noted BuzzFeed.

Even after all the blowback Jo received, Trevor was brave enough to attempt a Swift joke. He actually made several Swift jokes, and amazingly, they were all well-received with Taylor even cracking up herself.

‘As Taylor Swift moves through the room, the local economy around those tables improves’ — Trevor Noah cracked a joke about Taylor Swift’s power as she made one grand entrance into the Grammys pic.twitter.com/EF0v6f3odj

— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) February 5, 2024

The comedian went further, showing Jo how to make a joke about the NFL, too:

TAYLOR SWIFT LAUGHING AT A *GOOD* NFL JOKE pic.twitter.com/qwX7mZJxY3

— banjo (@flamingpuddle) February 5, 2024

Jee, look at that – a host making a respectful joke about Taylor without hating on her. Looks like it can be done.

Moving on to Tyla, who won the Best African Music Performance Grammy for her song ‘Water’, the weight of which was still settling in for the singer, per Rolling Stone:

“That award is so heavy,” she said. “I didn’t think it was that heavy.”

She then spoke about the role that her home country of South Africa plays in her music.

“It’s everything,” she said. “Even my performances, my dancing, even in interviews, I’m speaking how I speak at home. I’m not trying to change anything. I just want people to see authentically who I am, where I’m from, experience the culture and the energy that people always love about South Africans.”

Local radio presenter Dan Corder celebrates:

TYLA WINS GRAMMY AT 22 AND MAKES HISTORY pic.twitter.com/XztWZVrW4r

— Dan Corder 5FM Breakfast | The Issue (@DanCorderOnAir) February 5, 2024

Then, seeing Tracy Chapman’s duet with Luke Combs on ‘Fast Car’, which he drove up the charts 35 years after Chapman first released it, is also what the Grammys is all about:

Tracy Chapman, who has not performed in public in years, performs “Fast Car” with Luke Combs at the #Grammys: pic.twitter.com/VJg3knUYuV

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 5, 2024

Miley Cyrus won her first Grammy – Best Pop Vocal Performance for her earworm ‘Flowers’ – and seemed equally excited about receiving the award from Mariah Carey, inviting the MC to stand next to her as she delivered her speech, per Entertainment Weekly:

“This MC is gonna stand for this MC” Miley Cyrus & Mariah Carey is the duo we didn’t know we needed!! #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/by4hw9EGn3

— ꠹ꪮꪀꪖᦓ ✬ (@cinnamongerru) February 5, 2024

Dua Lipa performed an elaborate production of her song ‘Houdini’, which the magician himself could never do, along with a performance of her unreleased song ‘Training Season’. People are calling her an out-of-body experience:

dua lipa performs unreleased song “training season” at the #GRAMMYs. pic.twitter.com/kxaCiJsz3x

— songs that changed history (@iconiksongs) February 5, 2024

Excuse you all, why did it take more than 50 years for Joni Mitchell to sing at the Grammys? At 80, Mitchell lost none of her power to transfix as a singer, stepping up to make her first – and possibly last – performance at the Grammys:

What I’ve been waiting for, Joni Mitchell’s magical performance of “Clouds” at #grammys after near-fatal aneurysm in which she had to re-learn how to speak and sing. A remarkable performance sample of resilience, creativity & the human spirit. Left me in tears. pic.twitter.com/uwJpmtM64G

— Paul Grondahl (@PaulGrondahl) February 5, 2024

The always soulful Annie Lennox brought the necessary gravitas for the In Memoriam segment, performing ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ by the late Sinéad O’Connor, after which she called for a ceasefire in Gaza:

I think our very own Annie Lennox was the only artist at the Grammys to call for a ceasefire after her performance of “Nothing Compares to You”

pic.twitter.com/tM3fOQOAtW

— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) February 5, 2024

Then, when Jay-Z stepped up with his daughter Blue Ivy Carter to receive the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, the rapper slammed the award ceremony a little:

JAY-Z’S FULL GRAMMY SPEECH WITH BLUE IVY: MUST WATCH❤️‍ pic.twitter.com/IeprKaM1jg

— (@beyoncegarden) February 5, 2024

Talking smack about the Grammys while at the Grammys with a Grammy in your hand? Whew, child! Talk about taking them to task.

Lastly, Killer Mike was arrested and booked for “misdemeanour battery” after an alleged physical altercation backstage…just after he won three awards including his first in more than two decades.

The 48-year-old rapper, real name Michael Render, was handcuffed and escorted out by Los Angeles police at Crypto Arena. The Guardian notes it came just after some joyous moments for him at the Grammy premiere ceremony, where he won three awards in quick succession: best rap album for his album Michael, and best rap song and best rap performance for his track ‘Scientists and Engineers’ featuring Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane.

What a shame.

Besides that, between Trevor and Tyla, Joni and Tracy, this year ranks as one of the best Grammy ceremonies ever.

[sources:ew&rollingstone]