I’ve confirmed that Beyonce and Jay Z will open Sunday night”s Grammy show. Their song will be their duet from Beyonce’s surprise album, “Drunk in Love.” Beyonce once opened the Grammys with Prince. She knows how to start a show. That should be something.
The Grammys are otherwise star-packed with lots of hit singers. The only person really missing will be Justin Timberlake, who was mysteriously overlooked in the main categories despite having the best selling album of the year.
Still, the show should be hot, with a big focus on the Beatles. Particularly exciting will be Daft Punk with Stevie Wonder and Nile Rodgers, the man who gave “Get Lucky” its personality this summer. Rogers and Daft Punk will also play later at the Warner Music shindig.
There are almost too many pre-Grammy events to cover in one gulp. Last night Billboard magazine gave its third annual Power 100 party. Their Power 100 list put Jay Z and Beyonce at number 1, but they didn’t show up. Lots of execs did, however, including the famed Joe Smith who received the Clive Davis Visionary Award. Smith is a beloved longtime record guy who’s worked with everyone and launched lots of hits. He said of his award, “Clive Davis’s name is on everything except Plymouth Rock.” That got a lot of warm laughs.
Highlight of the evening at the Emerson nightclub in Hollywood: performances by the stars of “20 Feet to Stardom.” Steve Mc Queen, Oscar nominated director of “12 Years a Slave,” introduced Darlene Love. Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Tata Vega, and Judith Hill. They each sang their guts and hearts out. Merry Clayton peeled the paper off the walls with “Gimme Shelter.” McQueen, who rarely shows much emotion, was over the moon for all of them.
Best line of the night came from Janice Min, editorial director now of both Billboard and THR. She said, “I can’t believe how many parties you people in the music business have!” So true.
