Reported Live from the Grammys
by Phyllis Pollack
The winner of the 55th Annual Grammy Awards category for the Song Of The Year went to the group fun.
It beat out popular songs "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran, "Adorn" by Miguel, "Call Me Maybe."
The category of Song of the Year in the 55th Annual Grammy Awards was awarded to "We Are Young" by fun. The song features Janelle Monae.
The track is from the band's sophomore album Some Nights.
"I didn't think we were going to win this one," fun. lead singer Nate Ruess said.
He joked about about the song's title, saying "We're old."
Backstage, Ruess stated, "Winning the award is great, but when we started it, we did it with the belief that people would only hear us as from a live standpoint."
As far as the indie band's two Grammy wins, band member Andrew Dost commented, "Yeah, it's something you grow up thinking about and keep dreaming about. And then after years and years of touring, you start to think like, 'This is cool.' But that's a different world that we'll never be a part of."
"So for us to be here tonight, and to take a couple home is a very special, incredible feeling," he acknowledged.
"Seriously. This is crazy. We stand here, and our shoulders feel a lot looser, and we feel kind of get to laugh about the whole situation," stated Ruess.
"And the truth is seriously, we're sad, pathetic, and we're going to end up in each other's rooms, just like piching each other, like I can't believe what just happened," he said of the group's two Grammy nods. "And so we're going to try and play it cool in the meantime, and I'm excited for tomorrow morning."
"You know, there's parties tonight and things like that, but we're all excited. We're going to meet on like a basketball court or something," Ruess said.
fun.'s guitarist Jack Antonoff had a different perspective. "We've been at this for so long, and we've been doing this for twelve years. We've seen every side of this industry. And played shows with zero people that no one would buy our albums."
He explained, "These moments, whether it's drawing big crowds or winning a Grammy, they're all, everything's a culmination of what we've been through. And it's amazing to live in that time period, and for this band to bubble up."
Antonoff then lifted his Grammy and said, "This is the icing on that cake."
Referring to the band's performance at the President's Inaugural Celebration in mid-Jamuary, he added, "When you grow up and you want to play music, and you have dreams, you don't dream about playing for the President. You dream about having a Grammy."
"You dream about having a platinum album, you dream about playing your music for fans. So that was the first experience we've had that was outside of the universe of music dreams. And it was a really funny one, because we were just like, it wasn't even in the cards. So I would say that playing the Inauguration opened up the door that truly anything is possible," he contended.
"And if we played in space tomorrow, I don't know," he said, throwing his left hand up in the air.
Ruess then pulled over the mic, and responded, "I was just thinking about the on the moon idea. I think we could make it happen."
He also commented on the Ally Coalition, an organization co-formed with designer Rachel Araonoff last October to support LGBTQ rights.
Reuss said of the the Ally Coalition, "It's interesting because I guess we could just sit back and not say anything, but we've made a conscious effort to speak out for equal rights."
Aranoff then took the mic back to add, "Also, it's been an amazing year for music. And music is culture."
"It's also been an amazing year for gay rights. It's been an amazing year for women's rights," he pointed out.
Alluding to the Presidential election, Aranoff noted, "It's easy to forget that we could have been in a situation a couple months ago that was very different."
The blatant anti-LGBT and misogynistic stance of candidates Mitt Romney Paul Ryan were not lost on fun., who were openly staunch opponents against them.
As far as speaking out, Aranoff said, "I think that is the job of artists to speak up."
"We're supposed to be the ones thinking of the future," he stated. "We're supposed to be the ones that give a shit, and who are the opposite of the oppressors and it feels like part of the job."
fun.'s Grammy win for Song Of The Year beat out Ed Sheeran's "The A Team," "Adorn" by Miguel, Carly Rae Jepson's "Call Me Maybe" and Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill Me)."
The group had six nominations. They also took home the award for Best New Artist.
The song's featured artist Janelle Monae had two nominations in last year's 54th Grammy Awards. A protegee of Sean "Diddy" Combs, The Bad Boy Records recording artist was a contender in the category of Best R&B Album for her disc The ArchAndroid, and for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for her single "Tightrope."
Following the Song of the Year award, Hunter Hayes introduced Carrie Underwood, who impressed the crowed by belting out a medley that included a hard as nails version of her Grammy-winning hit "Blown Away" and "Two Black Cadillacs."
The Grammy Awards are sponsored by The Recording Academy. Formed in 1957, the Academy is an organization comprised of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals, which is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers.
Internationally known for the Grammy Awards, the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music, The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs.
The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers.
The Academy also includes in its mission the goal of ensuring music that remains an indelible part of American culture, through its many initiatives that support education. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.
For Grammy coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.
For breaking news on the upcoming 55th Annual Grammy Awards and exclusive content, follow @TheGrammys on Twitter, like "The Grammys" on Facebook, and join The Grammys' social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram.
The Grammys will also be supported on radio worldwide via Dial Global, and covered online at Grammy.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube.
For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGrammys on Twitter, like "The Grammys" on Facebook, and join The Grammys' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
For the first time ever, the Pre-Telecast Ceremony for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards will be streamed live worldwide at Grammy.com/live and online at CBS.com. Historically, this also will mark the first time that the pre-telecast is being held held at the Nokia Theater.
The televised portion of the music industry's “Biggest Night of the Year” will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 10, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. It will be broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
Phyllis Pollack is reporting live from the Grammys.
Follow Phyllis on Twitter.
Comments