What did it say about the 58th Grammy Awards that among the liveliest moments in the show were a tribute to the late B.B. King, a number from a Broadway musical and — oh, yes — a celebration of the music of Lionel Richie?
Nothing good, that’s for sure.
The Grammys have long been known for favoring veterans over newcomers when it comes to handing out trophies. As we’ve seen with the Academy Awards, that’s an institutional hazard facing any show-business organization filled with the folks who made our memories.
Grammys 2016: Full coverage | Best and worst dressed | Red carpet | Show highlights | Nominees and winners | Top nominees
1/57
A look at the show highlights from the 2016 Grammys. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS;Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS; Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
2/57
Taylor Swift accepts the award for album of the year for “1989.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/Associated Press)
3/57
Philip Bailey, from left, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson of Earth Wind & Fire present the award for album of the year. (Matt Sayles / Invision/Associated Press)
4/57
Pitbull performs “Taxi” with actress Sofia Vergara dancing to close out the show. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
5/57
Pitbull performs “Taxi.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
6/57
Mark Ronson accepts the award for the record of the year, for “Uptown Funk,” with Bruno Mars, center. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
7/57
Bruno Mars holds up the award for record of the year for “Uptown Funk” as he thanks the fans. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
8/57
Beyonce presents the final award of the night, record of the year. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
9/57
Lady Gaga pays tribute to David Bowie by singing through nearly half a dozen of his songs, including “Ziggy Stardust,” “Fashion” and “Heroes.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
10/57
Lady Gaga pays tribute to David Bowie by singing nearly half a dozen of his songs, including “Space Oddity,” “Rebel Rebel” and “Under Pressure.”
(Robyn Becl / AFP/Getty Images)
11/57
A teary Meghan Trainor recieves the award for best new artist. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
12/57
Sam Smith presents the award for best new artist onstage. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
13/57
Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
14/57
Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
15/57
Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
16/57
Musician Dave Grohl takes the stage. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
17/57
Alice Cooper, left, and Joe Perry of Hollywood Vampires perform songs including “As Bad As I Am” and “Ace of Spades.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
18/57
Johnny Deppy performs onstage with Hollywood Vampires. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
19/57
Kaley Cuoco introduces Justin Bieber and Jack U. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
20/57
Justin Bieber performs “Love Yourself” and “Where Are U Now” onstage with Jack U. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
21/57
Skrillex of Jack U performs onstage with Justin Bieber. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
22/57
Adele takes the stage with a performance of her song “All I Ask.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
23/57
Don Cheadle introduces a performance by Kendrick Lamar. (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
24/57
Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes accepts the award for rock performance for “Don’t Wanna Fight.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
25/57
Bruno Mars hits the stage. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
26/57
Twelve-year-old jazz pianist Joey Alexander smiles as the audience cheers after his performance. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
27/57
Singer Tori Kelly sings a rendition of her song “Hollow” with James Bay. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
28/57
Tori Kelly, left, and James Bay embrace after perfoming a rendition of their songs “Hollow” and “Let It Go.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
29/57
Miguel performs the song “Off the Wall” onstage. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
30/57
Ed Sheeran recieves the award for song of the year, “Thinking Out Loud.” (Robyn Beck/ AFP / Getty Images)
31/57
Stevie Wonder, center, and Mitch Grassing, left, Kristin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix present the award for song of the year. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
32/57
Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes offers up a powerful performance with the song “Don’t Wanna Fight.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
33/57
Actor-filmmaker Seth MacFarlane speaks onstage. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
34/57
The Eagles perform onstage in a tribute to the late Glenn Frey. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
35/57
The Eagles perform onstage in a tribute to the late Glenn Frey. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
36/57
tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Richie. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
37/57
during a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
38/57
tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)
39/57
Demi Lovato sings “Hello” for a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
40/57
John Legend performs “East” for a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
41/57
LL Cool J, left, and James Corden introduce a tribute to Lionel Richie. (Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press)
42/57
Little Big Town performs the song “Girl Crush.” (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
43/57
Chris Stapleton receives the Grammy country album for “Traveller” onstage. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
44/57
Singer Andra Day, right, and Ellie Goulding team up to sing “Rise Up” and “Love Me Like You Do.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
45/57
Host LL Cool J greets the crowd. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
46/57
The Weeknd performs two hit songs, including “Can’t Feel My Face” and “In the Night.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
47/57
Ariana Grande introduces a performance by the Weeknd, and does her own rendition of his hit song “Earned It.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
48/57
Actor O’Shea Jackson, left, and rapper/actor Ice Cube announce the nominees for rap album. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
49/57
Kendrick Lamar recieves the Grammy for his rap album “To Pimp a Butterfly” as Ice Cube looks on. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
50/57
Singers Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood perform “Take Your Time” and “Heartbeat” onstage. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
51/57
NFL player Anquan Boldin and NFL player Von Miller announce nominees onstage. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
52/57
Taylor Swift opens the show with her song “Out of the Woods.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
53/57
“Girl Crush” by Little Big Town takes home the Grammy for country duo/group performance. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
54/57
Jazz pianist Joey Alexander, 12, takes a bow following his performance at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
55/57
Musicians Peter “Peetah” Morgan, left, Roy “Gramps” Morgan and Nakamyah “Lukes” Morgan of Morgan Heritage accept the award for reggae album for “Strictly Roots” at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
56/57
Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap accept the Grammy for traditional pop vocal album for “Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap, the Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
57/57
Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck head for the stage to accept their Grammy for folk album at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
But at this year’s ceremony, broadcast live Monday night on CBS from Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, it wasn’t the awards that felt old-fashioned. As widely expected, Taylor Swift won the flagship album of the year prize with her “1989,” as modern a pop statement (despite that title) as any in recent memory.
And though there’s no denying the retro flavor of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” which was named record of the year, it’s a pungent piece of 2015.
Instead, Monday’s show atrophied in the performances, which seemed to slow to a crawl any time someone under the age of 40 appeared onstage. It was as though pop’s elite — the movers and shakers who make the music go — had fallen under some wicked spell, encouraged to live up to a tired ideal.
Looking stiff (if dapper) in a form-fitting tuxedo, the Weeknd transformed his exuberant R&B track “In the Night” into a sleepy supper-club ballad complete with strings. Little Big Town did the same with “Girl Crush,” its slyly sensual country hit, as did Ellie Goulding in “Love Me Like You Do,” a love song with real passion in its studio recording.
Tori Kelly and James Bay, two young singer-songwriters nominated for best new artist (which Meghan Trainor won), looked like nervous music-school students rehearsing for a big recital during their joyless duet.
Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood had even less chemistry in a lumpy mash-up of his “Take Your Time” and her “Heartbeat.”
In each of these performances, the artists seemed to be striving for some kind of timeless elegance. But they ended up only neutralizing the sex and adventure that drive great pop songs.
Some did even more damage than that, as when Justin Bieber remade his sleekly futuristic “Where Are U Now” as a blast of turgid, groove-less alternative rock.
That left the old-timers — and those in their mold — to provide some signs of life, and many were up to the challenge.
Jumping onstage to finish off his tribute (which featured John Legend, Tyrese and a full-throated Demi Lovato), Richie was the picture of ebullience as he belted out his decades-old “All Night Long.”
The salute to King with Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark Jr. and Bonnie Raitt had a palpable throb.
And you could practically taste the intensity in a performance from the musical “Hamilton” that was beamed in from New York. Accepting the award for musical theater album, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show’s creator, rapped his thank yous with hunger and excitement radiating from his eyes.
Even more energy came from Kendrick Lamar, the Compton rapper who channeled rage, hope and everything in between in an incendiary medley of tunes from his album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” which was also up for album of the year. Using the roiling sounds of jazz to get his message of social justice across, Lamar found fierce inspiration in the battles of yesterday.
Lady Gaga was looking for a similar charge in her run through some of the late David Bowie’s best-known songs, but her bit was too rushed to say anything about Bowie’s one-of-a-kind spirit (or how Gaga relates to it).
And then there was Adele, the one artist at the Grammys who should’ve been right at home in the show’s atmosphere of enforced sophistication. Yet her wobbly rendition of “All I Ask” was — there’s really no other way to say it — a train wreck, full of pitch and timing problems that the British singer — and the Grammys themselves — later blamed in part on a microphone problem.
As one of the few talents bigger than this show, Adele will no doubt get the chance to redeem herself next year. By then, hopefully, her peers will have learned to act their age.
[email protected]
Twitter: @mikaelwood
MORE
Grammy Awards 2016: Who won, who lost, who performed
Which performance stole the show at the Grammys?
Grammys 2016: Recording Academy President Neil Portnow on Rihanna, Adele and what didn’t go as planned
