The 2023 Grammys was set up as Beyoncé’s Revenge; a comeback match against fellow multiple nominee Adele.
When these two superpowers of female fortitude and redemption last clashed in 2017, the Brit singer swept the board – and expressed her dismay in her Album of the Year acceptance speech. “I can’t possibly accept this award. I’m very humbled and very grateful and gracious, but my artist of my life is Beyoncé. The Lemonade album was so monumental,” she sobbed.
It was the second time running that Beyoncé had been robbed of the AOTY gong, having lost out to Beck in 2015.
Grammys 2023 in pictures: Red carpet, performances and awards Close
Lizzo accepts the Record Of The Year award for "About Damn Time" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Harry Styles, Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon with their awards during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Taylor Swift attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Taylor Swift attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Sam Smith and Kim Petras pose with their award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Unholy" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Missy Elliot performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Chris Martin presents Record Of The Year during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Lizzo accepts the award for Record Of The Year for "About Damn Time" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Steve Lacy performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Olivia Rodrigo presents Best New Artist during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
U.S. first lady Jill Biden presents the Song of the Year award for "Just Like That" to Bonny Raitt during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni REFILE - CORRECTING AWARD
Bonnie Raitt poses with her awards for Best Americana Performance, Best American Roots Song and Song of the Year during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
GloRilla performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Scorpio and Melle Mel perform during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Steve Lacy poses with his Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album for "Gemini Rights" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Big Boi performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Adele poses with her Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Easy On Me" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Chris Martin presents Lizzo with the the award for Record Of The Year for "About Damn Time" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
LL Cool J performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Run-DMC performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Adele poses with her Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Easy On Me" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Adele poses with her Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Easy On Me" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Flavor Flav and Chuck D perform during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Samara Joy poses with her awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Samara Joy poses with her awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Kacey Musgraves performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Jennifer Lopez presents the Best Pop Vocal Album award during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Hip Hop 50 performance during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Camila Cabello attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Ricky Reed, producer of Lizzo's Record Of The Year for "About Damn Time", poses with the award during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Harry Styles attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Blake Slatkin, producer of Lizzo's Record Of The Year for "About Damn Time", poses with the award during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Lil Uzi Vert performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Hip Hop 50 performance during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, and Tim Hanseroth pose with their awards during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Sam Smith attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Angela V. Benson attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Beyonce accepts the award for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for "Renaissance" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Sam Smith performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Lizzo attends the Premiere ceremony of the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Lizzo arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Harry Styles and Beyonce claim first major Grammys of the evening (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Kim Petras, right, and Sam Smith accept the award for best pop duo/group performance for “Unholy” at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Beyonce appears in the audience at the 65th annual Grammy Awards (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Shania Twain graced the red carpet of the 65th annual Grammy awards in a cow-print inspired suit and towering hat on Sunday night (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Sandra Denton, left, and Cheryl James of Salt-N-Peppa performs My Mic Sounds Nice at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Indie duo Wet Leg score two Grammy wins less than two years after first live gig (Jae C. Hong/AP))
Beyonce (AP)
Harry Styles: Grammy success feels like validation I’m on the right path (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Kim Petras and Sam Smith accept their award (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Sam Smith performs Unholy at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Lizzo accepts the Record Of The Year award for "About Damn Time" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
So, though host Trevor Noah spared no airtime in keeping viewers informed as to Queen Bey’s progress towards becoming recipient of the most number of Grammys ever – 32, beating the record previously held by Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti – all eyes were on the final award of the night, the 65th Grammys’ very own Rocky Balboa moment.
The bare modicum of critical evaluation would have given Renaissance Album of the Year over Adele’s 30 any day, of course.
But critical evaluation didn’t reckon on Harry’s House.
Harry Styles stepping up to receive the night’s biggest award for Album of the Year was a baffling and strangely deflating finale for a night so ramped up for cele-Bey-tion.
Already, Styles had delivered the most lacklustre performance of the night, first spotted wandering about on a revolving stage full of dancers – well, more like loiterers really – before his rendition of “As It Was” was upstaged by his own sparkly yeti outfit.
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And his AOTY win, for all the fine melodic attributes of Harry’s House, showed a deep lack of imagination at the very root of the Grammys voting process.
As with Lemonade, Renaissance marks a bold evolution in pop music.
Dismantling the genre and reassembling it in challenging and unexpected new formulations, the album re-evaluated the possibilities of popular sonics and merged, warped and morphed tracks in ways that made Spotify sound as though it was melting from the inside out.
Harry’s House, meanwhile, is a modernist collection of standard-issue pop reference points – A-Ha, Prince, The Weeknd, Bruno Mars – with the odd bit of psych rock, indie pop and acoustic folk thrown in.
In terms of the fundamental visions involved, they’re in different leagues: Beyoncé pioneers, Styles imitates.
That Beyoncé hasn’t been awarded a single AOTY for her ground-breaking work on Lemonade, Renaissance or, back in 2015, Beyoncé either seems – to put it kindly – a major oversight for a ceremony that has faced years of accusations of a racial bias in its most prestigious categories.
The Grammys have a grand total of 91 award categories across a vast array of genres, but most are presented during an unscreened Premiere Ceremony before the main show like one relentless, 90-minute howl of “diverse enough for you, Twitter!?”.
The effect – besides making the main event feel like watching Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, in that the main players don’t actually need the prizes and the people that really deserve them aren’t even invited – is to give many minority artists a tokenistic niche nod while denying them the spotlight, platform and high-profile validation of the ceremony proper.
During the actual Grammys, Black artists delivered the most powerful, impactful and plain fun performances of the night, from Stevie Wonder and Smokie Robinson’s Motown medley to the all-star tribute to 50 years of hip-hop featuring Missy Elliott, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Run-DMC and fellow rap icons galore.
Yet it was Styles and blues legend Bonnie Raitt who swept up the headline Album and Song of The Year awards. Twitter will make of that what it will.
Still, at least Dr Dre got his own Dr Dre Global Impact award named after him, opening the door for every act to win their own self-titled Grammy in future.
So the 2024 Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Robbed Again Award goes to…
Grammys 2023 in pictures: Red carpet, performances and awards Close
Lizzo accepts the Record Of The Year award for "About Damn Time" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Harry Styles, Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon with their awards during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Taylor Swift attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Taylor Swift attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Sam Smith and Kim Petras pose with their award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Unholy" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Missy Elliot performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Chris Martin presents Record Of The Year during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Lizzo accepts the award for Record Of The Year for "About Damn Time" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Steve Lacy performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Olivia Rodrigo presents Best New Artist during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
U.S. first lady Jill Biden presents the Song of the Year award for "Just Like That" to Bonny Raitt during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni REFILE - CORRECTING AWARD
Bonnie Raitt poses with her awards for Best Americana Performance, Best American Roots Song and Song of the Year during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
GloRilla performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Scorpio and Melle Mel perform during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Steve Lacy poses with his Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album for "Gemini Rights" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Big Boi performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Adele poses with her Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Easy On Me" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Chris Martin presents Lizzo with the the award for Record Of The Year for "About Damn Time" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
LL Cool J performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Run-DMC performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Adele poses with her Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Easy On Me" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Adele poses with her Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Easy On Me" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Flavor Flav and Chuck D perform during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Samara Joy poses with her awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Samara Joy poses with her awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Kacey Musgraves performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Jennifer Lopez presents the Best Pop Vocal Album award during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Hip Hop 50 performance during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Camila Cabello attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Ricky Reed, producer of Lizzo's Record Of The Year for "About Damn Time", poses with the award during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Harry Styles attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Blake Slatkin, producer of Lizzo's Record Of The Year for "About Damn Time", poses with the award during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Lil Uzi Vert performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Hip Hop 50 performance during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, and Tim Hanseroth pose with their awards during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Sam Smith attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Angela V. Benson attends the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson
Beyonce accepts the award for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for "Renaissance" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Sam Smith performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Lizzo attends the Premiere ceremony of the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Lizzo arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Harry Styles and Beyonce claim first major Grammys of the evening (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Kim Petras, right, and Sam Smith accept the award for best pop duo/group performance for “Unholy” at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Beyonce appears in the audience at the 65th annual Grammy Awards (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Shania Twain graced the red carpet of the 65th annual Grammy awards in a cow-print inspired suit and towering hat on Sunday night (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Sandra Denton, left, and Cheryl James of Salt-N-Peppa performs My Mic Sounds Nice at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Indie duo Wet Leg score two Grammy wins less than two years after first live gig (Jae C. Hong/AP))
Beyonce (AP)
Harry Styles: Grammy success feels like validation I’m on the right path (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Kim Petras and Sam Smith accept their award (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Sam Smith performs Unholy at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Lizzo accepts the Record Of The Year award for "About Damn Time" during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
