Local News

Beyonce, Swift make history at Grammys

Maui band Na Wai ‘Eha passed in Best Regional Roots contest this year

Female performers including Beyonce and Taylor Swift had a record-making night at the 2021 Grammy Awards, a jam-packed but socially distanced show highlighted by live music sorely absent during the pandemic era.

Four women won the top four prizes Sunday, including Swift, who became the first female performer to win album of the year three times. Beyonce -- with her 28th win -- became the most decorated woman in Grammy history.

H.E.R. won song of the year and Billie Eilish picked up her second consecutive record of the year honor, telling the audience that best new artist winner Megan Thee Stallion deserved the award.

Though women have won all top four awards in the past -- including Eilish's sweep last year -- it marked the first time four separate and solo women won the top four honors.

Swift won the top prize with "folklore," the folky, alternative album she released as a surprise last year. She previously won album of the year with "Fearless" and "1989."

Beyonce walked into the show with 24 wins and picked up four honors, including best R&B performance for "Black Parade," best music video for "Brown Skin Girl" as well as best rap performance and best rap song for "Savage," with Megan Thee Stallion.

Although Maui-based Hawaiian music group Na Wai 'Eha was passed over at the 2021 Grammy Awards on Sunday, the real win is unwavering love from family, friends and fans, a band member said.

"The Grammy nomination is definitely a big thing and we are very appreciative to have been awarded that nomination, but despite winning or losing the Grammy, the best award to me is family and friends, is that support and love we get," Kalanikini "Ed" Juan said Sunday night.

The group -- Kahikina "Greg" Juan, Kalanikini "Ed" Juan, Kamalei Kawa'a and Kamaehu Kawa'a -- has already won multiple Na Hoku Hanohano awards. With just a few years under their belt, Na Wai 'Eha was named as one of five finalists for the Best Regional Roots Music category for their sophomore album "Lovely Sunrise."

Sunday's award show named "Atmosphere" by New Orleans Nightcrawlers as the category winner.

But that didn't stop Na Wai 'Eha from celebrating the support from their local community. Family members surprised bandmates by dressing for the occasion and the group attended the remote award show from the Kawa'a home in Waiehu.

"We love all of our Maui people first and foremost because this is where our music began," Ed Juan said. "Mahalo to everyone (in Hawaii). In a short few years we've had such great opportunities and blessings from your love and support."

The Grammys featured pre-taped performances that helped the nearly four-hour show run seamlessly -- a not-so-easy feat during a global pandemic. Host Trevor Noah told jokes about the pandemic and the year that was 2020, appearing live from downtown Los Angeles with attendees wearing masks and sitting, socially distanced, at small round tables.

Silk Sonic, aka Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, also performed, bringing a throwback R&B vibe to the show with their smooth new single, "Leave the Door Open." Dua Lipa proved her pop star status with a performance of her hits "Don't Start Now" and "Levitating," where she was joined by DaBaby, who was an all-star during his own performance of his guitar-tinged rap hit "Rockstar," flipping the song for an exceptional live rendition featuring R&B singer Anthony Hamilton, a skilled violinist and background singers.

Country singer Mickey Guyton -- the first Black woman nominated for best country solo performance -- gave a top notch performance of her song "Black Like Me," which she released last year as police brutality continued to devastate Black families and the coronavirus ravished Black America disproportionately. Lil Baby, joined by Killer Mike and activist Tamika Mallory, gave a political performance that impressed.

"Black Parade" joined a list of songs honoring the Black experience that won Sunday, including H.E.R.'s protest anthem "I Can't Breathe" and Anderson Paak's "Lockdown," which was released on Juneteenth like "Black Parade."