BY: Alexis Eichelberger

Like nearly everything that’s happened in the past year, the 63rd Grammy Awards were different this year. The ceremony was a smaller, socially distanced gathering in a tent outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Recipients wore masks. There were no cheering fans during the performances.

But the evening was still celebratory and a thrill to watch –– especially the many performances we saw after a long year of almost no live music. Here are eight of the best performances at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

HARRY STYLES

Harry Styles opened the evening with a bang! In his first performance, he played an incredibly groovy version of his smash hit “Watermelon Sugar.” He stunned in a black leather ensemble, and his dance moves seemed to show just how excited he was to be on one of music’s biggest stages.

Styles took home his first Grammy for “Watermelon Sugar,” which earned him the Best Pop Solo Performance award.

 

 

BILLIE EILISH

The always extraordinary Billie Eilish and her collaborator/brother FINNEAS took the stage after Styles. They performed the cool and melancholy “Everything I Wanted.” Eilish’s vocals were the star of the show as always, as she stood on her simple stage setting.

“Everything I Wanted” earned one of the evening’s biggest prizes, Record of the Year.

 

 

BAD BUNNY

Bad Bunny’s performance of his spicy single “Dákiti” was a neon dream. The most-streamed artist of 2020 brought his well-loved Spanish hip-hop swag to the stage while surrounded by a vibrant, technicolored explosion of lights.

Bad Bunny also took home the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album for his acclaimed record YHLQMDLG.

 

 

DUA LIPA

Dua Lipa had an incredible 2020, and she shone on the Grammy stage. Covered in pink glitter, she performed some of her biggest singles of the year: “Levitating” and “Don’t Start Now.”

Lipa and her electric album beat out several other talented pop stars to take the Best Pop Vocal Album award.

 

 

SILK SONIC

The newly-formed dynamic duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak gave their debut live performance on the Grammy stage. Their groovy, retro-inspired single “Leave the Door Open” was a soothing breath of fresh air. They also made us more excited than ever to see what else is coming from them.

TAYLOR SWIFT

Taylor Swift brought cottagecore to the Grammys with her ethereal performance. She performed a mashup from both folklore and evermore while barefoot and dancing through an adorable woodland cottage set. Her faithful collaborators Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner joined her for the performance.

Swift was nominated for a few Grammys this go-round and took home one of the night’s top honors: Best Album. 

 

MEGAN THEE STALLION & CARDI B

Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B brought down the house with their ultra-sexy performance. Megan kicked it off with her smash hits “Body” and “Savage.” Then Cardi B joined her, first singing “Up” and then dueting the notorious “WAP.”

Megan Thee Stallion also had a banner evening, taking home her first two Grammy Awards. She won the coveted Best New Artist award, and the “Savage (Remix)” featuring Beyonce earned her Best Rap Song.

 

 

POST MALONE

Showing off his rockstar side, Post Malone served up a dark and dramatic performance of “Hollywood’s Bleeding.” He wore a long cape, and his signature gritty vocals sounded powerful as he sang the title track to his nominated album.