The GRAMMY Awards 2015: The Performances

Sunday's showstoppers...

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Anticipation was high as music’s heavy hitters made their way to the Staples Centre in Los Angeles for the 57th annual Grammy Award, as the guests watched over seven blockbuster live performances from the likes of Kanye West to Madonna…

On February 8 Los Angeles was a host to a soulful selection of musical comebacks, stunning red carpet looks and motivational speeches at the 2015 Grammy Awards...

As British newcomer Sam Smith won four awards and Pharrell Williams snagged two wins, the evening was filled with musical delights in terms of prizes and performances. Madonna kicked off the evening with her gospel-infused Living for Love, as Katy Perry brought social awareness to the stage with her show-stopping performance of By the Grace of God with a special guest, Brooke Axtell, a survivor of domestic violence.

Beyoncé also hit the stage and introduced Common and John Legend's award-winning Selma song, Glory, with a haunting and politically infused rendition of Take My Hand, Precious Lord.

The GRAMMY Awards 2015: The Performances (фото 1)

LL Cool J and Gwyneth Paltrow

For the first time, Kanye West performed Only One – which was written in the perspective of his late mother, Donda – as well as his collaboration FourFiveSeconds with Rihanna and Sir Paul McCartney. Later on in the evening, West shocked (and then amused) Jay Z and Beyoncé as he "pretended" to hijack the stage as Beck was awarded 'Best Album' – however, a post-show interview demonstrated that he was anything but joking.

Meanwhile, Pharrell Williams kept the hype alive dressed as a bell-boy (thanks to Chanel) as he sang an orchestral version of his hit song Happy, with a hidden message seen in the choreography – dancers were wearing hoodies and holding their hands up, remembering the protests started by the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

Pop princess, Ariana Granda, also provided the crowd with some strong instrumentals, and vocals, as she sang her balled Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart. And strumming on the crowd's heart-strings a little bit more, Mary J Blige and four-time Grammy award-winner Sam Smith also performed a duet version of Stay With Me.

The GRAMMY Awards 2015: The Performances (фото 2)