Los Angeles - What do a Fame Factory and Elton John have in common? They were both part of the show stopping opening of the 52nd Grammy Awards held in the Los Angeles Staple Center on Jan. 31. Lady Gaga can always be counted on to add the element of shock to every performance she gives and this year's Grammy Awards were no exception. Lady Gaga kicked off the show with a very wild performance, as usual, filled with pyrotechnics and six inch heels. The legend himself, Elton John joined Gaga on stage, playing a double-sided piano and adding vocals to Gaga's "Speechless."
Cementing her role as one of the reigning queens of pop music, Beyonce was the top winner of the night, taking home six prizes, including Song of the Year for her inescapable hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it)." But moving in on the superstar's spotlight was country sensation Taylor Swift, who was crowed a new superstar with four wins, including the top trophy of the night, Album of the Year, for "Fearless."
While it seemed that it was a night dedicated to the females in the music industry, the blues rock band, Kings of Leon, took home a respectable two awards, which included one of the top prizes, Record of the Year, for their song "Use Somebody."
Amidst the fresh faces of the night, the Grammys paid homage to some of the older legends who shaped the music world. A 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson, featuring Smokey Robinson, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood, was performed with Jackson's recorded voice to "Earth Song." Jackson's two oldest children, Prince and Paris, accepted their fathers lifetime achievement award. "In all his songs, the message was simple: love," Prince said beaming with pride. "We will continue to spread his message and help the world. Thank you."
The memory of Jackson, who died in June, hung over the ceremony as one of its most beloved recipients and as a symbol of what the music industry used to be. He was the best-selling artist of 2009 by a wide margin; his 1982 album, "Thriller," stands as one of the most popular recording ever made, and in 1984 he won eight Grammys.
The ceremony, packed with splashy performances and eye-catching outfits, celebrated the power of pop celebrity in an age when the foundations of the recording industry are being shaken. With record sales declining every year at a massive rate, the music world looks to the new crop of artists in order to bring back the image of what a true performer is. If the 52nd Grammy Awards are any indication of what the future has to hold for the world of music, then it is sure to be a future filled with disco stick wielding divas, rap artists with a sensitive streak and mind-blowing collaborations that will keep the lyrics stuck in your head all year.