10 alternative women musicians with unforgettable Grammys performances
The Grammys are finally coming up this week, after being postponed from its original January date, and the night is going to be filled with women celebrating major accomplishments in music.
While last year was a mess in almost every regard, one good thing did happen: The Recording Academy unveiled the nominations, and it was the first time that all of the nominees for Best Rock Performance have been women.
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The nominees include Phoebe Bridgers, HAIM, Grace Potter, Big Thief, Fiona Apple and Brittany Howard. Outside of that category, other female artists were recognized for their chart-topping songs this year such as Billie Eilish, Poppy, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and more.
And because it’s Women’s History Month, we decided to take a walk down memory lane and honor 10 of the best alternative female performances at the Grammys. You can check that out below.
Billie Eilish — “when the party’s over”
Not only did Billie Eilish have record-breaking wins at her first-ever Grammy Awards last year, but she and her brother/collaborator FINNEAS gave a heartfelt performance. They kept it simple, with FINNEAS on piano and Eilish doing what she does best—belting out “when the party’s over” while wearing an oversized glitter outfit.
St. Vincent/Dua Lipa – “Masseduction”/“One Kiss”
In 2019, St. Vincent and Dua Lipa performed a sultry mashup of their two tracks that just worked so perfectly. They wore nearly identical looks while St. Vincent rocked out on guitar. Dua Lipa showed us her moves, and both of them demonstrated why they are Grammy-winning vocalists.
Lady Gaga’s David Bowie tribute
It can be argued that few other artists have made a splash on the Grammys stage as big as Lady Gaga does, from performing with Metallica in 2017 to giving a spot-on David Bowie tribute in 2016. She nailed the looks, the song and the attitude, and we know Ziggy Stardust would be proud.
No Doubt – “Hella Good”/“Underneath It All”
Ahh, 2003. It was the good old days, particularly if you were a major fan of Gwen Stefani and No Doubt. That year, the group performed a mashup of their iconic tracks “Hella Good” and “Underneath It All,” which has us really missing the early 2000s.
Avril Lavigne – “Sk8er Boi”
And if that No Doubt performance didn’t have you longing for 2003, look no further than Avril Lavigne’s Grammys performance of “Sk8er Boi,” which is a piece of scene history. While modern-day performances at awards shows tend to be all about special effects and eye-catching visuals, Lavigne shows that good old-fashioned rock music played as loud as possible will never go out of style.
Miley Cyrus/Elton John – “Tiny Dancer”
If there’s one thing Miley Cyrus has made clear, it’s that she’s the queen of cover songs. During the 2018 Grammys, she joined Elton John for a knockout performance of “Tiny Dancer.” It was emotional, powerful and even rivaled the Rocketman’s original version.
Demi Lovato – “Anyone”
Demi Lovato has a history of making us cry with her performances at awards shows, and last year’s Grammys was no different. She performed “Anyone,” a song that she recorded four days before her nearly fatal overdose in 2018. The message alone is powerful enough to move you to tears. However, Lovato also has powerhouse vocals that are truly a gift to us all.
Amy Winehouse – “Rehab”/“You Know I’m No Good”
Even though Amy Winehouse couldn’t physically be at the 2008 Grammys, she livestreamed a heart-wrenching performance of two tracks that exemplify how unique of a performer she was. Donning her signature beehive hair and thick eyeliner, she delivers the tracks with a voice that could only belong to her. The performance proved that she really was one of the best modern-day R&B musicians of our time.
Lorde – “Royals”
Lorde channeled her inner angsty teen when she sang “Royals” at the 56th Grammy Awards. She wore dark lipstick and was physically feeling the music, marking a debut performance full of star power.
Alanis Morissette – “You Oughta Know”
We’re taking it back to the ’90s to wrap it up, with Alanis Morissette‘s slowed-down performance of “You Oughta Know” that was filled with attitude, anger and vengeance. While the lyrics are like a giant middle finger to whoever the song is about, Morissette’s soft and clear vocals almost make you forget the message of the track.
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