Women are finally getting the recognition they deserve at the Grammys

USPA NEWS - I didn´t think I´d enjoy the Grammys as much these days. I´m a little old fashioned. I like the rock and R&B and I´m not so much into the rap stuff. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see some of my favorites doing so well this year ““ and many of them, quite well deservedly, being women! Obviously, there are the established names like Beyonce (who became the most decorated woman in Grammy history!), and Lady Gaga and Ariane Grande who complement each other so well when performing. It was not surprising to see that duo win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their song “Rain on Me“. Other winners of note included Billie Eilish for her Record of the Year win for her song “˜Everything I wanted´, Taylor Swift for her Album of the Year win for “˜Folklore´, and Megan Thee Stallion winning Best New Artist. Now I´m going to single out my particular likes“¦

Haim

Here´s an all-girl band of three sisters from Los Angeles. The three sisters are Este Haim (bass guitar and vocals), Danielle Haim (lead vocals, guitar, and drums), and Alana Haim (guitars, keyboards, and vocals).

I first came across them on YouTube when they were performing the Fleetwood Mac song “˜Oh Well´. You know, it´s the one that has simple but poignant lyrics: “I can´t help about the shape I´m in, I can´t sing, I ain´t pretty and my legs are thing, but don´t ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to“¦Oh Well" (written by Peter Green who passed on in 2020). I was immediately impressed by their talent. Great guitar work and rhythm section. Excellent rendition. They didn´t win a Grammy, but were nominated for Album of the Year with “Women In Music Pt. III“. There are some great songs on the album. The winner was Taylor Swift as I mentioned earlier. So good for women anyway!

One of the best tracks on the album is #2, “˜The Steps´ which was released by Columbia Records on March 3, 2020 as a single alongside the album's pre-order. It's probably the best-known track. They have had some personal challenges to deal with, and have survived the often sexist questions asked by journalists. Haim was also nominated for Best Rock Performance, which was won by Fiona Apple ““ another great America female singer-songwriter from New York City.

Dua Lipa

My next mention is for the English singer-songwriter Dua Lipa. Dua Lipa was born in London, the eldest child of Kosovo Albanians.

Her father was actually lead singer and guitarist of the Kosovan rock band Oda, so there is music in her veins. At the age of eleven, after finishing primary school, Lipa and her family moved back to Pristina after Kosovo declared independence. She moved back to North London when she was 15, having written her first song the year before.

Dua was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance (Don´t Start Now), Album of the Year (Future Nostalgia), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (UN DIA [ONE DAY]), and finally won Best Pop Vocal Album for Future Nostalgia. The single “˜Don´t Start Now´ demonstrates her talent on her second album, Future Nostalgia, and is probably the most familiar to most fans.

Grace Potter

Since I´m such a rock fan my final mention goes to Grace Potter. Such a quintessentially English name, Grace Evelyn Potter was actually born in Vermont in the New England region of the USA.

I first saw Grace Potter at a private event in Las Vegas a few years back. I was immediately struck by Grace´s guitar skills. So many times, woman are viewed in terms of their visual and vocal performances, and their technical prowess on musical instruments is overlooked. I remember thinking there and then that Grace was “˜the full package´ which, of course, includes songwriting ability. Grace also appeared on television and re-recorded “˜Something That I Want´ with modified lyrics for the end credits to Disney's animated film “˜Tangled´.

Grace uses a “˜Gibson Flying V´ guitar like some of the best rockers. One of my favorite bands is Wishbone Ash, and the first time I saw the Flying V was when Andy Powell used it on “˜Argus´, one of my best albums of all time (mate!). Grace is incredibly skillful with the “˜V´. She´s also talented on keyboards. It´s no accident that this year Potter was nominated for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Album for “˜Daylight´. Listen to the first album (Nothing but the Water) to get even more of the “˜V´ playing by Grace!

Final thoughts

It´s very fitting that in Women's History Month 2021, women are so prominent at the Grammys. History is being made. Women are being recognized. There were lots more female performers and songwriters in a very wide variety of genres. Tiffany Haddish beat out all the guys including Bill Burr and Jerry Seinfeld to win Best Comedy Album (with Black Mitzvah), for example. I´m looking forward to seeing more women performers in the future. Along with the men and others that might identify as LGBTQ, there´s a lot of talent out there!