Just minutes after a stirring rendition of her Song of the Year Hello to open the show, Adele’s Grammy curse struck again.
The British songstress had begun a soulful cover of George Michael’s Fastlove when something seemed to go wrong, causing her to curse and stop the performance mid-stride.
In the media room, there was an audible cry out of surprise from reporters watching the monitors behind Lady Antebellum singer Hillary Scott, who had just come backstage. All eyes went to Adele on the monitor as she tried to start up again.
Adele stops, swears, then restarts George Michael tribute at the #GRAMMYs: ‘I can’t mess this up for him’ https://t.co/pcJ5YSWrso pic.twitter.com/oeRKXuVmwy
— People Magazine (@people) February 13, 2017
Her performance last year of All I Ask was also plagued by technical difficulties which saw the sound cut out.
“I know it’s live TV, I’m sorry … [but] I can’t do it again like last year,” said Adele, who initially sounded a bit flat during her performance.
“I’m sorry for swearing and I’m sorry … I can’t mess this up for him. I’m sorry, I can’t.”
Putting her hand over hear heart, she added, “I’m really sorry. I’m sorry, Ken,” apologising to producer Ken Erlich.
And after one more nervous curse word, she and the band started over.
When she finished the number a few minutes later, she shed a tear as the audience got on its feet for a standing ovation.
But just to be really sure, after winning Song of the Year for Hello, she issued another mea culpa: “I really do apologise for swearing. It’s George Michael, I love him and it means the world to me, so I’m sorry if I offended anyone anywhere.”
Not likely. Social media erupted in support of the beloved singer.
“#Adele taught us a all a great lesson just now. If it’s not right? START OVER AND NAIL IT! And she did. Love you, girl,” wrote Bette Midler.
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres chimed in saying “you get every do over you need. Ever.”
Beyonce’s full performance at the #Grammys tonight! pic.twitter.com/UQRCm3TLAC
— ㅤㅤㅤ (@yoncespears) February 13, 2017
A heavily-pregnant Beyoncé – she’s having twins, in case you hadn’t heard – also sent the Internet into a meltdown, with a nine-minute performance the LA Times described as one of the most “ambitious and logistically complex” live segments the Grammys, or any other awards show, has attempted.
The expansive medley of Love Drought and Sandcastles, introduced by her mum Tina Knowles, employed two-dozen dancers, a live band offstage and thousands of flowers spread across the full breadth of the Staples Centre stage.
It also incorporated the interplay of Beyoncé in the flesh with film footage of her pregnant form projected onto a scrim during the number.
An emotional Adele later paid the ultimate tribute to Queen Bey by saying she was more worthy of the Album of the Year gong for Lemonade than her award-winning 25.
“I can’t possibly accept this award, and I’m very humbled and very grateful and gracious but my life is Beyonce, and the album to me, the Lemonade album, Beyonce, was so monumental, and so well thought out,” she sobbed.
“And so beautiful and soul bearing and we all got to see another side of you that you don’t always let us see, and we appreciate that. And all us artists adore you. You are our light. And the way that you make me and my friends feel, the way you make my black friends feel is empowering, and you make them stand up for themselves. And I love you. I always have. And I always will. I appreciate it.”
For a full list of the winners on the night, click here.
