After 51 years, after unique duets featuring Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston and Natalie Cole, Lou Reed and Rod Stewart and so many more, how could the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala top its past years? It can’t be expected to, but it remains the absolute best party in the music industry, with an eye-popping assemblage of talent and attendees across music, film and politics.
Let’s just say that the tables in the front of the Beverly Hilton ballroom were occupied by Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile at one; Lana Del Rey, Jack Antonoff, Rachel Sennot, Hayley Williams and Kendrick Lamar producer Sounwave at another; and sprinkled throughout the room were Teyana Taylor, Laufey, Shaboozey (rocking a sleeveless shirt), Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, Nancy Pelosi, Karol G, Sharon and Jack Osbourne, Colman Domingo, Dave Grohl and daughter Violet, Lil Jon, Ne-Yo, Weird Al Yankovic, Yungblud, Dave Grohl, Becky G, Rufus Wainwright, New Radicals’ Gregg Alexander and so many others.
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Also in attendance were most of the very top executives in the music industry — far too many to list, but the evening’s top honorees were Republic Records founders Monte and Avery Lipman (who have also won Variety’s Hitmakers label of the year honor six out of nine years). There’s absolutely no other room like it, and it’s hard to imagine the Grammy Awards without it — and even though he wasn’t in the room, former President Barack Obama addressed Clive and the audience via video.
Clipse’ Pusha T and John Legend (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images
As always, the evening was a showcase for rising stars. Grammy best new artist nominees Olivia Dean, Sombr (who has vastly improved as a performer since last fall’s tour) and Alex Warren delivered a sultry “Man I Need,” “12 to 12,” and of course “Ordinary,” respectively — and Sombr was rocking to Dean’s performance in the front row (at 6’7″, he’s hard to miss).
Sombr(Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images
MGK and a svelte Jelly Roll performed a tag-team Ozzy Osbourne tribute of “I Don’t Wanna Stop” and “Mama I’m Coming Home.”
“Rest in Peace to the Prince of Darkness… to a great husband, a great father, a great musician… Ozzy Osbourne!,” Jelly said at the end of his performance, and walked offstage to receive a long hug from Sharon.
Jelly Roll (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images
Laufey and Darren Criss duetted on Elton John and Kiki Dee’s 1976 chart-topper “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” in homage to lyricist Bernie Taupin, who was in attendance. Clipse teamed up with John Legend for an emotional “The Birds Don’t Sing.” Jennifer Hudson proved yet again that she has one of the most powerful voices in contemporary music with a cover of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in tribute to the late Roberta Flack. And the three women of Huntr/x from “KPop Demon Hunters” — who are up for four Grammys — soared through “Golden,” with Ejae proving that yes, she really can hit those insanely high notes.
Darren Criss and Laufey (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images
In a buzz-worthy kickoff, Gayle King gave an introduction to a recorded video from President Barack Obama, who championed Davis for his contributions to the music industry. “I appreciate the opportunity to introduce my friend and your host, the one and only Clive Davis,” said Obama. “You know Clive isn’t just a legendary music man. He is a force of nature. Clive’s talent has always been seeing and hearing what other people don’t. Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston. Clive recognized their potential just before anyone else, and then helped them to reach it.” Obama did not touch on politics in the message and there was little mention of it all evening — it’s possible everyone was relieved to have a break from the avalanche of bad news outside the room.
Eaje of Huntr/X and Clive Davis (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Getty Images
Later in the program, Dan + Shay paid tribute to Art Garfunkel with two covers — “All I Know” and “Mrs. Robinson” — before bringing out Garfunkel himself to close the evening with a gentle, goosebumps-inducing version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Obviously, at 84, Garfunkel’s voice is not the powerhouse it was when the song was recorded 55 years ago, but he retains the full measure of his legendary nuance, and the gentle, spare arrangement of this version — primarily piano, with a synthesizer covering the song’s soaring string arrangement — combined with his soft delivery to create an intimacy that the mighty original version does not possess.
The song — one of the longest and most unorthodox tracks ever to become a No. 1 single — is a milestone in Davis’ unparalleled career, as he was the one who fought for it to be released as a single. It was a fitting and full-circle conclusion of the evening.
