Grammy Awards 2015: Advice from music’s leaders

The Grammy Awards are about listening to some great tunes that inspire us to celebrate the past year in music. On music’s biggest night, we come together for the live event and we get to see our favourite artists caught in interesting moments, some of which can be (as Pharrell called it) “super awkward.”

However, there were a few fleeting instances throughout last night’s awards show that were the opposite of awkward and spoke to us just as loudly as the amazing performances by AC/DC, Mary J. Blige, Annie Lennox and Ed Sheeran.

While accepting an award, introducing a performance or simply taking us to commercial break, musicians were everywhere during the Grammys and giving us some of the most powerful words of advice and encouragement we’ve heard this year.

1. Best New Artist losers needn’t worry, T. Swift’s advice is to “Shake it Off”

Taylor Swift has seven Grammy Awards, but noted that she too was passed over in the Best New Artist category in 2008. With her own brand of Swift sass, she shared with the nominees that the world won’t end if you don’t win.

“As a former loser of Best New Artist in 2008, if you do not win this award it’s going to be fine, just ‘Shake it Off,’” she said, referencing her chart-topping hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MgsKEb5iJg

It was Amy Winehouse who beat Swift for Best New Artist in 2008.

Advice we took: Even if you don’t win this time, you can still successful.

2. Best Pop Vocal Album winner Sam Smith reveals how he earned his Grammy

Upon hearing his name called for Best Pop Album of the Year, English singer/songwriter Sam Smith expressed his gratitude and then said, “Before I made this record I was doing everything to try and get my music heard.”

He continued, “I tried to lose weight and I was making awful music and it was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen. Thank you, guys, for accepting me for being just me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtLf418JEcw

Advice we took: Sometime you have to try and fail before you can succeed and get it right.

3. Prince reminds us that we can’t give up on new art

When Prince walks into a room, he gets a standing ovation most of the time before he even says a word. This year’s Grammys were no different and right after the music legend hit the stage.

“Albums — remember those?” He continued, “Albums still matter. Albums, like books and black lives, still matter.”

When we see Sam Smith, Adele, Beyoncé or Taylor Swift walk away with armfuls of Grammy Awards it’s easy to get discouraged from pursuing your art. We don’t see their personal daily struggle, however, it’s there. As Prince said, “Albums still matter. Albums, like books and black lives, still matter.” They matter because you matter. Your art matters because there is only one you.

To help new artists, President and CEO of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow established the Grammy Creator Alliance.

Advice we took: Drawn inspiration from those who surround you and don’t give up.

5. A broken heart doesn’t equal a broken life

Sam Smith took home quite the collection of Grammy Awards last night and when it came time for him to accept the gramophone for Record of the Year for “Stay with Me” he actually thanked his ex-boyfriend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xpRENVFmao

“I want to thank the man who this record is about and who I fell in love with last year,” Smith revealed. “Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys.”

Advice we took: As the English poet George Herbert once wrote, “Living well is the best revenge.”

Follow Grace Stanisci on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GraceS35