Surprise win for Mumford & Sons

ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES: Mumford & Sons wrapped up a completely unpredictable Grammy Awards with perhaps the most surprising win of the night, taking home album of the year for Babel at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on February 10.

It was an event that even shocked the London folk-rockers. “We figured we weren’t going to win anything because
The Black Keys have been sweeping up all day, rightfully so,” Marcus Mumford said.

Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys ended up the night’s top winner with four trophies, including producer of the year and three rock category victories with bandmate Patrick Carney.

Fun. took home major awards best new artiste, in something of an upset over Frank Ocean, and song of the year for the transcendent anthem We Are Young, featuring Janelle Monae.

“I didn’t think we were going to win this one,” lead singer Nate Ruess said after the best new artist win. “Frank Ocean. The Lumineers. Everybody, amazing.”

Gotye busted up the predictions, taking record of the year for 2012’s top-selling single, the haunting Somebody That I Used To Know, featuring Kimbra, and finished with three awards.

Jay-Z and Kanye West had three wins — sharing one award with Ocean — along with Skrillex, and a slew of nominees had two wins apiece, including former best new artist winner Esperanza Spalding.

Ocean took home two trophies, including best urban contemporary album. Only Chris Brown, with whom Ocean scuffled last month, remained seated as the 25-year-old R&B winner walked to the stage during a standing ovation.

Ocean won also won best rap/sung collaboration for No Church in the Wild with fellow top nominees Jay-Z and West, and The-Dream. The win came after victories for Jay-Z and West for best rap song and best rap performance for ... in Paris, another Watch the Throne track. Ocean also performed his song Forrest Gump.

We Are Young helped fun. earn a starring role at these Grammys with nominations in all four major categories after the release of their first album, matched only by Christopher Cross in 1981, and six overall. The band turned in a powerful early performance of Carry On and guitarist Jack Antonoff got a kiss from girlfriend Girls creator Lena Dunham after winning.

The Black Keys took best rock performance for Lonely Boy and won best rock song for Lonely Boy and best rock album for El Camino. He also got an assist — but no trophy — on Dr John’s best blues album Locked Down, which he produced.

Other winners included Rihanna, Beyonce, Mumford & Sons and Taylor Swift, who opened the show as the Mad Hatter. Justin Timberlake debuted new tracks Suit & Tie with Jay-Z and Pusher Love in a performance that was broadcast in retro black and white. Rihanna and the extended Marley family paid tribute to Bob Marley. Sting and Bruno Mars helped each other out on their hits Locked Out of Heaven and Walking on the Moon. Elton John and Ed Sheeran teamed on The A Team and Miguel and Wiz Khalifa joined forces on Adorn. Alicia Keys played drums during Maroon 5’s Daylight, before Adam Levine’s band backed her on Girl on Fire.

Jack White brought both his male and female bands on stage, tearing through Love Interruption and Freedom at 21 before a standing ovation from the crowd. And Elton John, Mavis Staples, Brown, Mumford & Sons and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes paid tribute to the late Levon Helm with a spirited rendition of The Weight.

Adele won the first award of the night taking home best pop solo performance for Set Fire to the Rain (Live), in one of the night’s least-surprising moments — though the singer was somewhat taken aback.

Carrie Underwood won best country solo performance for Blown Away, Zac Brown Band won best country album for Uncaged and Kelly Clarkson turned in the night’s most exuberant acceptance speech after winning best pop vocal album for Stronger. Skrillex won best dance recording for Bangarang, featuring Sirah, best dance/electronica album for Bangarang and best remixed recording.

Record of the Year: Somebody That I Used to Know, Gotye featuring Kimbra

Album of the Year: Babel, Mumford & Sons

Song of the Year: We Are Young, (Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost and Nate Reuss, songwriters (Fun. featuring Janelle Monae)

Best New Artist: Fun.

Best Pop Solo Performance: Set Fire to the Rain (Live), Adele

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Somebody That I Used to Know, Gotye featuring Kimbra

Best Pop Vocal Album: Stronger, Kelly Clarkson

Best Dance/Electronica Album: Bangarang, Skrillex

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Kisses on the Bottom, Paul McCartney

Best Rock Performance: Lonely Boy, Black Keys

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance: Love Bites (So Do I), Halestorm

Best Rock Song: Lonely Boy, Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton and Patrick Carney (Black Keys)

Best Rock Album: El Camino, Black Keys

Best Alternative Music Album: Making Mirrors, Gotye

Best R and B Performance: Climax, Usher

Best Traditional R and B Performance: Love on Top, Beyonce

Best R and B Song: Adorn, Miguel

Best Urban Contemporary Album: Channel Orange, Frank Ocean

Best R and B Album: Black Radio, Robert Glasper Experiment

Best Rap Performance: N****s in Paris, Jay-Z and Kanye West

Best Rap Song: N****s in Paris, Jay-Z and Kanye West

Best Rap Album: Take Care, Drake

Best Country Solo Performance: Blown Away, Carrie Underwood

Best Country Album: Uncaged, Zac Brown Band

Best Blues Album: Locked Down, Dr John

Best Reggae Album: Rebirth, Jimmy Cliff

Best Comedy Album: Blow Your Pants Off, Jimmy Fallon

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Best Historical Album: The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Boxed Set), Beach Boys