Amy grabs 5 Grammys, Kanye 4

2008-02-11 07:16

Los Angeles - Amy Winehouse may have been physically absent from the Grammy Awards, but her presence was strong as the famously troubled singer won five trophies, including song and record of the year for her autobiographical hit Rehab.

Sprung from a rehabilitation clinic to perform via satellite from London for Sunday's ceremony, Winehouse delivered a stirring, defiant performance of the hit that has defined her recent fall from grace. When her win for record of the year was announced, she appeared speechless and was enveloped in hugs from her band.

Kanye West, who had a leading eight nominations, also won four awards: best rap album for Graduation, best solo performance for Stronger, best rap song for Good Life and best rap performance by a duo or group for his collaboration with Common on Southside.

West delivered an electric, glow-in-the-dark rendition of Stronger, then segued into a stirring tribute to his mother, Donda West, who died unexpectedly last year at age 58. "Last night I saw you in my dreams, and now I can't wait to go to sleep," sang West, dressed in all black and with MAMA etched into his haircut, as he launched into Hey Mama, a celebratory tune from his second album that has now turned into a somber ode.

Grammys 50 years old

When West accepted the best rap album trophy, the orchestra was trying to play him off the stage when he began speaking about his mother.

"It would be in good taste to stop the music," West said - and the music stopped. "I know you're really proud of me right now and I know you want me to be the No 1 artist in the world and Mama," West continued, "all I'm going to do is keep making you proud. We run this."

The Grammys, celebrating its 50th year, emphasized its history with its very first performance. Alicia Keys, glammed-up with a '50s style, sat at the piano and sang Learnin' the Blues along with a black-and-white video performance from the late legend Frank Sinatra.

"Frank Sinatra looked good for 150, didn't he," Prince joked moments later before introducing Alicia Keys as the winner for best female R&B vocal for her smash No One.

Later, the cast from Cirque Du Soleil's Love Beatles' show and the cast of the Beatles-inspired movie Across the Universe paid tribute to the Fab Four as Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison watched from the audience.

It was a hot-legs competition when Tina Turner teamed up with Beyonce on Proud Mary. The senior citizen kept up with her younger counterpart, showcasing her famous dance moves while wearing a tight-fitting silver bustier and pantsuit.

Carrie Underwood was an early performer with her revenge anthem, Before He Cheats, which earned two Grammys, including for best female country vocal performance.

Bruce Springsteen took three pre-show Grammys, including best rock song for Radio Nowhere. Other early winners included the White Stripes, Justin Timberlake and Mary J Blige with two each, the Foo Fighters, Herbie Hancock and even Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for best spoken-word album.

Suspense about Amy

Though the pre-telecast ceremony, where most of the Grammys' 110 categories are doled out, is usually low on star-wattage, there were several big names on hand to accept their trophies, including Underwood, the Foos and Brad Paisley.

"You couldn't keep me from actually getting this myself _ it's not the same when someone else gets this on your behalf," said Underwood.

In any other year, West would have been the main storyline thanks to his history of awards-show tirades, his huge album Graduation and the shocking death of his mother. But the absent Winehouse, up for six trophies, threatened to upstage West and everyone else.

The 24-year-old singer-songwriter's personal life has fallen apart over the past year as her career blossomed. As the ceremony approached, suspense built over whether she would appear. She was rejected on Thursday for a US work visa, and Grammy producers arranged for her to perform via telecast. Soon afterwards, the US government reversed itself and approved Winehouse, but it was too late for her to make the cross-continental trek.

The retro-soul singer also won best pop vocal album for Back to Black and best female pop vocals.

Besides West and Winehouse, the other album of the year contenders were the Foo Fighters' Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace, Vince Gill's These Days, and Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters.

For record of the year, Winehouse's Rehab was competing against Beyonce's Irreplaceable, Rihanna's Umbrella, The Pretender by the Foo Fighters and Justin Timberlake's What Goes Around ... Comes Around.

- AP