NEWS LYRICS PHOTOS BAND FORUM CONNECT ABOUT HOME

Once again, the Grammys got it -- mostly -- right.

Yes, with a co-leading eight nominations, Mariah Carey and her mega-profitable comeback album The Emancipation of Mimi deserved a trophy or two -- or three, as it turned out. The veteran belter scored wins for Best Contemporary R&B Album for Mimi (the biggest-selling disc of 2005), Best R&B Song for "We Belong Together" and Best Female R&B Performance (also for that hit).

That marked the first time Carey had garnered a Grammy since 1990, when she was named Best New Artist. But any hope that she would beat -- or even match -- the record for most wins by a woman in a single evening (a lead held jointly by Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Alanis Morissette and Lauryn Hill) were dashed when Green Day scored an upset for Record of the Year, winning for its crossover ballad "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."

"Pop radio playing rock music is a very big deal to me," the band's frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong, said in his acceptance of the prize. "So thank you very much."

But neither Carey nor Green Day -- nor Kanye West nor his discovery, Best New Artist winner John Legend, both of whom nabbed three statuettes -- emerged as the main winner at the 48th annual ceremony, held Wednesday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Instead, longtime Grammy favorite U2, who had not been predicted to win in major categories, walked off with five awards, including Song of the Year for "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" and Album of the Year for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

Along with wins for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song ("City of Blinding Lights") and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group (also for "Sometimes..."), U2's total Grammy tally rose to 21.

That places the Irish band at No. 6 on the list of most-honored Grammy winners ever, one ahead of Alison Krauss, whose three trophies in country categories brought her total to 20.

"If you think this is going to our head, it's too late," Bono joked as he accepted the award for Song of the Year.

"Being in a rock band is like running away with the circus," the ever-quotable Nobel Peace Prize nominee said. "But there's also the possibility with rock music...that, you know, it might just amount to something a little more than entertainment on an occasion, and that you might be able to communicate some honest feeling."

He went on to explain the meaning behind both the band's moving Song of the Year pick, one of the most personal Bono has penned, as well as its latest album.

"(It's) an odd title for an album, and people have asked, 'What are you talking about?' I was talking about my father Bob," with whom the recent Nobel Peace Prize nominee had a rocky, feud-filled history.

"He was the atomic bomb in question. When he died, he set off a chain reaction in me. I've been shouting...and screaming about him for the past few years. Maybe tonight is the time to stop."

U2 also was responsible for one of the night's most memorable performances, an impassioned version of "One" with powerhouse enhancement from Mary J. Blige in a replay of their duet from the Katrina telethon last year.

The band's Album of the Year win is the quartet's second; its first came in 1987 for The Joshua Tree. "But we've lost two, so I know how it feels, Kanye."

For two years in a row the outspoken, boastful rapper and critics' favorite was shut out in the top categories, yet once again he nearly made a clean sweep in the rap field, winning for Best Rap Album (Late Registration), Best Rap Song ("Diamonds From Sierra Leone") and Best Rap Solo Performance ("Gold Digger"). ("I had no idea," West said as he won his first televised prize, pulling out a sheet of paper with "THANK YOU LIST" scrawled on the back.)

"You're next," Bono said, adding, "he's a great artist."

Indeed, the singer had kind words for all of his fellow nominees. Mariah: "You sing like an angel." Gwen Stefani: "The heart of Hollywood. She's like Carole Lombard."

And "to be in the company of Paul McCartney, who discovered the country we're all living in, is an honor." Not entirely sure what that reference means, but all the goodwill in the world didn't put a Grammy in Sir Paul's hands. His two performances, however -- "Fine Line" and "Helter Skelter" with his own band, and a mash-up built on "Yesterday" with "retired" rapper Jay-Z and Linkin Park -- were among the program's few standout performances.

"It's the first time I've ever played the Grammys," he pointed out. "I finally passed the audition."

The night's other big loser: Stefani, the first O.C.-related Album of the Year nominee in nearly 30 years, who went home empty-handed.

One of her losses was to surprise double winner Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol star to nab a Grammy. Her trophy for Best Pop Album (Breakaway) over far superior choices from McCartney and Fiona Apple was questionable, but her deserved win for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (for "Since U Been Gone") meant that Carey, the favored nominee who had just brought the house down with a wailing performance, never got a chance to give an acceptance speech.

When a teary-eyed Clarkson rose to accept her first award, she came off as the first honoree to appear genuinely shocked and touched by her win.

"I'm terrible at speaking when I cry," a visibly overcome Clarkson told the crowd. "You have no idea what this means to me."

We have some idea: legitimacy. Notice, too, that Idol was never mentioned either time she held the spotlight.

Another surprise upset: Bruce Springsteen, who delivered a stark reading of his song "Devils & Dust," lost the Best Contemporary Folk Album award to deserving legend John Prine. The Boss did add another Grammy to his mantle, though, winning for Best Male Rock Performance.

Other artists sent home with a pair of statuettes: Stevie Wonder, the Chemical Brothers (sweeping the dance and electronic fields), Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley (Bob's son doing the family name proud by claiming the Best Reggae Album award) and pioneering guitarist Les Paul, who had been hospitalized earlier this week. At 90, Paul is the second-oldest Grammy winner.

David Bowie, Cream, the Weavers, Merle Haggard, blues legend Robert Johnson and opera diva Jessye Norman were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, trendsetting Nashville producer Owen Bradley and engineer Al Schmitt were named Trustees Award winners, while label chief Mo Ostin was granted the President's Merit Award.

But perhaps most notable -- arguably more so than the all-star New Orleans-dedicated finale and definitely more so than the ballyhooed but bland opener of Madonna and Gorillaz -- was a rare public appearance from Sly Stone, his first in roughly two decades, during a tribute to his groundbreaking funk and soul music.

Flanked by Maroon 5, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Joss Stone and more, the famously reclusive Stone, sporting a giant silver Mohawk and outrageous clothes befitting George Clinton, emerged for a few rounds of "I Want to Take You Higher."

And almost as soon as he surfaced, he was gone again.



© The Orange County Register, 2006.

Related Articles:

• Feb 09, 2006 - It's a High-5 Night for U2
• Feb 09, 2006 - Grammy Hits and Misses

@U2 Calendar

3/22 - 5/10/2010 8th Annual "Build a Well for Bono's Birthday" Drive Begins The goal is $50,000. April 4 2010 08:00 PM - 11:00 PM - Easter with Hollywood U2 No, there won't be an egg hunt. Full Calendar