Grammy Awards: Lady Gaga steals show with David Bowie tribute

Lady Gaga performs a tribute to the late David Bowie. Picture: Getty Images/NARAS

The flamboyant American singer won rave reviews after joining forces with Bowie producer and guitarist Nile Rodgers for a run-through of classic hits such as Changes, Rebel Rebel, Let’s Dance and Heroes.

Many critics thought the appearance from Gaga – sporting newly-dyed red hair and wearing an outfit with a nod to Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona – was the highlight of the event.

But the British pop icon’s son, filmmaker Duncan Jones, left Bowie’s army of followers intrigued with his cutting verdict on the performance, posted on his Twitter account.

Quoting the dictionary definition of “gaga”, Jones said: “‘Overexcited or irrational, typically as a result of infatuation or excessive enthusiasm; mentally confused.’ Damn it! What is that word!?”

The ceremony also saw Hollywood star Johnny Depp lead musicians, including Alice Cooper, in a supergroup tribute to Motörhead legend Lemmy, which featured his best-known hit, Ace of Spades.

The event, one of the highlights of the global music industry calendar, also featured special performances honouring Eagles frontman Glenn Frey, blues legend BB King and Earth Wind and Fire founder Maurice White.

US star Taylor Swift claimed three of the most prestigious prizes, for album of the year, best pop vocal album and best music video, while English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran walked away with honours for song of the year and best pop vocal performance.

However, although he lost out on the main awards, the pair were outgunned by rap superstar Kendrick Lamar, who claimed five gongs.

A week after Beyoncé’s Super Bowl show saluted the black power movement, Lamar gave one of the night’s most intense performances, opening his rendition of The Blacker the Berry in chains, dressed in a prison uniform along with several dancers.

Swift also grabbed the limelight with a hard-hitting acceptance speech which appeared to include a dig at Kanye West, following his claims just days before the ceremony that he had made her famous.

Pointing out that she was the only woman in history to win the album of the year twice, she said: “I want to say to all the young women out there – there are going to be people along the way who are going to try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame.”

Sheeran, who was honoured for the first time at the Grammys, dedicated his best song award to his family, saying: “My parents have flown out to the Grammys for the last four years and every year they say, ‘Maybe next year’.”

Along with Sheeran, Britain was well represented in the main honours, with Muse winning the best rock band prize and the producer-songwriter Mark Ronson picking up three awards – for record of the year, best pop duo/group performance, and best non-classical remixed recording.

Amy, Asif Kapadia’s acclaimed documentary on the late singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, was honoured in the best film music category. British singer Adele was one of several performers to be dogged by sound problems. She struggled through her performance of All I Ask, during which her microphone cut out.