Grammy Wrap-Up: Herbie Hancock Beats Kanye in an Upset

For a while there, it seemed like the story of this year's Grammy Awards was going to be all about Amy Winehouse's via-satellite sweep. The embattled singer, who due to visa and rehab issues was forced to stay in London for the show, had already taken home all five of the awards for which she had received nominations, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year for "Rehab." But when it came down to Album of the Year, Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters (a collection of jazz versions of Joni Mitchell songs) won the night's big prize, besting Winehouse and sentimental favorite Kanye West. Other notable winners at last night's big event were West (four wins, including Best Rap Album), Bruce Springsteen (three wins), Foo Fighters (Best Rock Album) and Alicia Keys. Finally, Barack Obama matched rival Hillary Clinton in Grammy wins, taking home the prize for Best Spoken Word Album for his reading of his book The Audacity of Hope (Clinton won the same award in 1996 for her reading of It Takes a Village). Stay tuned to Rock Daily all day for the rest of the news from the Grammy parties and behind the scenes, and be sure to re-live last night's magic via our live blog.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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