Special report: U2 becomes biggest winner in Grammy awards

    BEIJING, Feb. 10 -- Irish rockers U2 took time out from saving the world to bask in Grammy glory on Wednesday at Los Angeles. Pop star Mariah Carey, top contender with eight nominations, got three Grammys for her comeback year.

    U2 won all five categories in which it was nominated, including the coveted awards for album and song of the year. With a career haul of 22, the band ranks No. 6 on the all-time list of Grammy winners.

    U2's triumph, coupled with Green Day's upset win in the marquee race for record of the year, gave a decided rock 'n' roll cast to the recording industry's biggest night, even as pop and R&B acts continue to dominate the charts.

    The evening marked the first time since 2001 that rock acts clinched all three major Grammy prizes in a single year, including U2's wins back then for song and record of the year.

    Asked backstage if his band was now the greatest in the world, U2 guitarist the Edge replied, "We are tonight."

    Singer Bono, clutching a glass of white wine, added, "You can't ask me to be humble at a moment like this."

    He noted that U2's album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" has now won eight Grammy Awards, including three from last year, and recalled that the band lost album of the year twice. It won album of the year in 1988 for "The Joshua Tree."

    The song of the year award for "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" also marked the band's second win in this category, following its 2001 victory for "Beautiful Day."

    It was a mixed evening for the three acts who led the nominations with eight each -- Carey, rapper Kanye West and R&B singer John Legend.

    Three Grammys for Carey

    Mariah Carey's "The Emancipation of Mimi," was last year's biggest U.S. release, with sales to date of more than 5.2 million copies for her comeback album. She was awarded three Grammys but did not get to thank anyone. All her awards were announced during the non-televised portion of the show, which she did not attend.

    She was the only person nominated in all three lead categories of album, song and record of the year. Punk rock trio Green Day was the surprise winner of the latter award with "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," a track from last year's rock album Grammy winner "American Idiot."

    Carey's haul for the evening included female R&B vocal performance and R&B song, both for "We Belong Together," and contemporary R&B album. Before this year, she had won just two Grammys, including best new artist, both in 1991.

    West won three rap awards. Legend won best new artist, as expected, and two R&B awards.

    The evening produced several surprises, led by inaugural "American Idol" champion Kelly Clarkson's two awards for pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance. She beat Paul McCartney in the pop category, and Carey for female pop vocal.

    McCartney was among the multiple nominees who went home with nothing. He received three nominations. Other losers included rapper 50 Cent, who had six nominations, and five-time nominees Alicia Keys and Gwen Stefani.

    Among the two-dozen performances, the most unusual was reclusive funk music pioneer Sly Stone's first major public appearance in almost 13 years. During an all-star tribute to his band, Sly and the Family Stone, he appeared on stage for a few minutes of "I Want to Take You Higher," and left before the song was over.

    
(Source: Shenzhen Daily)