My visit to the Grammys

I did not know of the beef between fans of BTS and Olivia Rodrigo, who really shone in this event with three awards in the respective categories. It is shameful that some fans decided to bomb the 19-year-old singer's social media handles, and I feel that it is very silly on their part.

When I was arriving in Phoenix, Arizona last year for my Humphrey Fellowship, I did not imagine that I would get to be a part of one of the most prestigious musical celebrations of the world – the Grammys.

The credit would go to Qinetic music, who receive passes every year, and make sure that a Bangladeshi artiste gets to attend this event. This time, I attended with Russell Ali, a tremendous musician and former Warfaze guitarist.

I entered the majestic MGM Grand Garden arena, just in time for Trevor Noah saying "tonight is a concert where we give away awards" – and that indeed would set the tone for the night.

Luckily, I got a good enough view from the amphitheater above, and could enjoy the entire show.

As I settled in, I was lucky to get a good enough seat, sometimes being able to spot certain indie stars who sat below us. Surprisingly, many Tiktokers and social media celebrities like Nas Daily were also present during the programme.

Without a doubt, the highlight of the show was its management, which should not be surprising, but was still a treat to watch for someone habituated to shoehorned concerts in Dhaka – although it will not be fair for me to compare any musical event to the Grammys.

An anecdote is, perhaps fitting here to explain the difference – before Silk Sonic's performance, I saw their instruments being moved through the crowds, but no one batted an eye. This is unimaginable in a music scenario in Southeast Asia.

As a performer myself, it was inspiring to see these artistes maintain the highest level of professionalism. Every artiste performed a full set with his or her own props and choreography, without having to lip-sync any single song. As a long time supporter of BTS, I could see them in full glory, even though Jungkook was not at a 100 percent due to his recent fight with Covid. Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Silk Sonic, Lenny Kravitz, were phenomenal as well. Billie's tribute to the late Foo Fighters' drummer Taylor Hawkins was heartfelt.

I did not know of the beef between fans of BTS and Olivia Rodrigo, who really shone in this event with three awards in the respective categories. It is shameful that some fans decided to bomb the 19-year-old singer's social media handles, and I feel that it is very silly on their part.

At the end of the day as I boarded the plane headed to Arizona, all that I thought about was the music, magic and madness that I had witnessed. I am hopeful that like Pakistan's Arooj Aftab and India's Falguni Shah, one of our young talents will hold a Grammy one day.