The Best and Worst of the 2012 Grammys
We rate all of the performances from this year's music awards.
Taylor Swift, "Mean"
By Claire Suddath @clairesuddathFeb. 12, 2012
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Taylor Swift had a good night at the Grammys. She took home two awards, for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance, and yet her luck hasn't dulled her anger. Swift performed her banjo-laden revenge song "Mean," off her 2010 album Speak Now. The tune is a direct response to a critic who attacked her (undeniably terrible) 2010 Grammy performance with Stevie Nicks, in which Swift seemed to sing off-key. Tonight, Swift delivered her comeback on-key and with a vengeance. She even changed a lyric from "But someday I'll be living in a big old city" to "But someday I'll be singing this at the Grammys/ and all you'll be is mean." O.K., Taylor. This is a great song, and you're younger, cuter and more talented than any professional critic who has ever cut you down. You win.
Next Katy Perry, "E.T." and "Part of Me"
Rating the 2012 Grammys
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, "We Take Care of Our Own"
Bruno Mars, "Runaway Baby"
Bonnie Raitt and Alicia Keys, "Sunday Kind of Love"
Chris Brown, "Put Your Hands up in the Air"
Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, "Don't You Wanna Stay"
Foo Fighters, "Walk"
Rihanna, "We Found Love"
Chris Martin and Rihanna, "Princess of China"
Coldplay, "Paradise"
Maroon 5, "Surfer Girl"
Foster the People, "Wouldn't It Be Nice"
The Beach Boys, "Good Vibrations"
Paul McCartney, "My Valentine"
Katy Perry, "E.T." and "Part of Me"
Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"
The Band Perry, Blake Shelton and Glen Campbell: "Gentle on My Mind," "Southern Nights" and "Rhinestone Cowboy"
Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood, "It Had to Be You"
Jennifer Hudson, "I Will Always Love You"
Nicki Minaj, "Roman Holiday"
Chris Brown, deadmau5, David Guetta, Lil Wayne and Foo Fighters, Dance-Music Tribute
Paul McCartney, "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight" and "The End"
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