Grammys' David Bowie love fest: Better late than never?

Feb. 16, 2016 11:47 AM PT

Setting aside for the moment the artistic merits of Lady Gaga’s performance on Monday’s 58^th Grammy Awards telecast, it’s impressive to note that the posthumous salute to the rock innovator and provocateur touched on no fewer than 10 Bowie cornerstone songs, even if some of them were revisited for under 30 seconds.

Today’s trivia question: Which of those were honored with Grammy Awards?

Was it the opening selection, “Space Oddity,” the hit that launched his career in England in 1969 and then became a Top 20 U.S. hit four years later?

No.

How about “Changes,” the infectious track celebrating transformation from the groundbreaking “Hunky Dory” album that gave Bowie his first Billboard Top 100 single?

No.

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A look at the show highlights from the 2016 Grammys. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS;Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS; Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

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Taylor Swift accepts the award for album of the year for “1989.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/Associated Press)

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Philip Bailey, from left, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson of Earth Wind & Fire present the award for album of the year. (Matt Sayles / Invision/Associated Press)

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Pitbull performs “Taxi” with actress Sofia Vergara dancing to close out the show. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Pitbull performs “Taxi.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Mark Ronson accepts the award for the record of the year, for “Uptown Funk,” with Bruno Mars, center. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)

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Bruno Mars holds up the award for record of the year for “Uptown Funk” as he thanks the fans. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Beyonce presents the final award of the night, record of the year. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Lady Gaga pays tribute to David Bowie by singing through nearly half a dozen of his songs, including “Ziggy Stardust,” “Fashion” and “Heroes.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Lady Gaga pays tribute to David Bowie by singing nearly half a dozen of his songs, including “Space Oddity,” “Rebel Rebel” and “Under Pressure.”
(Robyn Becl / AFP/Getty Images)

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A teary Meghan Trainor recieves the award for best new artist. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Sam Smith presents the award for best new artist onstage. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)

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Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)

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Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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Musician Dave Grohl takes the stage. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Alice Cooper, left, and Joe Perry of Hollywood Vampires perform songs including “As Bad As I Am” and “Ace of Spades.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)

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Johnny Deppy performs onstage with Hollywood Vampires. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Kaley Cuoco introduces Justin Bieber and Jack U. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Justin Bieber performs “Love Yourself” and “Where Are U Now” onstage with Jack U. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Skrillex of Jack U performs onstage with Justin Bieber. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)

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Adele takes the stage with a performance of her song “All I Ask.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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Don Cheadle introduces a performance by Kendrick Lamar. (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)

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Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes accepts the award for rock performance for “Don’t Wanna Fight.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)

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Bruno Mars hits the stage. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Twelve-year-old jazz pianist Joey Alexander smiles as the audience cheers after his performance. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Singer Tori Kelly sings a rendition of her song “Hollow” with James Bay. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)

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Tori Kelly, left, and James Bay embrace after perfoming a rendition of their songs “Hollow” and “Let It Go.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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Miguel performs the song “Off the Wall” onstage. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)

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Ed Sheeran recieves the award for song of the year, “Thinking Out Loud.” (Robyn Beck/ AFP / Getty Images)

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Stevie Wonder, center, and Mitch Grassing, left, Kristin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix present the award for song of the year. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

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Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes offers up a powerful performance with the song “Don’t Wanna Fight.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

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Actor-filmmaker Seth MacFarlane speaks onstage. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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The Eagles perform onstage in a tribute to the late Glenn Frey. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)

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The Eagles perform onstage in a tribute to the late Glenn Frey. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)

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tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Richie. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

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during a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)

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Demi Lovato sings “Hello” for a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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John Legend performs “East” for a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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LL Cool J, left, and James Corden introduce a tribute to Lionel Richie. (Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press)

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Little Big Town performs the song “Girl Crush.” (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)

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Chris Stapleton receives the Grammy country album for “Traveller” onstage. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Singer Andra Day, right, and Ellie Goulding team up to sing “Rise Up” and “Love Me Like You Do.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

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Host LL Cool J greets the crowd. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The Weeknd performs two hit songs, including “Can’t Feel My Face” and “In the Night.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)

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Ariana Grande introduces a performance by the Weeknd, and does her own rendition of his hit song “Earned It.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)

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Actor O’Shea Jackson, left, and rapper/actor Ice Cube announce the nominees for rap album. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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Kendrick Lamar recieves the Grammy for his rap album “To Pimp a Butterfly” as Ice Cube looks on. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)

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Singers Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood perform “Take Your Time” and “Heartbeat” onstage. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)

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NFL player Anquan Boldin and NFL player Von Miller announce nominees onstage. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)

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Taylor Swift opens the show with her song “Out of the Woods.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)

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“Girl Crush” by Little Big Town takes home the Grammy for country duo/group performance. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Jazz pianist Joey Alexander, 12, takes a bow following his performance at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Musicians Peter “Peetah” Morgan, left, Roy “Gramps” Morgan and Nakamyah “Lukes” Morgan of Morgan Heritage accept the award for reggae album for “Strictly Roots” at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap accept the Grammy for traditional pop vocal album for “Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap, the Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck head for the stage to accept their Grammy for folk album at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Maybe “Rebel Rebel,” the Rolling Stones-influenced rocker from 1974 that actually had more swagger and rock spirit than what “The World’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band” was doing at that point?

No.

He must have received a Grammy for “Fame,” or “Let’s Dance,” his two No. 1 singles that pushed his music front and center not only on pop radio but on dance floors around the world?

No.

Beginning to catch on?

In fact, Bowie received exactly one Grammy during his lifetime, and that was for the “David Bowie” music video from 1984. (Purists will note that Bowie’s name shows up a second time in Grammy Awards literature, as the artist on the 2015 song “Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)” that earned an award in the best arrangement, instruments and vocals category for arranger Maria Schneider. But that Grammy goes to the arranger, not the performing artist.)

None of his boundary-stretching albums or his genre-shaping singles or album tracks were ever recognized by the Recording Academy.

Full Coverage: David Bowie | 1947 - 2016

The loving tribute on Monday’s 58^th Grammy Awards posthumously manifested the music industry’s admiration for his artistry, but it also served as a reminder of the bad old days when the Grammys were often woefully out of touch with the most innovative music coming out of the world of pop, rock, R&B, country, jazz and classical music.

The Grammys still generate no shortage of Monday morning quarterbacking with their choices, and Monday night’s award of album of the year to Taylor Swift’s “1989” has launched vigorous debate over whether it genuinely was more deserving than Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” Alabama Shakes’ “Sound & Color,” The Weeknd’s “Beauty Behind the Madness” and Chris Stapleton’s “Traveller.”

But given the history of giving top awards to Christopher Cross’ “Christopher Cross” album in 1980, “Toto IV” in 1982, Lionel Richie’s “Can’t Slow Down” in 1984, Phil Collins’ “No Jacket Required” in 1985, George Michael’s “Faith” in 1988, Steely Dan’s “Two Against Nature” in 2000, Ray Charles and guests’ “Genius Loves Company” in 2004, this year brought a consistently strong group of album nominees, all of which were more closely in touch with the vibrancy of pop music at this moment than some of the winners in previous years.

The Grammys, however, still like playing catch-up with artists who were unfairly neglected in previous years. So don’t be surprised a year from now if Bowie’s “Blackstar” album shows up among album-of-the-year nominees, with the odds pretty strong even now that it will win the category.

Fortunately, for music fans and for music history, his swan song album is musically fully worthy of such peer recognition, beyond the sympathy bump Bowie’s death is likely to generate among Grammy voters.

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