What did JAY-Z think of the Grammys?

Did he notice them?

Nominated eight times for4:44, the rap legend sat patiently through all 57 hours of the awards show.

Sure, he lost to Kendrick Lamar, but its hard to argue with that opening number.

To be as famous as JAY-Z is to be a willing punchline at events like this.

In one of his acceptance speeches, Lamar suggested that JAY-Z should be President.

Sting and U2 were everywhere, werent they?

In the subway, on a barge, presenting big awards.

His final purpose was to argue that the Grammys really matter.

it’s possible for you to swagger onto the stage like a proper ass, Bono said.

But deep down, you… youknowthat Album of the Year is a very, very big deal.

The frontman needed some backup, so he turned to his eternal Huckleberry.

Its a very, very big deal, Album of the Year.

Is it not, The Edge?

Counterargument, though:Isntit not, The Edge?

The performance was a magnificent shambles Lil Wayne bopping in a Tom Baker scarf, T.I.

taking off his jacket for emphasis, Kanye cool-walking around the stage after his early solo ended, M.I.A.

boldly refusing to line up with her own lip-syncing.

It felt like a straightforward assertion of hip-hops obvious dominance.

All four men had other memorable performances that night, T.I.

I still watch the Swagger Like Us performance when I want to remember why 2009 felt so bright.

I dont bring that up as a jab, necessarily.

And it feels purposeful, albeit maddening, how the show always becomes a paintcan explosion of crossover demographics.

It all made much more sense when LL Cool J was hosting.

TheLate Late Showhost fell back on the broadest comedy beats: Have you heard about how muchHamiltontickets cost?

Cordens Carpool Karaoke segments earn their best laughs from the improv-feeling randomness Quick, J.Lo, text Leo!

but the interminable Subway Carpool Karaoke sent Corden (and Shaggy and Sting!)

down a heavily-scripted spiral, I say, but these New Yorkers are sosurly,right??!!

I have not heard that song before!

Compare that tired spoofing to the real passion of the nights two most indelible performances.

She was flanked by an all-star team of female singers.

Community, activism, no-shame capitalism: This is the confusing feedback loop of our modern moment.

I dont want to say that people who star in hair commercials cant make serious political points.

Cabellos a fine musician, and what is politics now anyways, andnobodylikes dry hair.

But you felt how the lovely moments at the 2018 Grammys were running astride near parody.

ITS A VERY BIG DEAL, IS IT NOT, THE EDGE?

I see your national megaphone and raise you one spiritual piano.

Lady Gaga performed Joanne and A Million Reasons from inside a piano adorned with angel wings.

At one point, crossing over between songs, she stage-whispered Times Up.

It felt dangerously like a non-sequitur, a powerful phrase used as passionate punctuation.

Not all topicality is created equal; relevance without specificity is its own irrelevance.

Hours of this wore you down.

Famous faces became familiar, grew tired before your eyes.

Everyones a critic, of course.

Too many ballads tonight!

declared Bruno Mars, who ruled the last hour with one bland victory speech after another.

There was too much something, thats for sure.

And not enough of everything else.

JAY-Z sat through it all.

So did Lorde, whoseMelodramawas nominated for Album of the Year.

2018 was the year Sting performed once, the Edge performed twice, and Lorde stayed in her seat.

Put as simple as that, it sure feels like the Grammys missed the boat.

Probably because U2 sailed it into the Hudson.