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Pregnant M.I.A. Shafted by Stupid Grammys

Everyone knows the Grammys are a stupid, terrible sham of an awards show, presented by the most backwards, worst-performing arm of our failing entertainment industry, and held in honor of our oldest, oldest artists. But this year, the dumb, cruel Recording Academy truly outdid itself — they made poor, nine-months-pregnant M.I.A. (whose due date was yesterday!) perform “Paper Planes” and “Swagga Like Us” on last night’s telecast, and they couldn’t even give her one of their silly awards. Did you see her out there? She was huge! She could’ve popped right there onstage at the Staples Center! T.I. might’ve been forced to deliver her baby! And after she finished singing (and dancing, adorably!), they presented Record of the Year — the only award for which she was nominated — to boring Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, neither of whom was visibly pregnant nor in need of another stinking Grammy.

As usual, the Recording Academy honored all the cool winners during the non-televised preshow: Radiohead’s In Rainbows won for Best Alternative Music Album and the very prestigious Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. Daft Punk scored two dance-music-related awards for its live album, Alive 2007. Bruce Springsteen’s “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” won Best Rock Song, which, by extension, is almost like Stephin Merritt winning a Grammy for Best Rock Song, sort of.

As usual, the Recording Academy honored all the cool winners during the non-televised preshow: Radiohead’s In Rainbows won for Best Alternative Music Album and the very prestigious Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. Daft Punk scored two dance-music-related awards for its live album, Alive 2007. Bruce Springsteen’s “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” won Best Rock Song, which, by extension, is almost like Stephin Merritt winning a Grammy for Best Rock Song, sort of.

Lil Wayne, the night’s most-nominated artist, did win four awards, including ones for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Swagga Like Us,” on which M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” is sampled. Since she’s not credited as a performer on that track, though — and because the Grammys apparently love to see dangerously pregnant women bounce around before being snubbed egregiously — she did not get to take home an award.

Anyway, here’s her heroic performance:


Related: The Grammy Awards Diva-Fashion Face-Off [The Cut]
Besides M.I.A., Here’s the Only Thing You Missed By Not Watching the Grammys [Vulture]

Pregnant M.I.A. Shafted by Stupid Grammys