"Hands up, do not shoot" at the Grammy Awards

"Artists have the unique power to change minds and attitudes - Barack Obama"

They are engaged or not, artists often use high-profile appointment to speak or to promote themselves.

The 57th Grammy Awards, the most prestigious award in American music, has turned into a forum Sunday night in Los Angeles.

A forum against racial violence

On stage at the Staples Center, is Pharell Williams sets the tone by taking a stand against racial violence. Surrounded by dancers hoodie, author, composer and performer sings his worldwide hit "Happy." The hooded youths symbol black victims of violence, including police, like that worn by Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black killed 2012. A drama that had moved to America.

The choreography, the dancers raise their arms in the air: a reference to the rallying cry "Hands up, do not shoot" (Hands in the air do not pull) the movement of events "Black lives matter" (The Black lives count). These events were held across the United States to protest against the death in 2014 of Eric Garner and Michael Brown Ferguson, two unarmed blacks killed by white police officers. This same gesture is taken up later by the dancers of Beyonce.

At the end of ceremony, in front of photos from the film "Selma" and its main character Martin Luther King, John Legend also manifests his solidarity with the movement, performing "Glory", the song he composed for himself that film. "Selma" evokes the marches for civil rights of blacks.

Finally the little phrase Prince, handing the award for best album: "albums still rely, such as books and the lives of blacks."

Barack Obama against rape and domestic violence

The US president was not present but took advantage of the huge exposure of the show to express themselves. Barack Obama launched an impassioned plea by video calling for fight against violence against women. "Nearly one in five women in the United States has been a victim of rape or attempted rape and more than one in four been a victim of domestic violence, "said the president.

_ "This must stop. Artists have the unique power to change minds and attitudes, to make us think and talk about what matters, "added the president before calling to go to the website

for everyone promised to "create a culture where violence can not be tolerated."

A rape victim, Brooke Axtell, then testified of abuse she was subject before leaving the scene in Katy Perry's song with dark lyrics "By the grace of God."

New Kanye West rant

Kanye West once again plays the heavy heads. The rapper was invited on stage when folk singer Beck picked his Grammy for best album for "Morning phase".

Kanye West approached the microphone and then went back to sit in the audience. Beck won face Pharrell Williams, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Beyonce. Inconceivable to the rapper who has released later in the evening at the microphone

"Beck must give his Grammy Beyoncé."

A review that recalls its output at the MTV Awards in 2009. While the singer Taylor Swift had just received the award for best video by a female artist, Kanye West was on stage and had pushed a big rant by saying that reward returned to Beyoncé.

Madonna plants his banderillas Grammy

Madonna did not win at the ceremony, she came to promote his new title "Living for love".

In the program, choreographed rhythmic body in crimson and black embroidered, surrounded by an army of dancers evoking demons or minotaur, half man half bull.