Jeff Lynnes recently revived Electric Light Orchestra played the Grammys, indoor sunglasses and all, where they pulled out a couple of their Seventies Top 40 hits: the piano-rocking 1975 single Evil Woman and 1978 tune Mr. Blue Sky. The performance took place just after Ed Sheerans mega-collaboration, and the redhead, who was born more than two decades after ELO formed, came out to play acoustic guitar and sing on the latter song.
Paul McCartney stood up, clapped and sang along with Evil Woman until he was spotted by a camera and sat down. Taylor Swift and the Haim sisters danced with their arms in the air, as Nicole Kidman tried to get husband Keith Urban into dancing to Mr. Blue Sky. Beyonc also got into the Blue Sky mood, standing up to watch the show.
Sheeran came into the Grammys with three nominations: Album of the Year andBest Pop Vocal Album forXand Best Song Written for Visual Media, for his Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug contribution I See Fire.
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Regarding his nominations, Sheeran recently told Capital FM, I think just being nominated for a Grammy, all the artists say this, but honestly, [Im] not too fussed about winning, just because I probably wont. Pressed as to why he felt that way, he said, I never win anything! I won one year at the BRITs because I was a male and Adele won everything else.
The singer-songwriter first reported that he would be doing a duet with Lynne and ELO on Wednesday, followed by the announcement of a solo performance planned with Herbie Hancock, Questlove and John Mayer. Two days later, it was announced that ELO would also be a part of the performance.
Original ELO members Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy recently reunited and played their first full concert in 28 years lastSeptember in London, USA Today reports. The band is currently working on a new album, following up 2001s Zoom, and will be touring the U.S. later this year. The groups new material will factor into its upcoming shows, NME reports Lynne as saying at the Classic Rock Honours last year.