Bad Bunny wins historic Album of the Year at Grammys (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Now to some glitz and glamour, because at this year's Grammys, Bad Bunny made history by scooping the Album of the Year prize. It's the first Spanish-language album ever to win the top prize on Music's Biggest Night. Other big winners included Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish. And Britain's Olivia Deen was crowned Best New Artist. Several artists used the event to voice their opposition to President Trump's immigration crackdown. We'll be talking about this live shortly, but first, David Willis reports from LA.

[00:00:36] Speaker 2: A rock version of K-pop star Rosé and Bruno Mars' hit song Apatow got Music's Biggest Night off to a dynamic start. The 26th Gramophone Trophy of his career for the album marked the start of a history-making night for Kendrick Lamar. And barely had Olivia Deen finished performing her first UK number one Man I Need when she was called back. Olivia Deen. The 26-year-old using an emotional acceptance speech to address the thorny issue of immigration.

[00:01:18] Speaker 3: I'm a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.

[00:01:23] Speaker 2: Eyes out. The Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny went further condemning the actions of US immigration agents before going on to win the top award of the night, Best Album.

[00:01:36] Speaker 4: We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.

[00:01:47] Speaker 2: Another first-time British winner Lola Young could hardly contain her delight, her acceptance speech mirroring the title of her hit song.

[00:01:56] Speaker 3: I don't know what I'm going to say because I don't have any speech prepared. Obviously, I don't. It's messy, do you know what I mean?

[00:02:04] Speaker 2: Cher announced the record of the year winner Kendrick Lamar, only to confuse the name of the song with the name of the winner. But the night belonged to Bad Bunny, the first Latin artist to win Grammy's top award and he dedicated his prize to those who'd had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams. David Willis, BBC News, Los Angeles.

[00:02:32] Speaker 1: Let's pick up on that Bad Bunny there, looking so emotional. We can talk to the music journalist and broadcaster Mary Fee. Let's pick up on that Bad Bunny there, looking so emotional. We can talk to the music journalist and broadcaster Mary Fee. The story of the night there, Bad Bunny beating Lady Gaga, the story of the night there, Bad Bunny beating Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar in that top, top reaction.

[00:02:53] Speaker 5: I think you could see it on Bad Bunny's face. He's a Puerto Rican rapper and if this is the record for the first full Spanish language album to win album of the year and before he went up to accept that award he just took a moment whether it was just with himself and and to reflect before he went up to the stage but yes the night very much belonged to Bad Bunny.

[00:03:16] Speaker 1: And given his background given that a lot of the artists during their acceptance speeches were bringing up politics this was quite a theme quite a politicized grammy awards this year.

[00:03:31] Speaker 5: I think fans of these artists are putting pressure on them as well as them realizing they have this huge platform at what is obviously such a divisive time to actually speak out on what's important to them you know Olivia Deen reminding people that she is here because of immigration and that's something that she's really proud of so yeah there's there's no separation now I think anymore between politics and music it's time for artists to really use their platform not just to celebrate their wins but to speak up as well.

[00:03:59] Speaker 1: You mentioned Olivia Deen, Lola Young also had a good night.

[00:04:04] Speaker 5: Yes I think you know British music we know we are very proud of the amazing talent that comes out and I think maybe it's it's forgotten that you know it really is recognized on such a huge scale and Olivia Deen that song Man I Need you couldn't really step anywhere in the in the past six months without hearing it so I think it's very well deserved and also in other genres British artists like FKA Twigs in the dance electronic category and Youngblood as well in best rock performance also took home awards last night.

[00:04:35] Speaker 1: Yeah and her speech her acceptance speech was just so sweet wasn't it unprepared she's messy that's the thing. Wildfire Billie Eilish's that kind of slow burner that did particularly well as well anything else that stood up for you Mary?

[00:04:49] Speaker 5: Yes that song won song of the year I think just seeing all of the performances Justin Bieber was there in his boxes but you know just doing things in his own style also I think K-pop Demon Hunters was a huge huge film on Netflix and that track Golden took home an award as well which I believe is the first for a K-pop song at the Grammys.

[00:05:12] Speaker 1: And music of course a celebration of music but we've got to mention the fashion what stood out for you Mary?

[00:05:18] Speaker 5: I'm a big Zara Larson fan so if you do get a chance to see she has this kind of gold two-piece and long mermaid hair but yeah it's definitely a time for self-expression and I think artists are really stepping into that that that that area you know it's it's about the music it's about what you bring in terms of your politics it's about what you bring in terms of your fashion as well so just all-rounders.