Grammy Awards: Fashion risks, to oozing grace on musical night

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z perform on stage for the 56th Grammy Awards. (AFP)

Music's brightest stars bared lots of skin on the Grammys red carpet in Los Angeles on Sunday, oozing sex appeal and taking fashion risks on the industry's biggest night.

Singer Katy Perry attends the 56th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)

Pop princess Katy Perry, who is up for two awards for her girl power anthem "Roar," floated up the red carpet in a gauzy white Valentino gown, with music notes scattered along the skirt.

Asked by E! Television's Ryan Seacrest about her performance at the 56th annual Grammy Awards, she said it would be "very spooky."

Singer Taylor Swift attends the 56th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center, (R) performs onstage. (AFP)

Taylor Swift, who is up for the coveted Album of the Year prize for "Red," glittered in a metallic belted short-sleeved golden gown from Gucci with a daring slit up the back, and her hair in a simple ponytail.

Pink, who is vying for the Song of the Year award for "Just Give Me a Reason," went for va-va-voom glamour in a strapless fire-engine red Johanna Johnson gown.

Pink performs on stage during the 56th Grammy Awards. (AFP) 

The Grammys have been the scene of some of fashion's classic red carpet moments: Jennifer Lopez's plunging barely-there green Versace gown at the 2000 event is still seen as a benchmark.

Alicia Keys, a winner for best R&B album for "Girl on Fire," wore a cobalt blue Armani gown with a plunging neckline and shiny black detailing at the waist.

Singer Madonna (R) and son David Banda Mwale Ciccone Ritchie. (AFP)

Madonna rocked a tailored gender-bending double-breasted Ralph Lauren black suit and tie -- and carried a walking stick. Her son David wore a similar look, and she said he had helped her choose the ensemble.

Cyndi Lauper, a Grammy winner for best musical theater album for her Broadway show "Kinky Boots," wore a black Alexander McQueen cape-style coat and leggings, looking every bit the rock star.

The male stars in attendance at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles did not disappoint.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis arrive on the red carpet. (AFP)

Both hip-hop star Macklemore -- a winner for Best New Artist -- and "Blurred Lines" crooner Robin Thicke wore velvet tuxedo jackets -- the former in turquoise, the latter in navy Armani.

Grammys host rapper-turned-actor LL Cool J also went with a velvet jacket -- in deep purple.

Macklemore's bandmate Ryan Lewis strutted his stuff in a black and gray large houndstooth suit, while rapper Kendrick Lamar opted for a tight-fitting slate blue suit, with a black shirt underneath.

(L-R) Musicians Pharrell Williams, Thomas Bangalter, and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk accept the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award for 'Get Lucky'. (AFP)

French electro duo Daft Punk of course wore the ultimate accessory -- their trademark shiny helmets. And media reports said for their performance, they might change... into "Star Wars" Stormtrooper helmets.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis win best new artist

Winners For Best New Artist Macklemore (C) and Ryan Lewis accept their trophy on stage. (AFP)

US hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won the best new artist Grammy on Sunday, in the first major award handed out on music's biggest night.

The pair, who were also nominated for best album of the year for their record "The Heist," beat fellow new artist hopefuls rapper Kendrick Lamar, country music singer Kacey Musgraves, and British artists James Blake and Ed Sheeran.

Lorde beats veterans for solo Grammy

 Singer Lorde accepts the Best Pop Solo Performance award for 'Royals' onstage. (AFP)

New Zealand teenager Lorde on Sunday upset music veterans to win the Grammy for best pop solo performance with her chart-topping song "Royals."

Lorde, a poised 17-year-old, thanked her competitors who included Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry as she accepted the Grammy at the music industry's annual night in Los Angeles.

"This is the one thing that I did not expect the most about tonight," Lorde said, saying of her rivals for the Grammy: "I have been so inspired by all of your vocal work at some point in my life, so thank you

South African choir, Gipsy Kings rake in world Grammys

South African traditional choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo and flamenco fusionists the Gipsy Kings, both longtime favorites a the Grammys, on Sunday shared the award for best world music album.

The Gipsy Kings were nominated for a record sixth time for the Grammy for best world music album but won the award for the first time with "Savor Flamenco."

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