As befits a show honoring music, the Grammys rolled out one musical performance after another last night (Feb 8). Oh, it still gave out awards -- 108 in 31 categories all total -- but it only aired a select few categories live. Many of the awards were given out before the camera even started rolling for the live broadcast on CBS.

The show started with the Gorillaz performing their Grammy-winning hit "Feel Good, Inc." As the band is actually animated (the members behind the group refuse to use their real personas), the performance was generated via holographic images, complete with Murdoc in his underwear and cape. After a live rap by De La Soul, Madonna rose up from a corner of the stage and the music segued into her recent hit, "Hung Up." She pranced around in a sequined lavender leotard with a matching corset and sequined knee-high stockings, playing off the holograms, before moving to a side stage and reenacting bits from her video with a bevy of dancers. I think it was one of her better performances of the many Grammy appearances she's made over the years.

There were twenty-five more musical performances to come, but an impromptu one took place during the first televised award announcement. Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder offered up a spirited a capella version of Wonder's classic hit, "Higher Ground," that the two dedicated to the memory of civil rights leader Coretta Scott King, who recently passed away.

Kelly Clarkson took home that first award, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, for her hit single, "Since U Been Gone." An overwhelmed Clarkson took to the podium and managed to squeak out a tearful, "Y'all, I'm terrible at speaking when I cry, so sorry. Thank you so very much!" If you thought she was blubbery when she won the first American Idol -- that's nothing compared to her reaction at winning her first Grammy tonight. Clarkson actually won a second one later in the evening, at which point, she exclaimed, "I don't know what's going on, but thank you!"

Coldplay performed their hit, "Talk," with vocalist Chris Martin marching into the audience for a bit. They were followed by John Legend performing the jazzy ballad, "Ordinary People," a song which would help him win three Grammys before the night was over, including the coveted Best New Artist award.

Country group Sugarland took the stage next, performing "Something More" as a duo, having recently parted ways with founder Kristen Hall (read the story). The performance itself was marred at the beginning by a sound bleed from the wireless microphone, that sounded like noise from the sound control booth, but the band pushed through it and turned in a great performance. Lead singer Jennifer Nettles was joined afterwards by the duo of Big & Rich to announce both the Lifetime Achievement Award had been presented to country legend Merle Haggard, but to announce the Best Country Album category. Alison Krauss and Union Station walked away with this award, their third of the evening.

Following a commercial break, U2, "the loudest folk band in the world" according to lead singer Bono, took to the stage to perform an abbreviated version of their hit, "Vertigo," amidst much fog and spinning lights. They then brought out R&B vocalist Mary J. Blige to duet with them on "One." I thought this version was slightly better than when they dueted on the song at the televised Katrina benefit last September.

Actor Matt Dillion and rapper Ludacris, who both won SAG awards last month for the movie, Crash, announced David Bowie was another recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award this year, then presented the award for Best Rap Album to Kanye West. West, finally vindicated after losing out last year, read off a piece of paper that had "THANK YOU LIST" printed out in black letters on the back. Visual sarcasm, perhaps? West went on to win two more awards for the evening.

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers came onstage to briefly introduce a live performance by the now-Grammy winning vocalist Kelly Clarkson. She performed a beautiful version of her ballad, "Because of You." A slight nervous twinge came through now and then, but her voice was strong in all the right places.

Gwen Stefani and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong then took the stage to announce the Best Rock Album category. U2 won their first of five awards starting with this announcement. Bono was so excited, that he bypassed Armstrong holding out the award to kneel down in front of Stefani and kiss her pregnant belly.

At this point, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres walked out and gave, what in my opinion, was the best intro of the evening. After stating, "Our next performer needs no introduction..." she simply turned around and left the stage. The curtain rose, and it seems she was correct -- it was Paul McCartney, in his first Grammy performance ever. He performed his recent single, "Fine Line," before mocking his debut by stating, "This is the first time I've ever played the Grammys. I finally passed the audition, so I feel the need to rock a bit." He then ripped out a fantastic version of "Helter Skelter" that should have taught the kids watching a thing or two

Another commercial, another musical performance -- this time from an angelic looking Mariah Carey, dressed in a form fitting white dress. It's hard to believe it's already been sixteen years since she won her first Grammy, for Best New Artist. Carey performed "We Belong Together" with Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Choir backing her up.

Faith Hill and Keith Urban then shared the stage, trading off hits. Urban was up first with his cross-genre hit, "You'll Think of Me" and then he segued off to Hill who performed, "Lucky One." Hill actually helped give Urban his first big push a few years ago when she and her husband, Tim McGraw, took Urban out on tour with them. It was good to see them sharing a stage again, if briefly.

After another award presentation, comedian Dave Chapell took to the stage to intro the all-star tribute to Sly and the Family Stone. Joss Stone (who had one of the best performances at last year's Grammys) once again belted her heart out, alongside John Legend and Van Hunt, on "Family Affair." American Idol contestant Fantasia and Devin Lima (a former member of the pop vocal trio LFO) dueted next on an energetic "If You Want Me to Stay," which shifted into an almost lifeless version of "Everyday People" performed by Ciara and Maroon 5. Black Eyed Pea's Will.i.am came on next with a rap of "Dance To the Music," followed by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry with Robert Randolph on a rockin' version of "Take You Higher." Now, it should be said that up until the actual moment when he walked onstage, many were wondering if Sly Stone would even show for his big tribute. And when he did, he shocked Grammy members and the audience even further by sporting a tall platinum blonde mohawk and a shiny silver suit. He briefly joined in the all-star jam ending, but promptly left before the last note sounded out--but hey, at least he showed and seemed a bit pleased with the fuss being made about him and his music.

Following an intro by LL Cool J, rapper Jay-Z and rockers Linkin Park took to the stage to perform their Grammy-winning collaboration, "Numb/Encore." Towards the end, they started into a version of the Beatles' classic "Yesterday" -- and out walks McCartney to sing with them. Guess he really did want to rock out! But it was a great moment and they all appeared to enjoy performing together on this live mash-up.

A long-haired Tom Hanks (on break from filming The Da Vinci Code in Europe) introduced Bruce Springsteen, who performed a very somber and low-lit version of "Devils & Dust." As he walked off the stage, he uttered a heartfelt, "Bring 'em home!" (referring to the troops overseas). He was followed by Destiny's Child presenting U2 with their second award of the evening. "If you think this is going to go to our head...it's too late!" Bono jokingly exclaimed.

A taped mini-interview with Kanye West followed the next commercial break, and ended with him proclaiming they (the censors) had better start that five-second delay. What followed next, had to be the best, most energetic...heck, even the most original...performance of the evening, with West and Jamie Foxx squaring off with dueling marching bands. The "K.W. State" band vs. the "J. F.U." band battle started in the audience before they all marched onto the stage for a rendition of "Gold Digger" that had everyone's booty shaking. They even threw in a few cheerleaders in gold lame bikinis and the "Broke Phi Broke" rapper/dancer posse (loved the chant of "assume the Broke position" as the dancers slouched, hands in pockets), just for good measure. Then West and Foxx changed into slick three-piece suits for the closing. Hey, gotta work the bling in somehow.

To go from that great performance to the duet between Herbie Hancock and Christina Aguilera was probably the worst scheduling of the evening's live acts. Aguilera, who normally is at least a bit restrained, was so over the top with her bombastic singing style that even Hancock raised a few eyebrows in her direction as he played the piano. Don't get me wrong, I normally love her voice, and she started out fine, but the ending histrionics were just too over the top -- especially on a jazz number where a bit of understated vocals would have served the song better.

What was supposed to be a tribute to Richard Pryor, who was being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, got cut short, with the video clip being jettisoned to make sure the show came in on time. Too bad nobody bothered to notify Queen Latifah, who was left standing stunned in the center of the stage, waiting for a clip to roll that never came.

The Grammy telecast ended with an all-star tribute to the music of New Orleans that included everyone from Bonnie Raitt and Dr. John to Alain Toussant and Elvis Costello. It was enjoyable, but I think most people watching were already starting to change the channel before the jam ended.

All in all, the show went pretty much as I expected. Some decent performances with a smattering of outstanding ones mixed in. No real surprises with the winners in the big categories -- ok, so Kanye would probably argue with me there. But overall, a fitting tribute to the many artists who made the music industry turn this last year...even if it did lose out to "American Idol" in the evening's ratings war.

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For a complete listing of all the winners for the 2006 Grammys, please visit the companion article at: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art40448.asp