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“Music makes the people come together.”

Rarely has an opening song spoken more directly to the spirit of the GRAMMYs than Madonna’s “Music,” which kick started the 43rd annual show in Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Her Blondness made a big entrance onto the stage in a glittery limo driven by Lil’ Bow Wow. Soon the number took a sexier turn, and at one point, Madonna took off her leather jacket to reveal a Material Girl T-shirt and then seemed to thoroughly enjoy what is perhaps best described as a cargasm.

Host Jon Stewart established his self-deprecating tone right off, talking about how he’s getting older and noting, “As I was watching Madonna writhing around on the hood of the car, all I could think was — that’s really gonna drive up her insurance premiums.”

Yet it was not Madonna providing the biggest controversy du jour on this GRAMMY night. Instead, the big talk of the night was <a href="/grammys/artists/eminem">Eminem</a> who had already achieved tremendous commercial success, but not yet the mainstream cultural respectability that would come with the film 8 Mile two years later. Often criticized for homophobic and sexist lyrics, Eminem made huge headlines by agreeing to perform “Stan,” his edgy song about an obsessed fan, with openly gay music legend Elton John.

Stewart both commented on the tension and slyly diffused it, explaining in his monologue, “There’s a tremendous amount of controversy here tonight. I think we have to deal with it right off the top. I don’t know what all the controversy is about, quite frankly. I’ve met Eminem. I met him backstage and he’s really gay. I mean just about the gayest guy you’d ever meet.”

Before the night’s most buzzed about unlikely duo took the stage, a procession of other significant stars took their turn: ’N Sync (introduced by Stewart as including two extra members, “Fredo” and “Kitten”) performed an inventively lit rendition of “This I Promise You.” <a href="/grammys/artists/sheryl-crow">Sheryl Crow</a> (who took home Best Female Rock Vocal Performance (for “There Goes The Neighborhood” from Live In Central Park) and Shelby Lynne (who won Best New Artist) teamed up for a strong duet on Crow’s “The Difficult Kind.” Moby, Jill Scott and the Blue Man Group pooled their deep talents on Moby’s “Natural Blues” for one of the more beautiful and experimental GRAMMY performances. Destiny’s Child sang “Independent Women, Part 1” and “Say My Name” for a big, sultry three-ring production number. Later, <a href="/grammys/artists/faith-hill">Faith Hill</a> would perform “Breathe” in front of assorted art masterpieces looking very much like a masterpiece herself.

And when Eminem first took to the stage for his acceptance speech for the Best Rap Album GRAMMY for The Marshall Mathers LP, he came across as charming and uncharacteristically diplomatic. “What should I say first?” he asked openly. “I guess, first of all, I want to thank everybody who could look past the controversy or whatever and see the album for what it was...and also for what it isn’t.” Among the many people he thanked was his mentor <a href="/grammys/artists/dr-dre">Dr. Dre</a>, named Producer Of The Year.

“I don’t know how you feel, but I was very impressed by Eminem’s poise,” the host noted later. “I really think this experience is gonna help him grow as a person. As a matter of fact, after doing the duet with Elton John, I’ve heard that he’s agreed to go to the bathroom with George Michael as well.” Despite considerable laughter, Stewart then added, “Can I say something: I feel your scorn and I accept it.”

There was no scorn and a few big awards for <a href="/grammys/artists/u2">U2</a>. The band performed a fittingly radiant version of “Beautiful Day,” which was named Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. During an acceptance speech, Bono said, “It’s a very unusual emotion I’m feeling right now. I think it’s called humility. The whole year’s been humbling — going back to scratch, reapplying for the job. What job? The best band in the world job.” Meanwhile, it was a significantly older band who won Album Of The Year: Steely Dan for their impressive comeback effort, Two Against Nature.

When they finally hit the stage, Eminem and Elton John didn’t seem like two against nature, or even two against the world, but an unbeatable musical team. Academy President Michael Greene introduced the performance, pointing out, “We can’t edit out the art that makes us uncomfortable — remember that’s what our parents tried to do to Elvis, the Stones and the Beatles.” In the end, Eminem and Elton John’s GRAMMY date with destiny was nervy, artistic and a defining moment in GRAMMY history.

Say My Name (Single)

Music (Track)

I Try (Single)

Bye Bye Bye (Track)

Beautiful Day

Record Of The Year

You're The One (Album)

Two Against Nature

The Marshall Mathers LP (Album)

Midnite Vultures (Album)

Kid A (Album)

Album Of The Year

I Hope You Dance (Single)

Breathe (Single)

Song Of The Year

Best New Artist

What A Girl Wants (Single)

Save Me (Track)

Oops!...I Did It Again (Track)

I Try

Both Sides Now (Track)

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

You Sang To Me (Single)

Taking You Home (Track)

She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa)

She Bangs (Single)

6, 8, 12 (Single)

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely (Single)

Pinch Me (Track)

Cousin Dupree

Breathless (Track)

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

Turn Your Lights Down Low (Track)

The Difficult Kind (Track)

Thank God I Found You (Track)

Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)

All The Way (Track)

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Zona Mona (Track)

Rebel Heart (Track)

Overture (Selmasongs) (Track)

Caravan

Camaleao (Track)

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Who Let The Dogs Out

Natural Blues (Single)

Let's Get Loud (Track)

Blue (Da Ba Dee) (Track)

Be With You (Track)

Best Dance Recording

Symphony No. 1

Pieces In A Modern Style (Album)

Hymns - In The Garden (Album)

Faith - A Holiday Album (Album)

Audio (Album)

Best Pop Instrumental Album

Oops!...I Did It Again (Album)

No Strings Attached (Album)

Music (Album)

Inside Job (Album)

Best Pop Vocal Album

Timeless - Live In Concert (Album)

Songs From The Last Century (Album)

It's Like This (Album)

Both Sides Now

As Time Goes By (Album)

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

There Goes The Neighborhood

So Pure (Track)

Paper Bag (Track)

Glitter In Their Eyes (Track)

Enough Of Me (Track)

Best Female Rock Vocal Performance

Workin' It (Track)

Thursday's Child (Track)

Things Have Changed (Track)

Into The Void (Track)

Again

Best Male Rock Vocal Performance

With Arms Wide Open (Single)

Learn To Fly (Track)

It's My Life (Track)

Californication (Track)

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

Take A Look Around (Theme From "M:I-2") (Track)

Guerrilla Radio

Grievance (Track)

Down (Track)

American Bad Ass (Track)

Best Hard Rock Performance

Wait And Bleed

The Wicker Man (Track)

Revolution Is My Name (Track)

Elite

Astonishing Panorama Of The Endtimes (Track)

Best Metal Performance

Until We Say Goodbye (Track)

The Call Of Ktulu

Off The Hook (Track)

First Tube (Track)

Electric Lullaby (Track)

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

With Arms Wide Open

Kryptonite (Track)

Bent (Track)

Again (Single)

Best Rock Song

There Is Nothing Left To Lose

The Battle Of Los Angeles (Album)

Return Of Saturn (Album)

Mad Season (Album)

Crush (Album)

Best Rock Album

When The Pawn (Album)

Liverpool Sound Collage (Album)

Kid A

Bloodflowers (Album)

Best Alternative Music Album

Try Again (Single)

He Wasn't Man Enough

Gettin' In The Way (Track)

Bag Lady (Single)

As We Lay (Track)

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Untitled (How Does It Feel)

Thong Song (Track)

Stay Or Let It Go (Single)

I Wish (Single)

I Wanna Know (Track)

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

Say My Name

Pass You By (Single)

Dance Tonight (Track)

Coming Back Home (Track)

911 (Track)

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

Untitled (How Does It Feel) (Track)

Thong Song (Single)

He Wasn't Man Enough (Single)

Best R&B Song

Who Is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol. 1 (Album)

Voodoo

Unleash The Dragon (Album)

The Heat (Album)

Nathan / Michael / Shawn / Wanya (Album)

My Name Is Joe (Album)

Best R&B Album

That's For Sure (Album)

Gotta Get The Groove Back (Album)

Ear-Resistible

Cool (Album)

All The Man You Need (Album)

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album

The Real Slim Shady

The Light

Shake Ya Ass (Track)

Party Up (Single)

Country Grammar (Single)

Best Rap Solo Performance

The Next Episode (Track)

Oooh. (Single)

Forgot About Dre

Big Pimpin' (Track)

Alive (Track)

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

Vol. 3...Life And Times Of S. Carter (Album)

The Marshall Mathers LP

Dr. Dre - 2001 (Album)

Country Grammar (Album)

...And Then There Was X (Album)

Best Rap Album

Travelin' Prayer (Track)

That's The Way (Single)

Real Live Woman (Track)

I Hope You Dance (Track)

Breathe

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

Solitary Man

One Voice (Single)

My Best Friend (Track)

Feels Like Love (Track)

A Thousand Miles From Nowhere (Track)

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

You'll Always Be Loved By Me

Woody's Roundup (Track)

Twentieth Century (Single)

Jimmy's Got A Girlfriend (Single)

Cherokee Maiden

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

43rd Annual GRAMMY Awards