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Rookie Sam Smith rules the night at Grammy Awards (w/video)

 
Madonna, dressed as a matador and surrounded by dancers in bull headgear, sings Living for Love.
Madonna, dressed as a matador and surrounded by dancers in bull headgear, sings Living for Love.
Published Feb. 9, 2015

LOS ANGELES — Sam Smith was the king of the Grammys, taking home three of the top four awards, including song and record of the year for Stay With Me, and best new artist, while Beck won album of the year.

"I want to thank the man who this record is about . . . Thank you so much for breaking my heart because I have four Grammys," said Smith, who also won best pop vocal album for In the Lonely Hour.

Smith, along with Beyoncé, Pharrell and Ed Sheeran, lost album of the year to Beck's Morning Phase, which also won best rock album.

Kanye West, who famously interrupted Taylor Swift when she beat Beyoncé at the MTV Video Music Awards, almost walked onstage when Prince announced Beck's name. Some in the audience seemed shocked, from Pharrell to Questlove.

Beck's album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and sold about 300,000.

Pharrell, Beyoncé and Rosanne Cash walked away with three awards each. Pharrell won best pop solo performance for a live version of Happy, released in 2013. He also won best music video for the song and best urban contemporary album for G I R L, beating Beyoncé.

"I am going to moonwalk my way off the stage right now," said Pharrell, wearing a blazer and shorts.

Katy Perry, in all white, sang the ballad By the Grace of God after a woman who had been abused talked about getting help and moving on with her life. A video of President Barack Obama appeared before she spoke, and he encouraged artists to help out.

"It's on us, all of us, to create a culture where violence isn't tolerated," he said.

Kanye West performed on a nearly pitch-black stage, with a light glowing from under his feet (he also sported the new sneakers he designed). He sang the new song about his late mother, Only One, which features Paul McCartney.

Annie Lennox was a powerhouse when she sang I Put A Spell On You and joined Hozier for Take Me to Church, nominated for song off the year.

Smith, who won best new artist and pop vocal album for In the Lonely Hour" is set to perform with Mary J. Blige. He said he only found success in music once he found his own voice.

"I just wannasay that before I made this record, I was doing everything to try to get my music heard ... I tried to lose weight and I was making awful music. It was when I started to be myself that the music flowed," he told the crowd.

Taylor Swift presented best new artist to her friend, who is nominated for album, song and record of the year.

Beyoncé won best R&B song and R&B performance for Drunk In Love and surround sound album for Beyonce.

"This has been such an incredible year," she said, thanking her "beloved husband" and "my daughter who is watching."