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While many past GRAMMY telecasts have turned into colorful coronations of artists who enjoyed larger-than-life years (<a href="/artists/michael-jackson/13202" target="_blank">Michael Jackson</a>'s eight GRAMMYs in 1983, Santana's eight in 1999, <a href="/artists/beyonce-knowles/12474" target="_blank">Beyoncé</a>'s six in 2009, and <a href="/artists/adele/528" target="_blank">Adele</a>'s six in 2011), the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards spread the wealth among a crop of younger artists who set the stage for the century's second decade in music.

Roots-influenced rockers the <a href="/artists/black-keys/8120" target="_blank">Black Keys</a> won three awards in the Rock Field (and guitarist/singer Dan Auerbach added one more for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical.

Rap stalwarts <a href="/artists/jay-z/9815" target="_blank">Jay-Z</a> and <a href="/artists/kanye-west/6900" target="_blank">Kanye West</a> won three GRAMMYs each, all for their collaborations on Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Songwinner "N****s In Paris" and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration winner "No Church In The Wild" (featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream).

Then came more relative newcomers: Skrillex added three GRAMMYs to his three from last year; <a href="/artists/gotye/2402" target="_blank">Gotye</a> rode "Somebody That I Used To Know" (featuring <a href="/artists/kimbra/3581" target="_blank">Kimbra</a>), which became the most idiosyncratic radio hit of 2012, to three awards, including Record Of The Year; <a href="/artists/fun/15812" target="_blank">Fun.</a> won their first two GRAMMYs for Song Of The Year for "We Are Young" (featuring <a href="/artists/janelle-monae/4464" target="_blank">Janelle Monáe</a>) and Best New Artist; and Mumford &amp; Sons, one of the trailblazers for the new wave of acoustic roots artists, won Album Of The Year for Babel.

Some of the winning artists were so new, they took other winners by surprise.

"Miguel, I don't know who the hell you are, but we need to sing together," shouted <a href="/artists/kelly-clarkson/11249" target="_blank">Kelly Clarkson</a> while collecting her Best Pop Vocal Album GRAMMY for Stronger, referring to <a href="/artists/miguel/4571" target="_blank">Miguel</a>'s brief slow jam of his Best R&amp;B Song winner "Adorn" (on which he teamed with Wiz Khalifa). "That was the sexiest damn thing I've ever seen."

It was more than a fresh breeze that blew over the 55th GRAMMYs, it was arguably a wind of change.

Still, the telecast remained music's biggest melting pot, with performances that brought innumerous ingredients to the stew, starting with one that was a virtual stew all on its own. With nose-thumbing clowns, a wheelchair-bound Mephisto and scary puppeteers, <a href="/artists/taylor-swift/15450" target="_blank">Taylor Swift</a> turned in the most threatening "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" ever.

British singer/songwriter <a href="/artists/ed-sheeran/6178" target="_blank">Ed Sheeran</a> teamed with the head of his management company, <a href="/artists/elton-john/12074" target="_blank">Elton John</a>, for a strong reading of the former's Song Of The Year-nominated "The A Team," the tale of a homeless addict.

Fun. brought drama to "Carry On," their song of perseverance, in the form of both their anthemic ambition and a rainstorm of real water that drenched their set.

<a href="/artists/miranda-lambert/4851" target="_blank">Miranda Lambert</a> and Dierks Bentley, met under a large blue tree for intimate duets of her "Over You" and his "Home."

Mumford &amp; Sons gave a jolt to the crowd with their endlessly energetic "I Will Wait." The way they attacked their acoustic guitars would have made Pete Townshend proud.

Breaking a seven-year hiatus from live music performance, Justin Timberlake hit a sepia-toned stage for a suave medley of his new "Suit &amp; Tie" (on which he was joined by Jay-Z) and "Pusher Love Girl" from his 2013 album, The 20/20 Experience.

In another unique pairing, <a href="/artists/maroon-5/13090" target="_blank">Maroon 5</a> and <a href="/artists/alicia-keys/12104" target="_self">Alicia Keys</a> teamed for the former's "Daylight" and the latter's "Girl On Fire," both songs that kindle with power and emotion.

<a href="/artists/rihanna/5943" target="_blank">Rihanna</a> was joined by Mikky Ekko for "Stay," a song he co-wrote and on which he is a featured vocalist. With Rihanna in a simple black dress on a no-frills stage, the song's message of passion over logic bore through.

The Black Keys wasted no time revving up "Lonely Boy." The rocker, which owes a debt to rockabilly, swamp rock and electric blues, was punctuated by the New Orleans piano of Best Blues Album GRAMMY winner Dr. John and a pinch of Dixieland from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Clarkson returned for a vocal salute to two giant female artists, both of whom received Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2013. First up was "Tennessee Waltz" in honor of Patti Page, followed by "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)," co-written by Carole King.

The tributes continued with a nod to Bob Marley, who was the subject of the Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media-nominated Marley. Two of the performers, like Marley, hail from tropical islands: <a href="/artists/bruno-mars/5082" target="_blank">Bruno Mars</a> from Hawaii and Rihanna from Barbados. Also joining was Sting, whose music with the Police owed a debt to reggae and ska. Mars began with his own "Locked Out Of Heaven" followed by the similar-sounding Police chestnut "Walking On The Moon." Rihanna emerged with Ziggy and Damian Marley for their father's "Could You Be Loved."

<a href="/artists/lumineers/14762" target="_blank">The Lumineers </a>played a shortened version of their inescapable hit "Ho Hey" before introducing <a href="/artists/jack-white/15627" target="_blank">Jack White</a>. The latter played "Love Interruption" with his all-female band the Peacocks. He then segued into the harder "Freedom At 21" with male backers the Buzzards. By the time he finished the tumult, he had thrown and stepped on his guitar, leaving a sonic residue of decaying feedback.

<a href="/artists/hunter-hayes/9010" target="_blank">Hunter Hayes</a> played a portion of his hit "Wanted" solo on piano before bringing out fellow country star <a href="/artists/carrie-underwood/10381" target="_blank">Carrie Underwood</a> for a stripped-down version of her Best Country Solo Performance winner "Blown Away." Underwood's awe-inspiring vocals were matched by her billowy dress, which doubled as a projection screen to depict the heartbreak of the song.

The 2013 In Memoriam segment was bookended by two memorable tributes. The first featured pianist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and sax player Kenny Garrett honoring the late Dave Brubeck with the timeless, and time-challenging, "Take Five" along with "Blue Rondo À La Turk."

Following the segment, an all-star cast including Zac Brown, T Bone Burnett, <a href="/artists/alabama-shakes/14656" target="_blank">Alabama Shakes</a>' Brittany Howard, Elton John, Mumford &amp; Sons, and Mavis Staples sang a gritty "The Weight" in honor of Levon Helm, who sang the original with the Band.

Juanes added a verse of español to the proceedings with a loving acoustic Spanglish rendition of Elton John's "Your Song," before introducing <a href="/artists/frank-ocean/15669" target="_blank">Frank Ocean</a>. The first Best Urban Contemporary Album winner sang his elegiac "Forrest Gump" backed by running-sequence footage similar to the film of the same name.

After the show's most somber performance, the 55th GRAMMYs rode out on a burst of old-school rap energy, with GRAMMY host LL Cool J teaming with Chuck D, Travis Barker, Tom Morello, and DJ Z-Trip for his own "Whaddup" and a brief tribute to fallen Beastie Boy Adam Yauch with "No Sleep Till Brooklyn."

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Thinkin Bout You

Somebody That I Used To Know

We Are Young

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Lonely Boy

Record Of The Year

Blunderbuss

Channel Orange

Babel

Some Nights

El Camino

Album Of The Year

Call Me Maybe

Adorn

The A Team

Song Of The Year

Best New Artist

Where Have You Been

Wide Awake

Set Fire To The Rain [Live]

Best Pop Solo Performance

Payphone

Sexy And I Know It

Shake It Out

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Rumbadoodle

Live At The Blue Note Tokyo

Four Hands & A Heart Volume One

Impressions

24/7

Best Pop Instrumental Album

The Truth About Love

Overexposed

Ceremonials

Stronger

Best Pop Vocal Album

I Can't Live Without You

Don't You Worry Child

Bangarang

Let's Go

Levels

Best Dance Recording

Fire & Ice

> Album Title Goes Here <

Don't Think

Wonderland

Best Dance/Electronica Album

Kisses On The Bottom

A Holiday Carole

Christmas

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

We Take Care Of Our Own

I Will Wait

Charlie Brown

Hold On

Best Rock Performance

Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)

No Reflection

Ghost Walking

Blood Brothers

Love Bites (So Do I)

I'm Alive

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

Madness

Freedom At 21

Best Rock Song

Wrecking Ball

The 2nd Law

Mylo Xyloto

Best Rock Album

Bad As Me

Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.

Making Mirrors

Biophilia

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Best Alternative Music Album

Climax

I Want You

Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)

Thank You

Best R&B Performance

If Only You Knew

Real Good Hands

Wrong Side Of A Love Song

Love On Top

Lately

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Refill

Pray For Me

Heart Attack

Beautiful Surprise

Best R&B Song

Kaleidoscope Dream

Fortune

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Open Invitation

Write Me Back

Back To Love

Black Radio

Best R&B Album

I Do

Mercy

Daughters

N****s In Paris

HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)

Best Rap Performance

Talk That Talk

Cherry Wine

Tonight (Best You Ever Had)

No Church In The Wild

Wild Ones

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Young, Wild & Free

The Motto

Lotus Flower Bomb

Best Rap Song

Based On A T.R.U. Story

God Forgives, I Don't

Undun

Life Is Good

Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1

Take Care

Best Rap Album

Blown Away

Over

Wanted

Cost Of Livin'

Springsteen

Home

Best Country Solo Performance

I Just Come Here For The Music

On The Outskirts Of Town

Safe & Sound

Pontoon

Even If It Breaks Your Heart

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

So You Don't Have To Love Me Anymore

Best Country Song

The Time Jumpers

Four The Record

Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran

Hunter Hayes

Uncaged

Best Country Album

Troubadours On The Rhine

Light Body

Deep Alpha

Bindu

Live Ananda

Echoes Of Love

Best New Age Album

J. Mac

Alice In Wonderland

Hot House

Cross Roads

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Radio Music Society

The Book Of Chet

Live

1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project

Soul Shadows

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Unity Band

Blue Moon

Seeds From The Underground

Further Explorations

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You)

For The Moment

Centennial: Newly Discovered Works Of Gil Evans

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

New Cuban Express

Duos III

Multiverse

¡Ritmo!

Flamenco Sketches

Best Latin Jazz Album

My Testimony

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Go Get It

Take Me To The King

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

Released

I Feel Good

Best Gospel Song

Your Presence Is Heaven

White Flag

When Mercy Found Me

55th Annual GRAMMY Awards