CLIVE THROWS A LITTLE PARTY FOR HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS
The heaviest of the heavy from the worlds of tech, politics, sports and showbiz—along with our embedded eavesdropper—gathered at the Beverly Hilton last night for the annual Clive Davis pre-Grammy bash. Luminaries included Al Gore, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Sony overlords Kaz Hirai and Michael Lynton, Jane Fonda, Jamie Foxx, Nancy Pelosi, Magic Johnson, Kathy Griffin, Joan Rivers’ daughter Melissa, Berry Gordy, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, plus artists like Joni Mitchell, Taylor Swift, Pharrell, Barry Manilow, Mark Ronson, Toni Braxton, Missy Elliott and Ricky Martin.
Sam Smith gave his second performance of the day, following Lucian Grainge’s artist showcase, pairing “My Funny Valentine” and “Stay With Me.”
Aloe Blacc, Miguel and JC Chazez joined Smokey Robinson on “My Girl.” Smokey handed the mic to EWF’s Phillip Bailey in the audience, who wailed a chorus while the ever-present Taylor danced behind him. Mary J. Blige then joined Smokey for a duet on “Being With You,” after which she sang her own “Doubt.”
Also performing were Iggy, Rita Ora and Jennifer Hudson; Johnny Mathis; Carole King (who handed the mic to John Legend for a chorus of “You’ve Got a Friend”); Legend and Meghan Trainor.
Pharrell sang “Get Lucky” and battled technical difficulties through “Happy.” “If you’re going to change the key,” he quipped, “you have to tell me so a cat can land on his feet, you know?”
Pentatonix delighted the crowd with a Bee Gees medley, setting up Barry Gibb, who warbled through “To Love Somebody.”
The crowd cracked up throughout the Marty Bandier tribute video, which featured cameos from John McEnroe, Bob Costas, Gilbert Gottfried, Lady Gaga, Sting, Taylor, Pharrell, Pitbull, Iggy Azalea (with Marty on cue cards), Irving Azoff, Allen Grubman and Gordy.
Among the biggest laughs in the video: Curb’s Susie Essman derides Taylor for being young and pretty by pointing to her own face and saying, “Taylor, this is your future.” Gaga reveals that her name was originally Lady Gagaga, but Marty suggested she drop the middle “ga,” after which she never looked back. Pharrell plays “Happy” for Marty, who tells him it’s a terrible premise for a song because it’s “been done to death”; Pharrell then asks Marty what he should be singing about, and after a brief hesitation, Marty replies, “Anxiety—anxiety is very hot now. People are anxious.”
In his acceptance speech, Bandier got a rousing ovation when he said, “I would not be here without the songwriters, and it’s my mission to make sure they are compensated for their creations.” Click here for a transcript of Bandier's remarks.
Near the end of the evening, Clive reassured the gathering, stating that “The industry will be more vital than ever in the future.”
