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7 must-see performances at the 2017 Grammys


Los Angeles - The Grammy Awards on Sunday brought some of music's top stars to the televised stage with performances that ranged from heartfelt tributes to intense political statements.

Here is a look at some of the key performances:

1. Mother Beyoncé

Making her first public appearance since announcing she was pregnant with twins, Beyoncé delivered a New Age celebration of motherhood before the massive global televised audience.

2. Bruno Mars goes purple

Bruno Mars channelled Prince with an electrifying performance in which the young star uncannily impersonated the late pop icon.

3. 'President Agent Orange'

In the most politically charged moment of the evening, leading rappers came together to denounce President Donald Trump and his anti-immigration stance.

Busta Rhymes - on stage with A Tribe Called Quest and Anderson .Paak - mocked Trump's appearance and vowed to keep opposing him.

"I just want to thank President Agent Orange for perpetuating all the evil you've been perpetuating," Busta Rhymes said in a mock award acceptance speech.

"We come together! We the people!" he shouted as fellow performers knocked through a wall on stage - a reference to Trump's plan to build a wall on the border with Mexico.

4. Lady Gaga goes metal

Lady Gaga found herself at ease as a metalhead as she danced at a maddening pace in a collaboration with Metallica. The energetic performance suffered a glitch, though, as the microphone was off on Metallica frontman James Hetfield - who in a bit of quick thinking shared a mic with Lady Gaga.

5. Katy Perry returns 

Returning to the live stage after a brief hiatus, pop superstar Katy Perry offered a subtle political critique with an armband that read, "Resist."

Perry, one of the top celebrity backers of Hillary Clinton's unsuccessful presidential campaign, sported newly blonde hair as she sang on a stage transformed into a revolving house.

She sang her new song Chained to the Rhythm - whose lyricism warns of media bubbles - with reggae legend Bob Marley's grandson Skip, who joined her at the end with a triumphant arm embrace.

6. The robots are back 

The reclusive French duo Daft Punk performed for the first time in public in three years as they joined R&B sensation The Weeknd.

7. Ed goes solo

Singing his very successful new single Shape of You, Ed became a one-man band on stage as he looped and layered his was through the song.

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