The 20 best and worst Grammy moments

When Bob Dylan's associates hired dancers to "groove" to the legendary songwriter's performance of "Love Sick" at the 40th Grammy Awards, they got far more than they bargained for. Early in the song, performance artist Michael Portnoy tore off his shirt and danced spastically next to Dylan with the message "Soy Bomb" scrawled on his bare chest. He later explained the words were a reference to the "transformational, explosive" potential of art. Dylan's people were unaware of Portnoy's experimental-theater background, and refused to pay him for his unexpected services.

Jennifer Lopez scorched the red carpet at the 42nd Grammy Awards with this Versace silk chiffon dress notable for its plunging-to-the-navel neckline. It was all anyone was discussing the next day, overshadowing the show itself. The rabid online demand for pictures of J-Lo in the dress actually inspired Google to create their image search function. A month later, "South Park" co-creator Trey Parker arrived at the Oscars in a parody of the dress. Lopez still owns the original, but a replica is on display at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

It's certainly not uncommon for award-winning artists to thank the almighty in their acceptance speeches, but Helen Reddy gave the obligatory citation a feminist spin in winning Best Female Pop Performance for her empowerment anthem, "I Am Woman." "And I would like to thank God, because she makes everything possible.” It was just one of many righteous salvos fired off for the cause of women's liberation in the early 1970s, but this one was broadcast into the homes of millions of Americans. Hear her roar.

The late, great Ol' Dirty Bastard was not pleased that the Wu-Tang Clan lost Best Rap Album to Puff Daddy at the 40th Grammy Awards, so, naturally, he rushed the stage just as Shawn Colvin was being presented with the Song of the Year Grammy to voice his disapproval. After lamenting that he'd bought an expensive suit for the ceremony, ODB informed a rapt, if slightly confused, audience that "Wu-Tang is for the children. We teach the children." He expressed respect for Puffy, and pledged his love to everyone watching before being ushered off the stage.

Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan were the toast of the pop music world when they took home the Best New Artist Grammy in 1990, but when it was revealed they "did not sing a note" on their debut LP "Girl You Know It's True" the Recording Academy had no choice but to revoke their award. Pilatus and Morvan asked for their trophies to be given to the artists who actually sang their hits, but the award remains vacated. Milli Vanilli's attempted a comeback in 1998, but their effort was cut tragically short when Pilatus died of a suspected drug overdose.

When Sinead O'Connor was awarded the Best Alternative Music Performance Grammy in 1991 for "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," the Recording Academy might as well have given the trophy to the runner-up, as the fiery Irish songwriter had already announced she would not accept the honor on the grounds of overt commercialism (she also boycotted the ceremony). It was the first time an artist had refused a Grammy.

Eminem was on the ropes in early 2001, fighting off charges of homophobia due to the excessive use of gay slurs in his lyrics. The rapper was unapologetic, claiming the words, in his head, were non-specific insults along the lines of "punk" or "a**hole." The controversy came to a head at the 43rd Grammy Awards when Elton John joined Eminem for a stunning performance of the latter's "Stan." It didn't exactly get Em off the hook (he's proved quite adept at getting himself back on the hook in subsequent years), but unabashed support from an openly gay musician of John's stature temporarily took the heat off.

The Recording Academy took a significant step forward with the creation of the Best Rap Performance Grammy, but when it was announced that the award's presentation wouldn't be televised, many of the the nominees – including Will Smith (aka The Fresh Prince), Kool Moe Dee and Salt N Papa, decided they'd stay home (Smith's partner DJ Jazzy Jeff was present to accept their trophy). The Grammys got the message, and televised the award in 1990.

Madonna debuted her new single "Living for Love" at the 57th Grammy Awards in high style with a performance that proved the fifty-six-year-old musician still has sexiness to burn. Flanked by bare-chested minotaur dancers, the Material Girl reminded her younger competition what it takes to blow the roof off an awards show. 

After years of drug addiction and bitter business disputes with his former label, Motown, Marvin Gaye triumphantly returned to form in 1982 with the release of "Midnight Love," which included the biggest hit single of his career, "Sexual Healing." The Recording Academy joined the celebration by at last awarding Gaye with his first two Grammys. Gaye's comeback was sadly short-lived. In 1984, he was shot to death in his bed by his father.

Everyone knew the lyrics to Beyonce's "Drunk in Love" before she performed the song at the 56th Grammy Awards, but when placed under the national spotlight, her husband Jay Z's contribution to the song drew heightened criticism for its reference to Ike Turner's abuse of Tina Turner (as graphically depicted in the film "What's Love Got to Do With It"). "I'm Ike Turner, turn up / Baby, no, I don't play / Now eat the cake, Anna Mae / I said eat the cake, Anna Mae." Watching Jay Z say this to the mother of his daughter struck a decidedly sour note with many viewers.

Melissa Etheridge was still recovering from breast cancer when she took the stage to pay tribute to one of her heroes, Janis Joplin, at the 47th Grammy Awards, and absolutely shredded "Piece of My Heart." It's as brave and inspiring a performance as any the awards show has ever broadcast, and a stirring reminder of Etheridge's peerless ability to belt out a showstopper. She was joined by Joss Stone, who also did quite a number on "Cry Baby."

Tina Turner's is one of the great survival stories of the recording industry. Having freed herself from her abusive ex-husband, Ike, Turner roared back onto the scene in 1984 with the LP "Private Dancer," which sold 25 million copies worldwide. The magnitude of her comeback was palpably felt at the 27th Grammy Awards, where she took home three trophies including Record of the Year.

With the country reeling from fierce protests against police brutality, Kendrick Lamar pitched his searing 2016 performance directly at non-fans as much as fans. Lamar kicked things off with a chain-gang led "The Blacker the Berry," then launched into "Alright" while a fire blazed in the background. The set concluded with an image of Africa overlaid with the word "Compton." It was one of the most provocative performances in Grammy history, setting a high, thoughtful standard for anyone looking to use the ceremony as a political platform.

It's only the most transcendent performance in the history of the Grammys. Michael Jackson, riding high on the success of his latest LP "Bad," took over the broadcast for a full ten minutes with a medley of "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Man in the Mirror" that closed out with backup singers, a gospel choir and Jackson theatrically threatening to collapse ala James Brown before rousing himself to finish the song. No one could captivate an audience like Michael Jackson. This was a legend at the height of his once-in-a-lifetime powers.

Whatever Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp want to do on their own free time is their business, but when their pet project interferes with what should be a blistering tribute to heavy metal legend Lemmy of the band Motorhead, the whole endeavor comes off as the worst kind of vanity project. After performing one of their own songs, the Hollywood Vampires attempted to sink their teeth into Motorhead's "Ace of Spades."They couldn't even break the skin.

Now this is how you start an awards show. The 48th Grammys kicked off with His Royal Badness and Beyonce ecstatically tearing through a medley of "Purple Rain," "Baby I'm a Star," "Crazy in Love" and "Let's Go Crazy" – setting an impossible standard for everyone who had to follow them that evening. The highlight of the performance is watching Prince set up Beyonce at every turn, making sure the diva is the true center of the performance.

The time was right in 1985 for a tribute to the synthesizer. Even pure rockers like Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen were incorporating them into their music. So the Grammys rounded up four preeminent electronic key-ticklers (Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Thomas Dolby and then newcomer Howard Jones) to celebrate the instrument's potential. The performance was both hailed and reviled, but everyone should be able to agree that, in hindsight, this was peak 1980s.

You can get away with a lot at eighteen years old, but mangling the holy name of David Bowie is pushing it. Lavigne was one of several young artists announcing the nominees for the 46th Grammy Awards when she inadvertently made news with her mispronunciation of Bowie's last name (making him sound like the forward part of a boat). When asked about her mistake, she made matters worse by appearing to be completely unfamiliar with the man whose name she botched.

Eric Clapton was still mourning the accidental death of his four-year-old son Conor when he wrote "Tears in Heaven" for the soundtrack of the film "Rush." Though the film was not a hit, the song became a phenomenon, ending up as one of the top-selling singles of the 1990s. It was all a bittersweet success for Clapton, but no who watched it will ever forget his haunting performance of the song at the 35th Grammy Awards.