Kevin Bacon reprised his position in Footloose to honor the title observe’s songwriter, R.E.M. reunited after calling it quits 13 years in the past, and SZA mentioned successful an honor for her songwriting “validates my entire career.” All this and extra occurred at a jam-packed and starry Songwriters Corridor of Fame Induction and Awards gala on Tuesday night time, as R.E.M., Timbaland, Steely Dan, Hillary Lindsey and Dean Pitchford formally grew to become members of the distinguished group’s 2024 class.
Jason Isbell honored R.E.M. — who break up in 2011 after three a long time of success — with a efficiency of “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine).”
“I don’t know if humanity will make it another thousand years, but if we do, a weird kid in a tiny town will hear “Nightswimming” and really feel [something],” Isbell mentioned to cheers from the group.
Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Invoice Berry and Mike Mills joined forces onstage to carry out “Losing My Religion,” successful over the viewers on the New York Marriott Marquis.
SZA, who was essentially the most nominated act at this 12 months’s Grammys and remains to be driving excessive off of the success of her SOS album, carried out an acoustic model of her hit “Snooze” alongside frequent collaborator Carter Lang. She earned the Hal David Starlight Award — an honor for younger songwriters — saying “I feel like this means the most to me.”
“As an artist, I’ve been a lot of different people. I’ve been 200 pounds. I’ve been 130 pounds. I’ve been someone who doesn’t dance at all onstage, someone that can only close their eyes and look down, someone that is dancing and trying their best. I’ve just been all these things and I feel like, ‘Oh man, I struggle at the artist-thing.’ Like writing was where I felt like a person and that I had value and that I could show that I was smart, and it was beyond, ‘Am I pretty? Am I liked?’ And that basically meant everything to me,” she mentioned.
“It made me feel like a person, that I was doing something worth something. So basically receiving this award validates my entire career.”
SZA was launched by Songwriters Corridor chairman Nile Rodgers, who earned a standing ovation when he referred to as out Spotify and mentioned the streaming platform must do a greater job prioritizing and acknowledging songwriters.
Pitchford, who received the very best authentic tune Oscar for writing “Fame” from Fame, was honored with two performances: Bacon and his brother Michael — aka the Bacon Brothers — carried out “Footloose,” whereas Deniece Williams sang “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” Each songs from Footloose earned Pitchford Oscar nominations.
Missy Elliott — who grew to become the primary feminine rapper inducted into the Songwriters Corridor 5 years in the past — confirmed as much as honor her musical associate Timbaland. The beatmaker and producer thanked a number of artists in his speech, together with Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Magoo. “I owe my career to Missy Elliott,” he mentioned.
Ending his speech, he informed the Songwriters Corridor: “Thanks for giving me a seat at the table — I’ve been waiting a long time.”
Steely Dan’s longtime supervisor, Irving Azoff, informed tales concerning the band that earned laughs from the viewers, and Trey Anastasio honored Donald Fagen and the late Walter Becker with a rousing efficiency. Carrie Underwood and Keith City spoke extremely of Lindsey, who carried out a medley of the hits she’s co-written, together with Woman Gaga’s “A Million Reasons” and City’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
The night time ended with 15-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren, who was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor in 2001 and earned the Johnny Mercer Award on Tuesday night time. Andra Day honored Warren with a efficiency whereas El DeBarge shocked the viewers by singing his household band’s 1985 groove “Rhythm of the Night,” which Warren wrote.
“AI worries about Diane Warren,” Paul Williams mentioned onstage as he paid tribute to the prolific author.
