Performances light up the Grammys stage

Performers: Beyoncé and Jay Z | Set: Drunk in Love | Recap: Pop music’s reigning power couple chose for the opening duet not their nominated rap/sung collaboration Part II (On the Run) but this playful lust-fest from Bey’s recent, self-titled surprise epic. The diva (and her endless legs) appeared first, straddling and spinning suggestively around a chair, before being joined by her husband – who, though more conservatively dressed, quickly got into the sexy spirit.

Performer: Lorde | Set: Royals | Recap: The New Zealand-bred Cinderella darling of the moment more closely resembled a (lovely) Bride of Frankenstein being shocked to life as she jerked and gesticulated through her monster hit – which, lest we forget, was hip before it was inescapable.

Performer: Hunter Hayes | Set: Invisible | Recap: The country star began this deeply personal appeal to young fans, to not “be afraid” of marching to their own drummers, sitting at the piano. He then roamed the stage, physically reaching out to the audience to drive home his message. A quote from Johnny Depp, attesting to the actor’s own insecurity as a youth, was scribbled on a backdrop for further emphasis.

Performer: Katy Perry and Juicy J | Set: 'Dark Horse' | Recap: Pop diva Perry became a goth goddess – with fluorescent accents -- in a production number that combined horror-movie theatrics and creepy-crawly dancers. A more deadpan turn was added by Juicy J, who may as well have been narrating a bedtime story as rapping about a woman whose “love is like a drug.”

1/26/14 5:44:32 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Robin Thicke performs a medley of "Does Anyone Really Know what Time It Is?/Beginnings/Saturday in the Park/Blurred Lines with the band Chicago at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

1/26/14 5:49:52 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Keith Urban, left, and Gary Clarke Jr. perform "Cop Car" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

Performer: John Legend | Set: 'All of Me' | Recap: Legend kept things simple and sincere, caressing the piano keys and the lyrics and letting his fluttering vibrato pour forth in this tribute to his “end and my beginning.” (That would be bride Chrissy Teigen.)

Swift has proven more than capable of witty theatrics in performance, but for this acclaimed tune from Red, she was all pain earnestness in 2014.

1/26/14 6:20:48 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Pink and Nate Ruess perform "Try"/"Just Give Me a Reason" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

1/26/14 6:34:26 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Ringo Starr performs "Photograph" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

1/26/14 6:49:57 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons perform "Radioactive"/"M.A.D.D City" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

1/26/14 6:52:17 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Kacey Musgraves performs "Follow Your Arrow" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop) ORG XMIT: V2O-1401262205272873 [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr perform 'Queenie Eye' from McCartney’s 'New.'

1/26/14 7:16:46 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson perform "Highway Man" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

Performer: Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Stevie Wonder | Set: 'Get Lucky' / 'Freak Out' / 'Another Star' | Recap: Rodgers on guitar, Wonder singing and one of the more multi-faceted artists they’ve inspired – who could ask for anything more? Oh, yes, the French house duo Daft Punk, who made a very fine album this year (and collaborated with Williams and Rodgers) was there as well – seen on a screen, with their helmets on. Anyway, the tunes segued into each other seamlessly, and everyone –including the celebs dancing in the audience – seemed to have a swell time.

1/26/14 7:39:28 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Sara Bareilles and Carole King perform "Beautiful & Brave" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

1/26/14 7:55:49 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Metallica and Lang Lang perform "One" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Trombone Shorty and Madonna perform "Same Love" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2014.

1/26/14 8:39:45 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Lindsay Buckingham and Trent Reznor during finale jam "Copy of A"/"My God is the Sun" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)

1/26/14 8:22:09 PM -- Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A -- Lang Lang performs a tribute to Van Cliburn at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. -- Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 130581 2014 GRAMMY AWAR 1/24/2014 (Via OlyDrop)