Kevin Bacon reprised his position in Footloose to honor the title monitor’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 total profession.” 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 cut up in 2011 after three a long time of success — with a efficiency of “It’s the Finish of the World as We Know It (and I Really feel High-quality).”
“I don’t know if humanity will make it one other thousand years, but when we do, a bizarre child in a tiny city will hear “Nightswimming” and really feel [something],” Isbell mentioned to cheers from the gang.
Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Invoice Berry and Mike Mills joined forces onstage to carry out “Dropping My Faith,” successful over the viewers on the New York Marriott Marquis.
SZA, who was probably the most nominated act at this 12 months’s Grammys and continues to be using 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 really feel like this implies probably the most to me.”
“As an artist, I’ve been a whole lot of completely different individuals. I’ve been 200 kilos. I’ve been 130 kilos. I’ve been somebody who doesn’t dance in any respect onstage, somebody that may solely shut their eyes and look down, somebody that’s dancing and making an attempt their finest. I’ve simply been all these items and I really feel like, ‘Oh man, I battle on the artist-thing.’ Like writing was the place I felt like an individual and that I had worth and that I may present that I used to be sensible, and it was past, ‘Am I fairly? Am I preferred?’ And that principally meant every little thing to me,” she mentioned.
“It made me really feel like an individual, that I used to be doing one thing price one thing. So principally receiving this award validates my total profession.”
SZA was launched by Songwriters Corridor chairman Nile Rodgers, who earned a standing ovation when he known as out Spotify and mentioned the streaming platform must do a greater job prioritizing and acknowledging songwriters.
Pitchford, who gained one of the 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 companion 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 profession to Missy Elliott,” he mentioned.
Ending his speech, he advised the Songwriters Corridor: “Thanks for giving me a seat on the desk — I’ve been ready a very long time.”
Steely Dan’s longtime supervisor, Irving Azoff, advised 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 Causes” and City’s “Blue Ain’t Your Coloration.”
The night time ended with 14-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 stunned the viewers by singing his household band’s 1985 groove “Rhythm of the Evening,” which Warren wrote.
“AI worries about Diane Warren,” Paul Williams mentioned onstage as he paid tribute to the prolific author.