The 64th Grammy Awards have come to a close. Awards ceremonies hosted by artistic academies, like the Grammys or the Oscars, are not simply there to announce winners and hand out trophies—they are parties where anyone who’s anyone in the industry shares in and celebrates the achievements of the past year, so some moments at these ceremonies carry a lot of meaning whether you are nominated and win an award or not. Now that the world is slowly returning to normal and the spring awards season is just around the corner, what can we take away from the Grammys ceremony? Let us sum it up by revisiting the five most memorable moments.

1. BTS’s performance of “Butter”

Live performances are always the highlight of any awards ceremony, but many artists had to get experimental during the pandemic. More than simply pre-recorded footage, performances with enough polish to rival music videos were at one point expected to become the future of awards ceremony performances. This year’s Grammys proved that performances built around audiences and stage presence still have their merits, however.

Answering that call was BTS’s performance of “Butter,” showing what a boy band with that many members can do when they are given the stage at a ceremony. BTS went with a group spy theme reminiscent of James Bond, while each member was given their own moment to shine with unique entrances onto the stage. The way each of them came up from the audience could only be pulled off live at an awards ceremony, and people will be talking about the part where V and Olivia Rodrigo hit it off for a long time. Billboard ranked all the night’s performances, placing “Butter” at the top of the list. It is a nod to the way their creativity rivals their musical talent. In a list of the 25 best Grammys performances of all time, Rolling Stone put “Butter” at number 13, and the best of any performance this year.

2. Jazmine Sullivan’s Best R&B Album win

Including last year’s Grammys, Jazmine Sullivan had been nominated 12 times without a single win to her name. She was nominated in three categories this year—for the Best R&B Song, Performance and Album—walking away with the awards for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance. She tied with Silk Sonic for that last award. Even if the Grammys had passed her over again, there is no denying that Heaux Tales was one of the most pivotal albums to came out last year. But one look at the way Billy Porter announced her award, or H.E.R.’s reaction at the next table over, and the implications were clear: There was a sense of satisfaction and of justice that the award had gone to its rightful owner. She capped off her acceptance speech in a direct connection to the subject matter of her album with a shout out to all the beautiful Black women out there living their lives. She used to say it was fine even if she did not win an award, but this feels like a happy ending to that chapter of her life.

3. The end of Doja Cat and SZA’s wildly chaotic acceptance speech

Doja Cat and SZA won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their song “Kiss Me More.” SZA took to the stage on crutches due to a broken ankle, with Lady Gaga holding up her dress in tow. When the winner was announced, the camera failed to spot Doja Cat; it turns out she had been in the bathroom, and she sprinted to the stage. When she got there, she announced, visibly winded, that she had “never taken such a fast piss in my entire life.” Doja Cat busily praised SZA, but ended off by calling the honor “a big deal” with tears in her eyes. It is no surprise the other artists there sympathized with such honesty—they understood how happy a creator can be when their music and their achievements are not overlooked and they can feel self-assured.

4. Billie Eilish and Brandi Carlile, queens without crowns

Billie Eilish received seven nominations this year and Brandi Carlile three, but they did not take home a single trophy between them. The two will instead go down in Grammys history for their awe-inspiring performances this year. Eilish went up on stage wearing a T-shirt showing Taylor Hawkins, honoring the Foo Fighters drummer who passed away just before the ceremony took place. She sang “Happier Than Ever” and did, in fact, appear happier than ever, showing no regrets. And Carlile? She started off by playing the piano and then guitar, making herself a part of the band before blowing the roof off the place with her powerful, top-tier singing. It was as though she took what PopMatters had said about her album In These Silent Days and brought it up with her on stage: “Pop albums don’t tend to be built on humility and gentleness. Even if they are, they don’t tend to deliver those characteristics with fire and verve. On In These Silent Days, Brandi Carlile does just that.”

5. The spotlight shone on the staff

The music industry has made it a priority lately to highlight not only the performing artists but the people behind the scenes who make the music and performances possible as well. The Grammys have a history of seeking areas in need of some recognition beyond just songwriters, producers and session players. Some of the winners announced at last year’s Grammys were operators and employees of small and medium-sized venues—the places that have taken the biggest hit in the music industry by COVID-19 restrictions. This year, the Grammys took things one step further. There is usually time to announce the artists who will be performing just before they come up on stage. This year, the show introduced staff members who work with the artists, such as tour managers and wardrobe supervisors, who in turn welcomed the artists to the stage as their bosses. Some of the crew members were nervous enough that their microphones were noticeably shaking, but being the professionals they are, they played their part well and the show went on.