Host Alicia Keys speaks at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. AP
Host Alicia Keys speaks at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. AP
Host Alicia Keys speaks at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. AP
Host Alicia Keys speaks at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. AP

Tiger Balms and tote bags: What's inside the Grammys gift bags for 2021


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

While not everyone will go home with a Grammy Award following Sunday night's ceremony, they will, at least, be guaranteed a gift bag.

Every awards season, stars of Hollywood and the US music industry are gifted goodie bags from the (in normal times) lavish ceremonies. And while this awards season looks a little different, in-person and virtual guests at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, will get treats to take – or be delivered to their – home.

The most diverse Grammys goodie bag yet

“We are proud to have curated our most inclusive gift bag yet, representing companies owned and operated by individuals across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, persons with disabilities and beyond,” says Lash Fary, founder of Distinctive Assets, the Los Angeles-based entertainment marketing company putting the gift bags together.

“These entrepreneurs … give back to their communities and the world at large. This was a year to focus on something bigger than the quantity of items or a price tag.”

What’s in the Grammys gift bag?

Inside the Grammys gift bags for 2021 will be an array of goodies, from Bonfire x Trevor Noah Foundation T-shirts and tote bags, to Prince of Peace Ginger Chews and Honey Crystals, Tiger Balm Pain Relieving Patches and Grammy Museum Collection:live.

Guests will also get a gift card for Signed By McFly, a black-owned fashion label known for unisex designs; an anti-racist children's book titled Change-Maker Village; and The Happiness Planner gratitude journal.

They will also contain gifts from Baketivity, Bishology, British M, Canticos, Chubby Chipmunk, Cloud Water + Immunity, Cozy Earth, Cup of Te and games company Exploding Kittens.

Other brands involved include Hayley’s Bracelets, HFactor Hydrogen Water, HGC Apparel, Masktini, Music Connection, Oxygenetix, PETA x Save the Duck, Purely Elizabeth, T2 Tea and more.

Who is performing at the 2021 Grammys?

Taylor Swift, BTS, Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish are among 20 acts that will take to the Grammy Awards 2021 stage in what promises to be an epic three-and-a-half-hour show.

Bad Bunny, Black Pumas, Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Mickey Guyton, Haim, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Lil Baby, Post Malone, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Megan Thee Stallion, Maren Morris, Roddy Ricch and Harry Styles are also set to take to the stage

Many of the night’s performers have also been nominated for an award.

2021 Grammy Awards performers, from left: Dua Lipa, DaBaby and Taylor Swift. AP Photo, Getty Images
2021 Grammy Awards performers, from left: Dua Lipa, DaBaby and Taylor Swift. AP Photo, Getty Images

Who is nominated for a Grammy this year?

Beyonce dominated nominations with nine nods for her visual album, Black Is King, making her the second most-nominated artist of all time, with a total of 79 nominations.

British singer Dua Lipa, pop star Taylor Swift and rapper Roddy Ricch got six nominations apiece.

Swift and Dua Lipa will compete for the top prize, Album of the Year, along with RnB singer Post Malone, British band Coldplay, US band Haim, avant-garde British musician Jacob Collier, American soul band Black Pumas and American alternative RnB singer Jhene Aiko.

BTS arrives at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in 2020. AP
BTS arrives at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in 2020. AP

K-pop sensations BTS got their first major Grammy nod, for the single Dynamite in the Best Pop Duo / Group Performance category, a breakthrough by a South Korean group.

The Best New Artist field included rappers Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat, as well as alternative artist Phoebe Bridgers and Noah Cyrus, the younger sister of Miley Cyrus.

Women, including Fiona Apple, Brittany Howard and newcomer Ingrid Andress, packed the rock and country music fields, while Britain's Harry Styles got his first Grammy love with three nods for his work on album Fine Line.

_________________

Read more:

_________________

Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

What is graphene?

Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.

It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.

It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.

It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.

Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.

The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.

Spare

Profile

Company name: Spare

Started: March 2018

Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah

Based: UAE

Sector: FinTech

Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019

Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag
%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A