There was plenty of pre-show hype surrounding Macklemore & Ryan Lewis‘s performance of “Same Love” at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, and, as it turned out, it was justified.
Because after the dynamic duo helped 33 couples of all genders, races and orientations say “I do” — with Queen Latifah and Madonna helping officiate — it was clear that their performance went beyond the mere act of promoting a single. Instead, it was the rare instance of protest done right at an awards show; a powerful, poignant piece of social commentary that may also end up going down as one of the most memorable moments in Grammy history.
And for an member of the music community like former ‘NSync star Lance Bass, “Same Love” was unquestionably the highlight of the night.
“I thought it was amazing, history was definitely made. The Grammys are one of the biggest stages in the world, and to make such a statement, it was incredible, ” Bass told MTV News following the Grammys. “Everyone around the world was watching, and it was exactly the message people needed to see: that love is love.”
Bass, who, along with his fiancé, Michael Turchin, is incredibly active in the battle for marriage equality, said that he’s happy to count Macklemore & Ryan Lewis as allies in the cause. To say nothing of the stars in attendance at Staples Center who helped make “Same Love” a celebration of unity above all else.
“We’ve definitely reached a point in society where marriage equality isn’t controversial anymore, and anyone who thinks it is, well, they’re living in the past … this was a message, for sure,” he said. “And I’m so thankful we have all these amazing straight allies like Macklemore and Katy Perry and Madonna to stand alongside out community. You saw a mix of so many people last night doing that. And to me, that’s what America’s all about.”
Of course, Bass knows that there is still a long ways to before all people in this country are truly equal, and he’s not under the illusion that one performance can change the world. Though he does think we could all learn a thing or two from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis … and perhaps that’s as good a way to start a revolution as any.
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“You’ve gotta think about this. As an artist, the Grammys are the ultimate stage to perform on, and as a new artist, they get on that stage and they don’t even care how they look, they just care their message gets out? That takes balls,” he said. “That is such an amazing thing to take your moment and you make it about something else … that’s selfless, above all else.”
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