Grammys 2012: Chris Brown wins Best R&B Album.

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With the unfortunate passing of Whitney Houston casting a dark cloud over the 2012 Grammy Awards, many of tonight’s stars have decided, it is business as usual.If the first 25 minutes of the 54th Grammy Awards were relatively restrained, that all went by the wayside when Chris Brown performed two songs. Brown has had success in the last year, but he’s still in the midst of serving five years probation for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna. Considering the incident happened hours before the Grammy Awards three years ago, this all seemed too much too soon.

It was hilarious…to say the least. Running around the stage, one outfitted with light-boxes, Brown and his dancers seemed ridiculous in their high turtlenecks that look like gas masks. For anyone who thought this would be a more elegant Grammys, Brown made it clear they won’t be. Worse, he’ll be back later in the show, but who wouldn’t have rather have heard an extended tribute to Whitney Houston, or even Amy Winehouse, rather than this?

Far more fascinating, however, was the fact that Kanye West was not in the building. His co-winner Jay-Z is a new father and has a more than valid excuse to stay home, but West has made it clear that the Grammys are a big deal to him. He had the most nominations this year, with seven, although his nods were all confined to the rap categories.

Now, let’s get back to Adele, the British songstress hit the 2012 Grammys red carpet looking more glamorous than she’s ever looked before.

For her major red carpet moment (she’s predicted to win big, nominated in six categories), Adele chose a custom Giorgio Armani gown featuring sequined ring-designs with black mesh overlay and a grosgrain panel on the front.

To complete her simple yet high-wattage look, she debuted shorter, blonder hair styled into soft, old Hollywood-style waves and a bright red lip to match.

The first award of the broadcast, Best Pop Solo Performance, went to Adele’s “Someone Like You,” the British singer’s second win of the evening. (He “21″ picked up Best Pop Vocal Album during the afternoon pre-telecast portion of the awards, while her “Rolling in the Deep” producer Paul Epworth picked up Producer of the Year.)

“My life changed when I wrote this song, before anyone even heard it,” she said, looking into the crowd for co-writer Dan Wilson.

“Since this is a vocal award, I want to thank my doctors, they brought my voice back,” she added, showing no signs of the strain that caused her to undergo vocal cord surgery.

On another note: Chris Brown performs and wins best R&B album.

When the stage lit up, Brown stood atop a collection of colorful blocks that at times resembled the 1980s arcade game “Q-Bert.” The electric-tuned, Underdogs-produced single filled Staples Center, as Brown, who was dressed in a white and gray varsity jacket, white pants and sparkling sneaks, kick-stepped up and down multiple levels of the high-rising stage prop.

As the beat built, the blocks went from red to blue to yellow and green with building intensity before Brown switched gears and went into the more familiar dance single “Beautiful People” from last year’s F.A.M.E. LP. The pop star got a bit daring, jumping across the structure while his backup dancers, who wore oversize winged ponchos, followed suit in a high-flying routine.

What did you think of the 2012 Grammys? Comment below!