Before the Grammys started, I quizzed my family to find out what they knew about the year in music.

“Well, it’s a big year for Arlene,” my mom said.

“Arlene?” I said.

She smiled. “I think that’s her name.”

“Taylor Swift is always in the news,” said my father. “Her dad went to Delaware State.”

Josh knows that Lady Gaga is always at these things, and that Katy Perry got divorced from “that weird crazy guy.” He hasn’t really been following pop music. To be fair, he spent the year in Iraq.

It was fun watching the Grammys with my family. Mom was knitting a blue poncho. Dad was doing finances in another room and wandered in and out. Josh and I were the only ones really paying attention, but it was entertaining to evaluate the performances with him: The showmanship of Bruno Mars, the reliable rock of the Foo Fighters, the gawky cuteness of Taylor Swift, whose dad apparently went to Delaware State.

As usual, Mom was right: It was a big year for Arlene. Congratulations, Arlene, who is also known as Adele.