Grammys
Like everyone else in the world, I didn't give American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, who talked like she actually did just fall off a turnip truck, much cred. Although her rendition of Respect on that show was pretty amazing, few people realize what a hard song that is to sing, she made Britney Spears sound sophisticated and of course we all expected the heavy promotion. What I didn't expect was the quality of her songs this year and she deserved to upset Mariah. Her music was better, her vocals were better. I'm glad to see Grammy voters noticed.
Those two, not to mention the ever nominated Gwen Stefani, (let's not even talk about dance queen Madonna, I guess living in London hasn't had much effect) need to take a cue from the men and bands and start thinking about a little thing called social awareness and relevance. Notice Paul singing about Chaos, Stones - Bigger Bang, U2 - Vertigo.... there's trouble brewing around the world. Maybe you might want to comment on that. At least Green Day took Record of the Year, or was that last year? I'm starting to wonder if 2005 ever actually happened.
After several years of good Grammy shows, this one was just one deadly disappointment after the next. I know there wasn't much good music this year, but there was certainly enough to make a three hour show entertaining. I mean, they could have at least put some visuals up there. I know business is bad and the seven figure execs might be down to six, but if you don't put something up there, even the hicks in the boonies are gonna figure out that you can't put out any good music. You don't want that, do you?
Like a sucker, I got my hopes up for the Sly tribute, but the recluse's cameo was so nominal it was almost insulting. The Linkin Park mash-up following it was much better. I got my hopes up again for Christina Aguilera's rendition of Leon Russell's gem Song for You, but her diva dish-up destroyed the simple emotion of the song Leon wrote for his mom. Speaking of parents, I was surprised that How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb was about Bono's dad. We think about music and what first comes to mind is sex, love & politics, its traditional subjects. But songs that address our parental legacy have always been around and are becoming more and more prevalent and obvious. I think that's a great trend because, until you come to terms with your emotional heritage, you're nowhere.
Yes, I could moan about how sad it was to see Kanye go from the incendiary, illuminating performance he gave last year to the pathetic demonstration of his shortage of message and talent that he proved this year. But, instead I'll end on the two minutes of thought-provoking entertainment I was able to glean from this 3+ hour waste of time; a line from Springsteen's Devils & Dust, "What if the things you do to survive, kills the things you love?"
Well, most of the show killed what I love... music. But, like Gloria Gaynor, I will survive, and so will music. It can only go uphill from here. So, hey, NARAS, I suggest you draw some air in on your dying gasp here because in a few years the Soundclick, MySpace, CD Baby, and Magnatune award shows are gonna start kicking your ass and you'll wish you had more than Carey, West & Legend to offer up.
Those two, not to mention the ever nominated Gwen Stefani, (let's not even talk about dance queen Madonna, I guess living in London hasn't had much effect) need to take a cue from the men and bands and start thinking about a little thing called social awareness and relevance. Notice Paul singing about Chaos, Stones - Bigger Bang, U2 - Vertigo.... there's trouble brewing around the world. Maybe you might want to comment on that. At least Green Day took Record of the Year, or was that last year? I'm starting to wonder if 2005 ever actually happened.
After several years of good Grammy shows, this one was just one deadly disappointment after the next. I know there wasn't much good music this year, but there was certainly enough to make a three hour show entertaining. I mean, they could have at least put some visuals up there. I know business is bad and the seven figure execs might be down to six, but if you don't put something up there, even the hicks in the boonies are gonna figure out that you can't put out any good music. You don't want that, do you?
Like a sucker, I got my hopes up for the Sly tribute, but the recluse's cameo was so nominal it was almost insulting. The Linkin Park mash-up following it was much better. I got my hopes up again for Christina Aguilera's rendition of Leon Russell's gem Song for You, but her diva dish-up destroyed the simple emotion of the song Leon wrote for his mom. Speaking of parents, I was surprised that How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb was about Bono's dad. We think about music and what first comes to mind is sex, love & politics, its traditional subjects. But songs that address our parental legacy have always been around and are becoming more and more prevalent and obvious. I think that's a great trend because, until you come to terms with your emotional heritage, you're nowhere.
Yes, I could moan about how sad it was to see Kanye go from the incendiary, illuminating performance he gave last year to the pathetic demonstration of his shortage of message and talent that he proved this year. But, instead I'll end on the two minutes of thought-provoking entertainment I was able to glean from this 3+ hour waste of time; a line from Springsteen's Devils & Dust, "What if the things you do to survive, kills the things you love?"
Well, most of the show killed what I love... music. But, like Gloria Gaynor, I will survive, and so will music. It can only go uphill from here. So, hey, NARAS, I suggest you draw some air in on your dying gasp here because in a few years the Soundclick, MySpace, CD Baby, and Magnatune award shows are gonna start kicking your ass and you'll wish you had more than Carey, West & Legend to offer up.
posted by Intervision at 7:57 AM
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