Okay, so I skipped the year end breakdown, but you know, most of what I would have said was already covered in these posts anyway. So I may get to some of that but let's do a Grammy thing first. I am typing as the broadcast airs so this will be in order and probably too long. But it's my blog so deal with it.
1. Bruce Springsteen kicked things off well. Kind of a typical Bruce song, but a good one. And completely by accident, the song "We Take Care Of Our Own" led into a Whitney Houston tribute.
2. Nice job, LL Cool J. The show could have crawled to an early halt with the prayer/tribute and it could have come off hammy. But LL pulled it off and actually had me a little emotional and pumped for the show. Also nice to see so many people with heads bowed and actually praying.
3. Two years in a row, Bruno Mars brought it. Not normally my cup of tea but I may have to check this guy out.
4. Bonnie Raitt looks exactly the same as she did twenty years ago. Sounds great too. Her duet with Alicia Keys on Etta James's "Sunday Kind Of Love" was well done and respectful to the original. This may be a really good show after all this year.
5. Nope, sorry. Chris Brown just killed it.
6. Kelly Clarkson wants to be Adele now. Just sayin'.
7. Didn't hear Jack Black's introduction, but he looked good, so I assume it was worthy. Always nice to see the Foo Fighters. "Walk" is a great song and they rocked it. Dave Grohl in the old school slayer shirt. Awesome.
8. Coldplay still suck. Rhianna didn't help. When did Chris Martin start thinking he's Joe Strummer?
9.Foo Fighters win for Best Rock performance. They had to, none of the other bands nominated actually rock. And they cut off Dave Grohl for Ryan Seacrest. This is why the music business sucks now.
10. Okay, so I had some Beach Boys jokes ready, mostly at the expense of Maroon 5. But I have to admit, it was nice to see Brian Wilson back doing the music he created with the surviving original members. Even though I'm not a fan for more than about 5 minutes every June.
11. Not a bad song from Sir Paul. Would have liked something more upbeat though.
12. The Civil Wars sounded awesome. I know nothing about them but want to find out.
13. Dear Taylor Swift, the curls were adorable, please bring them back.
14. I am so over Katy Perry. Which is the only thing I agree with Russell Brand about.
15. Sick of Lady Antebellum too. And does Miranda Lambert have a boob tattoo or was that just her dress? Somebody find that out and get back to me.
16. She's got a good voice and lots of talent, but this time next year I will be over Adele too. Sorry.
17. Is it me, or did it seem in slightly poor taste to start off the Glen Campbell tribute with "Gentle On My Mind"? It's a great song, but come on.
Nice to see the Glen Campbell tribute though. I didn't see his farewell tour when it came to St. Louis and it will be a regret. I can't help but feel a tear well up as I watch this performance. According to most reports his memory on stage is already beginning to slip. Nailing it tonight, but in just a few years, Glen Campbell won't remember being Glen Campbell. He won't remember singing any of these songs. "Rhinestone Cowboy" will come on the radio or television and he may have a vague recollection in the back of his head but he won't remember singing it. that that was him in what could only be described as a past life. Sad. Even more so since we know it's about to happen and we are seeing the man's last good days. A Grammy tribute is a fitting way to go out. God bless you Glen, and good luck.
18. TonyBennett-still the man.
19. I liked Whitney Houston as a pop artist, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" stands as a fantastic example of what was fun about 80's pop music. Kinda liked "I'm Your Baby Tonight" too. But I always hated the hatchet job she did on Dolly Parton with her version of "I Will Always Love You". And now they are tributing her with someone else (I don't recognize the woman singing) butchering it further in Whitney's name. Frustrating.
20. I don't understand the Chris Brown/Foo Fighters/Mouse head-thing mash up. I don't like mash ups and this one was no exception. No appeal to me at all. Nothing wrong with music you can dance to, but modern dance music sucks. Points to the Foos for not being afraid to roll with it and try the experiment, but not my thing. And it was a shame to link the good name of Don Cornelius to that mess.
21. Nicki Minaj...WTF? Total train wreck. And I like train wrecks...and horror movie references...but seriously...this makes my brain hurt. I'm all for art, especially when combined with pop music or in forms one wouldn't expect. In theory I should have loved that. Poor execution and an unclear message/storyline. Horrible. Yet here I am blogging about it and thinking about what I just saw. So maybe it was a success? I dunno...leaning towards suck though. It made me miss Lady Ga Ga.
22. Happy for Adele. She's going to be overplayed all year and we will be sick of her soon. She seems genuinely moved though, and a deserving person. So well done.
23. Paul McCartney appears to be LL Cool J's homie. I want to see that buddy movie.
24. And we close the evening out with the closing moments of what I refer to as the "Abby Road Suite". Classy. Guitar jam with the rock guys from the broadcast. Nice to know there's still some love for rock and roll out there. These are desperate times for rock in the bigger picturte, so it's nice to see rock take its rightful place on the throne. Even if it is Sir Paul.
So that's it. Overall an enjoyable show. I tried to take each performance on its own merit, but my personal opinions can't help but creep in. Most of the music I listen to on a regular basis isn't the type of stuff that gets acknowledged by the Grammys. Or, in fact, by the general public at all. Which isn't exactly why I listen to it, I listen because it moves me and I enjoy it. However, the fact that most of my favorite artists are largely ignored is precisely why I blog about it. even if someone just happens to stumble on this page I feel like I'm doing my part to get the word out. The site has been inactive for a while but things will be up and moving here again soon.
Til then, play it loud.
