The Bludgeoning of the Grammys
What have the Grammys become? It used to be an award show that reflected all the kinds of music we love but no more. The Grammy's have left me so angry that I had to immediately write about it even as the program is closing.
First of all, the entertainment. Since when did the Grammy all of a sudden go black? Black music, hip hop and rap were way over-represented at the evening ceremonies. I could find very little distinction between the Grammy's and a night at the Apollo. I mean aren't all music genres supposed to be represented here?
Where do I start with the lows that the evening had to offer?
First a note to Madonna - KNOW YOUR AGE! Your legs are not a sight to behold...put something on them..ugh...and I have seen all that group dance troupe thing before in many of your previous movies and videos.
The weirdest tribute and performance came with Sly and the Family Stone. Other than showing up with the bleach mohawk, Sly seemed totally oblivious that everyone wanted him to sing! Hello! A whole ensemble of singers are doing your material...you might want to stick around a bit until at least the song finishes. He just waves and takes off. Sly exemplifies what artists become when we worship them...eccentric and egotistical. Don't worship your favourite singers folks just appreciate them...you worship them like demagogues and they start to believe that their crap really doesn't smell...next thing you know they are pooping anywhere they want because hey .."it don't stink".
The most unbearable thing to watch was yet to come when I recoiling in horror, watched as U2 won for Album of the Year. Let me be clear that I am not U2-bashing here and it is not even about their "what me again?" acceptance of winning everything the Grammies and other award shows automatically give them. What enrages me is that the group's song Vertigo is a blatant rip off of Kim Wilde's "Set Me Free". Here is where I lash out at the Grammy's. Those Grammy judges who decided to award U2 the album award based mainly on that song are encouraging future groups to rip off other groups and other songs. U2, like them or not, should have owned up to stealing from Kim Wilde and to accept an award for something that they plagiarized is just enraging. Those judges should be fired on the spot.
The rest of the choices are all subjective but I really had to groan when Kelly Clarkson won two awards. She was gracious to mention all her fellow nominees - Cheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani but she forgets to mention Sir Paul McCartney??? Hello? How can you not know that you are competing with Paul McCartney in your category??? That is something even U2's Bono graciously did do when they won their last award that Sir Paul competed in.
A big thumbs down to the Grammys. There is way more talent out there but it will not get equal time because the black rap culture must be dominant. I cringed when Paul McCartney showed up to sing his Yesterday to a rap music scenario. What the hell were you thinking Paul? This is yet another sign that the Grammy's has kicked the baby boomers and X-generation in the ass in favour of the bubble-chewing ipod user who is still downloading for free and who does not know who the old British guy singing Helter Skelter is.
The Grammy Show is an excellent example how we have all turned the page since the sixties. Artists like John Lennon could take subversive swipes at society while capturing imagination with his songs. He would have gagged at the tired endless cliches of rich celebrities pleading with masses for charitable causes. (IE. "Go down to New Orleans right now and help out.") The need to rebel against those controlling mass media has never been stronger. NO, we do not want any more God-damn reality shows! No, we are not going down to New Orleans until we know for sure that is a good idea to go down there. No, we are not going to keep buying the crap you put out to the public, even if it wins a Grammy every time the group gets nominated!! We want vision. We want originality. We want rebels with imagination, humour and wit. We want someone who will turf the establishment with so much wit and style that they won't even know they are the victims. For now, we have to settle for the garbage rehash of cliches. The biggest irony is that this tired establishment paid tribute to the passing of Martin Luther King's wife, recognizing her civil rights achievements before they all slipped back into their own banalities. Pete Townsend was right when he sang "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" but we certainly have been "Fooled Again".
First of all, the entertainment. Since when did the Grammy all of a sudden go black? Black music, hip hop and rap were way over-represented at the evening ceremonies. I could find very little distinction between the Grammy's and a night at the Apollo. I mean aren't all music genres supposed to be represented here?
Where do I start with the lows that the evening had to offer?
First a note to Madonna - KNOW YOUR AGE! Your legs are not a sight to behold...put something on them..ugh...and I have seen all that group dance troupe thing before in many of your previous movies and videos.
The weirdest tribute and performance came with Sly and the Family Stone. Other than showing up with the bleach mohawk, Sly seemed totally oblivious that everyone wanted him to sing! Hello! A whole ensemble of singers are doing your material...you might want to stick around a bit until at least the song finishes. He just waves and takes off. Sly exemplifies what artists become when we worship them...eccentric and egotistical. Don't worship your favourite singers folks just appreciate them...you worship them like demagogues and they start to believe that their crap really doesn't smell...next thing you know they are pooping anywhere they want because hey .."it don't stink".
The most unbearable thing to watch was yet to come when I recoiling in horror, watched as U2 won for Album of the Year. Let me be clear that I am not U2-bashing here and it is not even about their "what me again?" acceptance of winning everything the Grammies and other award shows automatically give them. What enrages me is that the group's song Vertigo is a blatant rip off of Kim Wilde's "Set Me Free". Here is where I lash out at the Grammy's. Those Grammy judges who decided to award U2 the album award based mainly on that song are encouraging future groups to rip off other groups and other songs. U2, like them or not, should have owned up to stealing from Kim Wilde and to accept an award for something that they plagiarized is just enraging. Those judges should be fired on the spot.
The rest of the choices are all subjective but I really had to groan when Kelly Clarkson won two awards. She was gracious to mention all her fellow nominees - Cheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani but she forgets to mention Sir Paul McCartney??? Hello? How can you not know that you are competing with Paul McCartney in your category??? That is something even U2's Bono graciously did do when they won their last award that Sir Paul competed in.
A big thumbs down to the Grammys. There is way more talent out there but it will not get equal time because the black rap culture must be dominant. I cringed when Paul McCartney showed up to sing his Yesterday to a rap music scenario. What the hell were you thinking Paul? This is yet another sign that the Grammy's has kicked the baby boomers and X-generation in the ass in favour of the bubble-chewing ipod user who is still downloading for free and who does not know who the old British guy singing Helter Skelter is.
The Grammy Show is an excellent example how we have all turned the page since the sixties. Artists like John Lennon could take subversive swipes at society while capturing imagination with his songs. He would have gagged at the tired endless cliches of rich celebrities pleading with masses for charitable causes. (IE. "Go down to New Orleans right now and help out.") The need to rebel against those controlling mass media has never been stronger. NO, we do not want any more God-damn reality shows! No, we are not going down to New Orleans until we know for sure that is a good idea to go down there. No, we are not going to keep buying the crap you put out to the public, even if it wins a Grammy every time the group gets nominated!! We want vision. We want originality. We want rebels with imagination, humour and wit. We want someone who will turf the establishment with so much wit and style that they won't even know they are the victims. For now, we have to settle for the garbage rehash of cliches. The biggest irony is that this tired establishment paid tribute to the passing of Martin Luther King's wife, recognizing her civil rights achievements before they all slipped back into their own banalities. Pete Townsend was right when he sang "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" but we certainly have been "Fooled Again".
posted by Robert @ 11:24 p.m.
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