The Grammys

[countrygal]

Did anybody watch? I was switching back and forth between that and the PBR. Can someone please explain Amy Winehouse to me? I have cows that sound better than her. Look better for that matter too. Was she just having a bad night or basically a bad 6 months? Anyway...what I did see of them, they were fairly entertaining. I felt bad for Kanye West when he sang the song for his mom. I'm not a listener of his music, but it was a moving tribute. Glad to see Justin Timberlake and the Eagles take home Grammys. Yup, my musical interest is all over the map. I don't care for rap or opera, however I do like some of Will Smith's music.

[frankcor]

Winehouse actually looked pretty good last night. I saw a recording of her performance at Isle of Man last summer. It's one of the few times I wish I DIDN'T have HighDef TV. But those two backup singers -- are they in good shape or what? I would catch a stroke after one minute of moving like they do.

Speaking of a complete waste of a skin, is it me or is Kanye West the most arrogant bastard to walk the face of this earth? And then to use his mom to elicit sympathy for himself to sell more records? Sorry, countrygal, I just don't buy it. It didn't feel like a tribute to me. It felt like marketing.

I am not a big rap or hip-hop fan. After all, it's not meant for me. I do enjoy listening to some of the more uplifting rap, and more intelligent genres like Gorillaz. But because of my love of children, I hate the exploitation of sex, gender, drugs and violence simply to sell records. At least I can respect Snoop Dog, he really lives the way he sings (like a stupid, drugged out egomaniac). But I have no use for hypocrites like Marshall Mathers who peddles his crap to your kids but won't let his own child listen to it. Same for Timberlake, that talentless sack of feces. (can you tell I teach religious education to children? )

I love music -- it's in my DNA. I try to watch the Grammys every year but the past 5 years have been hugely disappointing for me with the endless stream of hypocrisy walking up to collect Grammys while all the real talent sits and applauds politely.

I was amazed, then thrilled by the following sequence of events last night:

First, Kanye West, in accepting his award, rambled on through his allotted minute bragging about himself and how much his fans love him. Then he began whining when they cued the music indicating it was time to wind down, changed the subject to play the sympathy card one more time about his mother, saying "Now would be a good time to stop the music." And they STOPPED THE FRIGGIN MUSIC? If he was so damned interested in talking about his mom, he could have fit it into his minute just like all of the professionals who walked on stage respectfully to accept awards and acknowledge those who contributed and who respected the script and the commercial advertisers who pay to let the show exist in the first place.

Next, when Ringo handed a Grammy to Vince Gill, Gill expressed awe at receiving an award from a legend and said "Kanye, that's something you can't say." At first I thought it was a joke about Ringo. But when Gill said "just joking" I wasn't sure he was sincere and it seemed he was saying that because of Kanye's ego, Kanye could never admit that anyone else in the world could be considered a legend except himself. It may be a stretch, but it sure felt that way from the way Gill claimed he was joking and from the applause the "joke" got.

And finally, when Herbie Hancock received the final award for best album for his tribute to Joni Mitchell, he was truly shocked when he heard his name called (beating out West and Winehouse). He was trembling when Quincy Jones, holder of 27 (count 'em) Grammy's himself, handed him the award. He fumbled for his written notes and they fell to the floor. Jones brushed away assistance from a lovely young lady standing near them, bent down, picked them up and handed them to Hancock. At that point, Hancock, with tears in his eyes, read "I want to thank the academy for going against the grain ..." It was a humble man's sincere expression of appreciation. I took it to mean not only appreciation for himself, but also for all of jazz musicians. Personally, I took it to mean thank you for not giving this award to another hypocritical rap star. Thank you for FINALLY coming to your senses.

But hey, that's just me.

[countrygal]

I didn't see the whole Kanye West acceptance. I'm not a fan just know what I read about him. It would be too bad if he was expoliting his mother's death to gain something from it. The only rap artist that has any kind of respect for himself, his family and other's is Will Smith. I like some New Age, a little bit of Country, 80's Pop, Classic Rock (think Bon Jovi, Arrowsmith, Def Leppard, Eagles) and even a little Classical.

I didn't even know Herbie Hancock made another album. Coulda knocked me over with a feather! haha.

[frankcor]

Some random thoughts:

I definitely include Will Smith in my uplifting rap category.

Yeah, me too on not knowing HH released the River album. I've been listening to it all day (yay iTunes). It's to die for.

There's not much you can say about the Eagles that hasn't already been said.

I thought Josh Groban sounded like a little boy singing next to Andrea Bocelli, who sounded like a little boy singing next to Pavarotti a few years ago .

And the arrangement and performance of Rhapsody in Blue was without a doubt the best 3-minute version that has ever been heard. I hope they record the full composition some day.

[countrygal]

I love Will's "Just the Two of Us" about his son Trey. Sweet song.

[countrygal]

I don't mind Josh Groban, just wouldn't want to listen all day to him. I kinda like Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr. too.

[frankcor]

I got no argument with you there, countrygal (Two of Us)