The Grammy's
Speaking of "Pride"...can anyone argue that U2 is the greatest band in history. In all seriousness to go five for five at the Grammy's after you have been around for over twenty years just shows how amazingly gifted, relevant, and unique they are. I am sure that's all you want to hear from me about it, and I am content to just let awards speak for themselves.
Here is my assessment of the Grammy performances:
Worst Outfit: Terri Hatcher - WOW, the goth-sexy look does not work!
Most Out of Place: Nicole Kidman. She was sitting with Keith Urban and each time the camera showed her it was evident how much more glamorous the Oscars and movies star are compared to musicians.
Worst Performance: The Sly and the Family Stone tribute. Boring and too many chiefs on the stage.
Best Performance: Kelly Clarkson (Bruce Springsteen close second).
Most Surprising: How much Paul McCartney rocked during "Helter Skelter"
Scary Talent: Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys a capella rendition "Higher Ground" as a tribute to Coretta Scott King.
And God Showed Up: U2 and Mary J. took everyone to church during the song "One". Mary has opened up a completely different side to this song. Awesome!
A friend of mine has a post on her blog that literally gave me chills. Her transparency and honesty will move you and leave you changed. I haven't read something this candid in a long time, and I give her much props for it. Check it.
10 comments:
I hope it's okay for an "outsider" to post on your site.
I watched the Grammy's and wasn't too surprised. I thought it was an okay show (did you read that American Idol killed it in the ratings?), but not great. I agree that the Sly tribute was awful. I thought Kelly was good, as was Mariah (though I don't like her much of her music -- but she can sing). Also, really liked John Legend.
Bruce -- was he one of the best performances, really? If he could stay in tune for more than 25 seconds at a time it was shocking. I really don't watch that much American Idol, but if someone else gave that performance as an "amateur," I can't help but think the judges would tell him/her they were "pitchy" and underwhelming.
I sound more and more like my dad, but it seems in the realm of popular music actually being able to SING is not a requisite to having a hit or even receiving critical acclaim. Look at the musical acts from the 50s and 60s(and granted, I hate that style of music), but they were truly vocalists. Now, we have great entertainer, rockers, lyricists, etc., but fewer and fewer great vocalists. And don't even get me started on rap . . . ;)
Richie
As someone who was born and raised in New Jersey and has spent much of his adult life in the Garden State, I should really bleed Red, White and Bruce (Springsteen, that is)... but I don't. I've never liked his singing - if it can be called that. Sure, Born in the USA is catchy and patriotic and all that... but a good singer? I don't think so.
For starters he doesn't actually sing. He speaks... to music. I equate him to Clint Eastwood. I don't think Clint is a particularly good actor - I think that's really how he is. He's not acting. Same with Bruce. He isn't singing, just talking melodically while being himself.
The other thing that bugged me about his performance at the Grammys was how eerily similar he is starting to resemble Bob Dylan. It was kinda freaky.
Oh, and congratulations on your Kelly Clarkson purchase. Did it come with a wall poster for your room? :)
Kelly Clarkson is overrated.
Chris:
I can't take you seriously when I have heard you say that you would take Shaun Bradley over Kobe Bryant any day.
Richie:
Outsiders are always welcome here. I watched Bruce's performance again tonight with my sister and brother-in-law and I would say again that it was indeed one of the best performances I have seen period! I am not a Springsteen fan, but considering how Grammy's had all of these big performances for him to be up there with just his voice, guitar, and harmonica you would be hard pressed to find someone else who could make the sound he did under that limitation. Perhaps James Taylor or Bonnie Raitt would come the closest, but that's it. If someone gave that performance on AI, they would say "why are you here, go get your own record deal." It wasn't pitchy, it was spot on, and he emotted more emotion, feeling, power, and sincerety than any marching band Kanye or Jamie could have conjured up.
Kenny:
I totally agree on the Bruce thing. Except Born in the USA isn't really a patriotic song. It's actually about how the USA screws it veterans.
And no the CD didn't come with a poster. I got the album off iTunes....and it came with a screensaver!
Richie, I'm an insider so let me clue you in on how Jason works. Once he buys into something as he literally did with the Clarkson CD or as he did metaphorically with the Springsteen performance, he drinks the kool-aid and then defends the kool-aid like it's his firstborn. (He claims not to be drinking the vile the Republicans are giving him anymore, but we all know better. I imagine he would vote for Bush all over again if Bush ran again in '08. Watch for an upcoming post on why the Democrats suck. The vile is still working on Jason.) So no use in arguing about Bruce's performance or Clarkson's overratedness. Jason's sure, very sure that he's right for buying the album that now puts him in the same category as the 16 year old teeny-bop walking down the mall and that he's right for getting in line to buy Springsteen's kool-aid. And I know as an insider that you don't mess with Jason's kool-aid.
;)
sorry man. i didn't mean to touch a nerve.
You installed the screensaver immediately, didn't you...
As far as Springsteen, Jason, you said, "you would be hard pressed to find someone else who could make the sound he did . . . ." I'll affirm your quote taken grossly out of context. Though, I think the same could be said if the Grammy's asked Kermit the Frog or Bob (Cat)Goldthwait to perform. :)
As far as Kelly, I have it on good authority, Joe, that it wasn't only 16 year old girls who purchased her CDs. There might have been at least one 30 year old guy in Texas who drank that Kool-Aid . . . self incrimination is a bad thing.
Richie
Richie:
You obviously don't love America.
Chris:
What did Kel ever do to you. Why do you hater her so much. I HATE you!
Kenny:
It self installed.
Joe:
I might be drinking the Kelly kool-aid, but my mix comes from those packs that you have to add your own sugar to. You, on the other hand are a COSTCO sized, institutional Kool-Aid drinker.
Finally, you better stop talking about '08. You don't want to jinx the Democrats chances of winning. Oh wait, sorry I just drank out of your Kool-Aid cup, sorry.
Kelly Clarkson's album is fantastic. No shame from this corner of the peanut gallery.
The haters hate because they have no taste and no confidence in their masculinity. Sucka.
Yes, Mariah can SING. And "The Emancipation of Mimi" is another album you should be checking out, J-Wild. Not as good as Kelly's, but it's smooth. Now, here's a guilty pleasure: Timberlake's "Justified" album. Sorry. But it's awesome. I love it.
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