Blender Drinks: The 51st Annual Grammy Awards

Ok, so taking a completely different tact from my first two entries, I thought it might be fun to make a few remarks about the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, which were on last night. Most of them are snarky because those comments are by far the most fun to make, although overall – *what I saw – I really enjoyed. A few years ago I would turn on the Grammy Awards and after the umpteenth person who I’d never heard of performed or won an award, I’d tune out, wondering when music was going to be honored again by these awards and despairing that it may never actually factor into the Grammy’s again (I know, I’m being judgmental, but music – like writing a blog – is a completely subjective thing).

So, humor me:

Kid Rock: A medly? REALLY? If you’ve seen that great Saturday Night Live “Really?” piece with Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler during Weekend Update, that was my thought during the Kid Rock “medly”. REALLY? Has he contributed enough to the world of music to require a MEDLEY?

The Jonas Brothers: “Show ‘em what you got, Stevie!” Ok, these kids are cute. My nieces love them, one in particular, and I can see why – they’re just a little bit geeky and cute, but accessible cute; very… oh, let’s call them “spirited”; and maybe even a little talented. But what slayed me during the Grammy’s is, here they are, singing with a freakin’ legend, and yelling out “show ‘em what you got, Stevie!”. All I could think was… YOU show ‘em what you got, kids! This other dude? This 40+ year legend who has crossed over genres and written and sung just about damn near everything? Guess what… he doesn’t need to show anyone anything anymore. He’s ESTABLISHED already. So, earth to the Jonas Brothers – you’re darling, but when you have the privilege to share the stage with someone who’s had more gold records and hits, and collaborated with more amazing musicians than you’re ever likely to know in your lifetime??? Guess what… he probably doesn’t need an urging from you to “show ‘em what you got”.

Blink 182: What, no comic book convention to attend? Do the skateboard parks close early on Sunday nights?

Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift: Ouch. That hurt. As a friend of mine said at work today, “The only thing good about that performance was Taylor Swift’s eye makeup.”

The whole rap performance: AYFKM? I’ll let you figure out what that might stand for. Let’s just say that I hope child protective services was standing in the wings. (Does sound abuse count when it’s in-utero?)

Paul McCartney: A testament to a youthful, bang-laden ‘do, the right hair color and great eye job. I aspire to be him.

Ok, sideline… is there a stranger site in the world than Nicole Kidman in a music show audience?

Jay Mohr: Ick.

Adele: The perfect “best new artist” award recipient. I predict she will be a one-hit wonder (ok, maybe two or three, but I’m not giving her long), and this award is notorious for being the kiss of death to a career. If she’d only painted those nails all the way.

Radiohead: The word “cool” was just redefined by Radiohead’s performance with the USC Marching Band. There is something so hypnotic and ethereal about Radiohead’s In Rainbows, and I think it’s SO COOL that this performance was near perfection. I mean, that USC band sounded like it was Radiohead… they blended so well, on a song so perfect for that particular collaboration, that I was completely energized by the performance. I wish I could time my reactions to stuff like this with the perfect time to exercise – I’d actually be in great shape if I could make that happen 4 to 5 times a week.

And then I went to bed.

My final take: I like to think of this year’s show as “the blender drink year”. Toss a bunch of random ingredients together and see what comes out. It was always interesting.

Oh, and one more thing... Whitney made me cringe and Jennifer made me cry.


* Admission: I tuned out around 10:30 p.m. But I promise, only because my alarm clock was going off at 6:00 a.m. and I’m not a 4-hour-a-night person (I wish!).