The Grammys Make Darren Puke!
I watched the Grammys last night. I wasted three and a half hours. I should have shut the television at 8:04PM. So many things about last night's program annoyed me. In a nutshell, it was a frustratingly boring program filled with ordinary performances by ordinary talent. It was a showcase of the beautiful, not the truly talented. It was the industry machine on display in all it's glory. Honestly, the only thing I was looking forward to going into the broadcast was the reunion of the Police. I wasn't expecting much from the full show itself, yet I still came away with a headache from rolling my eyes so much at what I was watching.
- First off, why was the performance by the Police so brief? I was hoping for at least two songs and maybe ten minutes. After all the hype about their reunion, all we get is one song at around three minutes. I guess we had to save room for that pointless tribute to the Eagles - THREE covers by Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood. Riveting.
- The best they could do to pay tribute to James Brown was to have Christina Aguilera perform ONE song. Christina Aguilera?!
- Why didn't someone shove a rag in Quentin Tarantino's mouth?
- Could they post the winners for the awards presented before the telecast any faster? To me, these awards and the winners are much more interesting than those that make the broadcast.
- Could they blow by those being honored any faster? Why bother even honoring them? If you sneezed, you missed the Doors, Booker T. and the M.G.'s, etc. They put the camera on the Doors' Robby Krieger and took it off so fast, you didn't have a chance to react.
It was nice to see Michael Brecker pick up a couple of posthumous Grammys. I was happy that Peter Frampton won a Grammy for his instrumental album Fingerprints (Best Pop Instrumental Album). Cheers to the "Jersey Boys" cast album for winning Best Musical Show Album. I love Tony Bennett, but Duets An American Classic is not a Grammy caliber album, although the competition for Best Traditional Pop Album wasn't tough (Tony won two Grammys). I know this is sacrilegious, but Bob Dylan did not deserve three awards. Modern Times is a fine album, but it is not an award worthy album. Ike Turner wins a Grammy? C'mon. It was a shame especially since it won over Dion's excellent Bronx In Blue album in the Best Traditional Blues Album category. I realize that Jonny Lang's latest album Turn Around had spiritual overtones, but was it worthy of winning in the Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album category? I know some who had a problem with Bruce Springsteen winning in the Best Traditional Folk Album category and Rosanne Cash, and her album Black Cadillac, coming away empty handed. Finally, the thrill of the night - Donald Fagen's Morph The Cat wins Best Surround Sound Album....YES!
DDD 2/12/07
posted by The folks at WFUV @ 7:37 PM
6 Comments:
Donald Fagen sucks.
In your mind.
Darren DeVivo
Darren...I feel your pain, but the grammys have sucked for a long time. I thought that the John Legend/Corrine Bailey Rae/John Mayer performance was ok. As for Dylan's "Modern Times", I agree but considering that WFUV listeners voted it the top album and gave over nearly 10% of the Top 90 songs to that album, I am surprised that you aren't hearing more from them on the subject. The increase in multi-artist performances this year makes me think that the Grammys are trying to copy The Jammys...good idea, poor execution. Bottom line, every year despite hundreds of options the same 3 people win all the awards...this year it was the Dixie Chicks, Mary J Blige and the Red Hot Chili Peppers...ho hum. Here's a suggestion that worked for me....get a DVR, start recording the Grammys on time, spend an hour to and hour and a half doing something else, and then PLOW right through it skipping everything you don't like. That way, you'll waste 45 minutes instead of 3 hours.
Darren dear Darren,
How refreshing to hear a music industry professional tell the truth about the Glammy's (that was no slip). It's overkill to honor the record labels that pay to play in their own way. It hasn't been about "The Best" in a long time (although I disagree with your assesment of Modern Times - I was one who voted it into first place on WFUV and I do think it's award-worthy). I will only watch the show - partially - if there's a performance I'm truly looking forward to and even then it can be caught on YouTube the next morning. It's just a big yawn now, so it's no wonder you're pissed. Tivo, my man!
Darren, I too was bummed with the Police segment being so short. But I tunred the program off as soon as they walked offstage. Thanks for making me glad I did.
I agree that Dion deserved the award, but I can't believe you wrote that whole review w/o mentioning the Chicks. It was great seeing those women right there on my teevee. They could have played all night as far as I'm concerned. I know WFUV doesn't feel very connected to them?, all's the loss for 'FUV. They are important in music history?, plus the best thing?, their CD really is that good.
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