The Prime Time Grammmy Unvaried, Variety Show!

Did anyone actually sit through the whole thing?

Once again the annual Grammy awards, celebrating its 50th year, proves to be as relevant to society as clothing on our pets. Besides a few interesting performances by the utmost mainstream of mainstream performers, quick shots of respected musicians and a few touching tributes, the show is hardly worth considering a credible award show.

For the televised broadcast it's not about the golden phono-player presentation anymore. The shows format shifted away from that purpose years ago. Other then a few scant highlights of pre-air awards and the obligatory, staged presentations of the "Big Four" (Record of The Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist ) and select others, all the broadcast time was reserved for the performances, and there sure was an astronomical amount this year.

It almost seemed every chance possible was optimized for a performance. There were so many performances this year that it truly was an excruciating task to distinguish the note worthy from the filler. The show started off with hands down the most respected and influential performer of the night, thats right I'm talking about the man himself Frank Sinatra, back from the grave preforming alongside Alicia Keys. This was a common theme that stuck throughout the broadcast, unusual and unnecessary, flashy collaborations. Aside from the kick ass collaboration between Daft Punk and Kanye West providing a killer light show that teased the audience with the phenomenons witnessed on their Alive 2007 tour. As well as other noteworthy exceptions like the closer performance by aging legends Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. The rest of the collaboration performances just seemed like bad publicity stunts to increase ratings after dismal ratings last year.

So the Grammy's are officially dead, they have been so for years. The intensive music fan is not the intended audience for the annual broadcast. The broadcast is quite simply a lavish variety show in which the intended purpose is too force as many mainstream, high selling artists onto the general public. If you actually watch the show with the preconceived notion that the show will be a night of recognition for the most talented, respected musicians, you will surely be disappointed. Deal with it!

So, turns out I watched most of of it....


-Feist not winining best new artist is a major upset but it was bound to happen. I mean she is Canadian and all we don't deserve recognition for good music when there is so many legitimate American pop performers. However it was nice to see her preform a stripped acoustic version of "1234" Alternatively, it was nice to see Amy Whinehouse win so many awards. Its good that the Grammy's decided not to hop on the hater band wagon and still reward a talented, but messed up singer. And I mean messed up as in totally mind in space fucked up. That acceptance speech she delivered for winning Record of The Year was hilarious. She could barely formulate a proper sentence and the ones she did formulate sounded so forced and rehearsed it was painful. and thats all the knocking i will partake in.

-Once again the Foo Fighters prove they are amongst the worst live bands in mainstream rock. It couldn't even take a fantastic symphony conducted and arranged by John Paul Jones to salvage their stereotypically mediocre performance. Once again Dave Grohl sang too loud, once again the guitarists repeatability missed notes, once again all the back up vocals were painfully out of tune and unsurprisingly, once again the audience ate it all up. How many lackluster performances do fans need too witness in order to come to the realization that they are one of those bands that don't transcribe well on stage. It is something every fan experiences one day, just like a teenager realizing that all that meth they did in high school really was bad for them, just like everyone said. I am by no means knocking the band, they are defiantly one of the most respected and legitimate performers in rock, the Jesus comparisons to Dave Grohl are not overstatements. He truly is a genuine, down to earth guy who has a real grip on reality and never comes across as an egotistical rock God ulike other post grunge contemporaries, Billy Corgan or Perry Farrell. They just can't pull off the hits live, simple as that people.

-Album of the Year award stands in as this years requisite, "upset of the year." But it was far from an upset, it was just one of those rare instances, where true talent, and artistry are awarded. Herbie Hancock's, jazz-fusion Joni Mitchell homage; "River: The Joni Letters" really is a great album, that many have yet to hear.

-Nelly furtado and Andy Williams onstage together was awkward, and a funny sight too see. She looked absolutely stunning, a nice representation of Canadian female smokiness. I think Mr. Moon river himself agreed. The man could barely speak because of all that 80 year old blood attempting to fllow downward.

-Slayer won? that's cool!

So good people there you have it, Grammy coverage for the uninterested. So another year has past and unfortunately for the music fan, many more years of mediocre performances and manufactured musicians are expected to come.