Has it really been a year since I started this blog? My very first post was about the 2010 Grammys so I’m excited to be writing about my favorite awards show again.
My review of music’s biggest night:
-Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, Florence Welch and Yolanda Adams showing 18-time Grammy winner Aretha Franklin the respect she deserves. Those are some huge voices. WOW.
-Christina Aguilera (almost) making up for her Super Bowl shit show.
-Madonna – I mean Lady Gaga – got everyone’s attention but it was nothing compared to last year’s dueling piano performance with Sir Elton John.
-Bruno Mars going black and white for what was a surprisingly great performance – not bad for a kid who used to be an Elvis impersonator.
-Loved the country music presence at this year’s Grammys – it shows how much the genre has grown and how popular it has become.
-Dear Usher and Justin Bieber – get over yourselves. Love, Laura
-Bieber and Jaden Smith? What is this? Fisher Price My First Grammys?
-David Letterman’s #9 surprise at the Grammy Awards: New music laws prohibit rhyming “ladies” with “Mercedes.”
-Letterman’s #4 surprise: Academy president finally explains the difference between “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year.”
-Ladies and gentleman – Bob Dylan. Backed by what seemed liked 100 banjos and playing harmonica like it was 1975 even if only for a few seconds….so awesome.
-Lady Antebellum is one of my favorite country groups – they never disappoint.
-Cee Lo channeling Elton John in that sequin and feather outfit. His voice is so infectious that the accessories are fun rather than over-compensation. And the Gwyneth Paltrow duet – surprising because for some reason it worked.
-John Mayer, Nora Jones and Keith Urban – two guitars and three Grammy voices all singing Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Short and sweet but very well done.
-Three of music’s biggest names – Eminem, Rihanna and Dr. Dre – blowing everyone away. Rihanna’s voice is the perfect juxtaposition to Em’s aggressive voice and lyrics – and so is the mystery woman’s voice who was singing the hook for “I Need A Doctor.” For the record, since I don’t think anyone introduced her, the woman in question is Skylar Grey.
-Esperanza Spalding– loved her acceptance speech. Thank you for being so thankful.
-Mick Jagger paying tribute to Solomon Burke as he jumped around the stage like it was 1975.
-Random crowd shot of an 80s-haired Cindy Lauper.
-Rihanna pulling double duty tonight with two fabulous albeit different performances.
-Lady Antebellum cleaning up and winning three of the major categories including Record of the Year which I thought was for sure going to be taken home by Em and Rhianna or Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.
-It’s hilarious that CBS decided to have actors from its shows present several awards – I like all the actors but this is the Grammys not the Emmys.
-Was Arcade Fire trying to induce seizures?
-And did they really beat out Eminem for Album of the Year? FAIL.
-Kris Kristofferson doesn’t look a day over perfection. Very cool to see the man who gave Janis Joplin her biggest hit.
-Arcade Fire plays another song….ugh….ok turning the TV off.
Oh goodness…where to begin. The Grammys were very entertaining, but aren’t they supposed to give out awards? It was about 90% performing, 10% award giving. “And the Grammy goes to….” the band who just performed before this category was announced.
My favorite performances were Bruno Mars with B.O.B and Janelle Monae, and Cee Lo Green DESPITE Gwenyth Paltrow. I lover her as an actress, but her childrens’ names are way more entertaining than her voice. Loved her outfit even though she looked like she was prepped for open heart surgery. If I were a performer I would TOTAALLYY have some sassy Muppets backing my band!
I’m thinking fire was a tad bit overused as a stage effect this year. I think I counted like 4 performances that used it in some way. The epilepsy-inducing strobe lights of Arcade Fire was a nice break from the flame….which is scary b/c the lead singer looks like Adolf Hitler’s go-to poster child for the “Master Race.”
Bob Dylan, when you could actually hear him, sounded like he had a nagging case of Emphyzema while it hurt me to watch Kris Kristofferson try to function as, well, a living person.
Final thought: did anyone else notice the incredibly awkward display of marital problems Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony brought up to the stage with them?? “And the winner is…don’t touch me I want a divorce.”
Oh goodness…where to begin. The Grammys were very entertaining, but aren’t they supposed to give out awards? It was about 90% performing, 10% award giving. “And the Grammy goes to….” the band who just performed before this category was announced.
My favorite performances were Bruno Mars with B.O.B and Janelle Monae, and Cee Lo Green DESPITE Gwenyth Paltrow. I lover her as an actress, but her childrens’ names are way more entertaining than her voice. Loved her outfit even though she looked like she was prepped for open heart surgery. If I were a performer I would TOTAALLYY have some sassy Muppets backing my band!
I’m thinking fire was a tad bit overused as a stage effect this year. I think I counted like 4 performances that used it in some way. The epilepsy-inducing strobe lights of Arcade Fire was a nice break from the flame….which is scary b/c the lead singer looks like Adolf Hitler’s go-to poster child for the “Master Race.”
Bob Dylan, when you could actually hear him, sounded like he had a nagging case of Emphyzema while it hurt me to watch Kris Kristofferson try to function as, well, a living person.
Final thought: did anyone else notice the incredibly awkward display of marital problems Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony brought up to the stage with them?? “And the winner is…don’t touch me I want a divorce.”
You’re right – the Grammys have become more about the performances and less about giving out awards. I guess they are only giving out the major awards on TV to shorten up the already too-long ceremony – although no one knows the difference between Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
As far as Gwen Paltrow goes – I’m just the opposite: I thought she did pretty well with Cee Lo but I’m not a fan of her as an actress. Bruno Mars and company were great – I was surprised how much I liked that performance.
And yes, although Bob Dylan didn’t sound so great he’s still BOB DYLAN!!! Just his presence made the Grammys cooler.
I’m so glad you mentioned the awkward mess that was Lopez and Anothony….the look on his face and then tone of her voice was uncomfortable to say the least. Anthony looked like a skeleton and Lopez needs to go back to her American Idol chair where she has been refreshingly (and surprisingly) perky and fun.
Very well written post. I love Lady Gaga alot. When does the newest album come out?