Gammies 2012
Feb. 13th, 2012 04:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23I complain time and time again but I enjoy watching the Grammies. I can't help it.
Here's all you need to know.
-The show is slimmed down from what you may remember from 20 years ago, but it generally works. Adele was the big winner. It always seems that the awards all go to the same person and their isn't a lot of distribution. I don't have anything against Adele. She seems pretty sweet, but I don't get the critics fascination with her. Still, she brought Rick Rubin on stage, so that was cool. With all the Rihannas and Katy Perrys, there will be a lot of ink I am sure that you don't have to be a tart to get airplay.
-I thought Springsteen's (who I love) opener was weak. I realize new songs have a tougher go, but it seems a let-down. I didn't think it was very powerful and seemed generic Boss. Usually, I would complain the other way, but I think he should have worked "Born to Run" in.
-No real memorable appearances this year for me. The Beach Boys was probably top of the list. It would have been better if there had been some education on the significance. There were plenty of close-ups of Brian Wilson, and it was called a reunion (but many viewers would confuse this with the Beach Boys that spent the last two decades playing state fairs and casinos).
-Bon Iver won best new artist. That was the wild card selection. I wonder if the New Artist has become such a jinx that they thought they would give it to someone with no commercial expectations in the first place. I like Iver fine, but it seems odd the voters wouldn't pick Nicki Minaj or The Band Perry over Iver.
-Whitney was the obvious shadow over the whole show. It would have been nearly impossible otherwise, but it did seem to slight others, most notably Amy Winehouse. Etta James did get a Bonnie Raitt/Alicia Keys tribute, so I guess that is ok. Don Cornelius got a shout out too.
Jennifer Hudson came out and sang "I will always love you" with no introduction and hair done up as Whitney. I think it was supposed to be poignant. Still, it felt to me, that ultimately most winners in these awards are replaceable. This is the place where Milli Vanilli won awards and (probably even worse) had them taken away.
-The Foo Fighters got two songs (their own and one as part of an electronic jam). I like the Foos alright, but it seems like the spot would have been better given to someone else. The same goes for Chris Brown (whose popularity is beyond me) who got two similar spotlights
-Nicki Minaj had the 'controversial' performance of the night, which now seems obligatory. I like Minaj (She seems original, though "Superbass" is such a gawdawful song). I suppose in the absence of Gaga, she did a piece that blended an exorcism, thus working in offending priest characterizations (from the classic Madonna playbook) and people floating in air (from Madonna's Super Bowl 2012 performance.) The whole thing seemed a mess.
-Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift's separate performances were fun (though I am not a fan of either). Katy Perry and Coldplay/Rhianna really didn't resonate with me.
-The aforementioned electronic jam didn't do anything for me, but it was a nice thought. It surely got a few people wondering who Deadmau5 is. Glen Campbell's tribute was enjoyable, though I am not particularly a fan.
Overall, not the most memorable year. LL Cool J worked well as host, and generally, things moved well. Paul McCartney performed Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End at the end of the show (He did an original song during the show, as well, which was nice, but pretty forgettable), which seemed a bit stale, but wasn't "Hey Jude" at least.
Here's all you need to know.
-The show is slimmed down from what you may remember from 20 years ago, but it generally works. Adele was the big winner. It always seems that the awards all go to the same person and their isn't a lot of distribution. I don't have anything against Adele. She seems pretty sweet, but I don't get the critics fascination with her. Still, she brought Rick Rubin on stage, so that was cool. With all the Rihannas and Katy Perrys, there will be a lot of ink I am sure that you don't have to be a tart to get airplay.
-I thought Springsteen's (who I love) opener was weak. I realize new songs have a tougher go, but it seems a let-down. I didn't think it was very powerful and seemed generic Boss. Usually, I would complain the other way, but I think he should have worked "Born to Run" in.
-No real memorable appearances this year for me. The Beach Boys was probably top of the list. It would have been better if there had been some education on the significance. There were plenty of close-ups of Brian Wilson, and it was called a reunion (but many viewers would confuse this with the Beach Boys that spent the last two decades playing state fairs and casinos).
-Bon Iver won best new artist. That was the wild card selection. I wonder if the New Artist has become such a jinx that they thought they would give it to someone with no commercial expectations in the first place. I like Iver fine, but it seems odd the voters wouldn't pick Nicki Minaj or The Band Perry over Iver.
-Whitney was the obvious shadow over the whole show. It would have been nearly impossible otherwise, but it did seem to slight others, most notably Amy Winehouse. Etta James did get a Bonnie Raitt/Alicia Keys tribute, so I guess that is ok. Don Cornelius got a shout out too.
Jennifer Hudson came out and sang "I will always love you" with no introduction and hair done up as Whitney. I think it was supposed to be poignant. Still, it felt to me, that ultimately most winners in these awards are replaceable. This is the place where Milli Vanilli won awards and (probably even worse) had them taken away.
-The Foo Fighters got two songs (their own and one as part of an electronic jam). I like the Foos alright, but it seems like the spot would have been better given to someone else. The same goes for Chris Brown (whose popularity is beyond me) who got two similar spotlights
-Nicki Minaj had the 'controversial' performance of the night, which now seems obligatory. I like Minaj (She seems original, though "Superbass" is such a gawdawful song). I suppose in the absence of Gaga, she did a piece that blended an exorcism, thus working in offending priest characterizations (from the classic Madonna playbook) and people floating in air (from Madonna's Super Bowl 2012 performance.) The whole thing seemed a mess.
-Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift's separate performances were fun (though I am not a fan of either). Katy Perry and Coldplay/Rhianna really didn't resonate with me.
-The aforementioned electronic jam didn't do anything for me, but it was a nice thought. It surely got a few people wondering who Deadmau5 is. Glen Campbell's tribute was enjoyable, though I am not particularly a fan.
Overall, not the most memorable year. LL Cool J worked well as host, and generally, things moved well. Paul McCartney performed Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End at the end of the show (He did an original song during the show, as well, which was nice, but pretty forgettable), which seemed a bit stale, but wasn't "Hey Jude" at least.
