The Grammy's

[TOR]

Don't know about people in the rest of the world - but down under here they showed them at 11:30 at night and must have given it to a monkey to edit - boom the winner for best hip hop act is outkast - bam andre walking offstage - zap christina aguelera singing...

how did they go? what am i missing? anything noteworthy?

[Robert Sands]

I thought they were pretty good - one of the better grammy awards that I've seen. Prince and Beyonce opening was very cool. It's good to get a dose of the royal Badness again. The funk tribute was real good and so was the Black Eyed Peas. I actually don't think there was a bad performance all night. There was a horrible audio problem when Celine Dion starting to sing. Her mic and her in ear monitors didn't work and then the audio from the control room was fed out to the broadcast and so you heard an engineer asking a question. She was given another mic but still no ear monitor and so as she was singing she took them out of her ears and left them hanging on her shoulders. I can't remember seeing such a mess up on a show like that before. She handled it very well and sang the song fine without the monitors but then again where talking about a super singer. Did you get to see that? - I hope I'm not boring you with a story about something you've already seen. Too bad about the weird editing in Oz - it must stink when you have to suffer thru that kind of thing.

[Sir Bob]

Just about everybody sucked. Even a group like the White Stripes (which is at least half way interesting) couldn't perform without tons of mistakes.

The Grammy's reminded me of the Super Bowl halftime show. The material sucks. The performers can play or sing.

I must be getting old. I thought there was a chance with Sting and the other old farts doing I Saw Her Standing There. But no. That was a snoozer too.

[TOR]

Originally posted by Sir Bob
I thought there was a chance with Sting and the other old farts doing I Saw Her Standing There. But no. That was a snoozer too.

that was one of the clips that got through - pretty weak

[quasimodonyc]

I thought the sound was pretty bad overall. It seemed like whenever a presenter was speaking there was an open mic somewhere picking up all sorts of audience rumble. Distortion, dropouts,etc are to be expected but Celine's vocal was distorted for the whole song.

Best performances: -The whole Funk thing was pretty cool and "Hey Ya" was great. Foo Fighters was interesting, looked like Dave was showing Chick Corea the chords during the intro!

Observation: Christina Aguillera has boobs and is dying to show them to us.

[Mordecai]

Didn't get a chance to watch. Was Janet there?

[Boogle]

Originally posted by Mordecai
Didn't get a chance to watch. Was Janet there?

didn't see it, (was it even on in the uk), but I doubt it she was there heard CBS had to be seen to be takin' a stand so she was 'unoficially uninvited'. Could be wrong. I just wanna know what those anti piracy ads looked like.

[2leod]

Originally posted by quasimodonyc
Christina Aguillera has boobs and is dying to show them to us.

Hmm... I hadn't really noticed... I was still too upset that the poor girl didn't have any shoes to wear at her big performance. C'mon somebody, anybody, Madonna even, couldn't you just loan her a pair for the evening??
Maybe it's just me, but the shock value of these stunts, like the JJ thing, seem sooo contrived and manipulative that they lose all of their intended effect. Yea, it's probably just me...

[5down1up]

did ECUE get a grammy

I HOPE SO stike

[syra]

Those were the worst Grammys ever....
Sting and Sean Paul?....WTF?...thats blasphemy right there!

Corea and Foo Fighters?...I mean they are both good at what they do but...peanut butter and burgers don't mix IMO...


Anyway....as usual...it was just a media circus with nothing of any value towards music...

[Paul Turpin]

hmmm - didin't watch them
but here is some relevant winners info :

Engineered Album, Non-Classical: ``Hail to the Thief,'' Nigel Godrich and Darrell Thorp, engineers (Radiohead).

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: The Neptunes.

opinions?

The Neptunes were supposed to win last year and nobody remembered to nominate them - so I think this year is a consolation prize.

I sure can't come up with a reason to disagree about the award for engineering the Radiohead record. It is interesting that Radiohead's music is so ignored though. I sure like it better than Beyonce!

[Robert Sands]

Man, you guys are a tough crowd. At least there was no laimo rap artists like I've seen on previous years. I'm stiking to my guns on this one. Not too bad a show. I will agree that the Foo Fighters and Chick Corea didn't work for me. I don't think what Chick does in any way at all complimented what Foo Fighters where doing. He sounded totally out of place.

[picksail]

I thought that a lot of the performances were less than stellar. I was really impressed with Christia Aguilara. Sarah McGlachlin was good, but the violinist seemed completely out of place. The closing of the song also, seemed to just fall apart. I was expecting more from the funk expo but it seemed to progressivley worsen. By the time Parliment hit the stage it became a convoluted mess. EWF was great. Outkast was as too be expected... amazing. Foo Fighters were great. Sting could not seem to stay in key, thank god for Vince Gill. Who would have thought. Geez, I remember when Sting was good. I really miss those days. I kind of felt sorry for Celine Dion considering the content of the song. And of couse, Prince...WOW!!

[toledo3]

Picksail,

Sting has always been a hit or miss vocalist live, IMO.

[Robert Sands]

I didn't know that Hail to the Thief won for best engineered album and I agree that it's a well done record. I love that band!! The Neptunes are great too so it's cool that they got the Grammy for production. By the way, the violinist with Sarah was Allison Krause.

[toledo3]

Originally posted by Robert Sands
I didn't know that Hail to the Thief won for best engineered album and I agree that it's a well done record. I love that band!! The Neptunes are great too so it's cool that they got the Grammy for production. By the way, the violinist with Sarah was Allison Krause.

I'll tell you what, I have been semi-concerned about Krauss- I saw her on TNN or CMT awhile back, and she was pretty drugged up, slurring her words, and almost pulling a nod.

[jajjguy]

I enjoyed watching Prince too, but wondered how much playing & singing he was actually doing. Beyonce's vocals were much more audible than his, from where I was sitting, and the blazing guitar lick seemed suspiciously perfect. Then again, i was sitting pretty far from the screen, so... what do you think?

(Also, did he appear more than once? I just saw the Purple Rain-era medley at the beginning.)

[Kenny Gioia]

Big props for Celion for getting thru that. I bet her mind was thinking about which gun she would shoot that engineer with when she was done.

Beyonce was good but over sang a bit. She's got a greeat voice though.

Xtina was embarassing. Can the world just start a petition that says:

Dear Christina A.

We know you can sing like a ****in athlete. How about just singin a ****in song.

BTW, you sucked at the Grammy's.


Most everyone else was great.

Earth Wind & Fire were the best though.

Outkast awesome.

White Stripes were as good as two musicians can really sound. Very full sound.

Can't remember a bloody note though.

Sting needs to hibernate for a few more years.

Beatles tribute doing "Saw Her Standing there" was quite irratating. They all played well but BORING.

Foo Fighters and Chick Korea. Didn't work at all. Burgers and Peanut Butter.

In fact I told my wife "It sounds like Shroeder (Peanuts) joined the Fighters.

Alisha keys needs to work on her low notes. She was quite out of Keys.

Peace

[Robert Sands]

You know, I was wondering the same thing although I pray it wasn't true but since you brought it up. Especially the guitar. There was a second there where it looked as though he didn't play what I heard him play. Please Mr. Prince sir - Say It Ain't So! And no, I don't think he was on after the opening.

[bloodstone]

I didn't see it all, but from what I did, White Stripes stole the show. I know realize that a big part of their sound is slide. I just don't get Beyonce. The songwriting is so amorphous. She did look like a million bucks. I thought Chick Corea trampled all over that Foo Fighters song. Christina Aguilera didn't impress at all, and her thighs are getting bigger. When the unfab four tried to do When I Saw Her Standing There, I was wincing when they tried to hit the highs & whooos. Makes you appreciate the boys from LiIverpool all the more. That drummer from the Neptunes was tight. He had all the Ringo chops down solid. I think OutKast is cool, and they've got style. Or at least keen fashion sense. I thought Allison Krause added a lot to Sarah's song, only she was way out of the mix. I think it's refreshing someone of her stature is performing with different people, Shania, The Oh Brother Where Art Thou crowd. A lot of people's egos wouldn't allow for that.

[toledo3]

Having seen EW&F about ten years ago, they were REALLY REALLY REALLY showing their age, and it was actually kind sad for me. Definitely past the peak- but they can still kick ass. The guy that does the high vocs was really straining to get to where he used to, and with that straining he totally lost his tone.

Sting finally figured out how to sing Roxanne. For years he hasn't been able to get up to that upper octave "put out the red light". He has tried a number of alternatives, and I really feel this was the first time I heard something that worked.

The three stage thing was really impressive to look at, but the actual sonic outcome left something to be desired.

It was cool to see Celine slip into that "**** it all" mode... it's great when an experienced performer overcomes those kind of difficulties with ease. I have never got one of her records, or been very fond of the music, but she is obviously the real deal.

The timberlake behind the keyboard was funny... definitely seemed like they wanted to position him as an "artist" after the titty scandal. Another real talent- it is obvious this guy busts ass, even if the music is iffy.

[Tim L]

Out of all the bullshit female pop stars out there I think Christina's about the only one who actually can sing. I thought her performance was one of the better ones and I am not a fan. Sara M's really good but didn't bring it with her... I don't consider her "pop" though. I thought the White Stripes were the best performance of the night barr none! At least out of the performances I happened to catch they where.

[Stick]

So, my wife and I only watched during the commericals for "Pearl Harbor" on the other channel... so, I didn't see most of it.

I agree... Christina can sing, but she just needs to SING THE SONG! Or at least give us one nice long note without 14 melismas. It's sort of the Mariah effect... AGH!

Caught a bit of Celine's thing. Yeah, she's good.

Sarah M. and Allison Krause: pretty good. Not as good as it should've been though. I would've like to have heard Allison better...

Saw a little of the pedal steel funk thing... is that White Stripes? That was killer.

Anyway...

[Frost]

Thought most of the show was kinda a mess but:

Justin sounded great and showed some leadership on stage. I was surprisingly impressed.

Alisha Keys sounded TERRIBLE. She missed 30% of her notes.

Sarah M sounded really impressive tho I wish Allison would have sung more than just backups. Maybe they will do something more together.

EWF really did look old.

Outkast rocked everytime they were in the spotlight.

How does George Clinton keep getting these huge gigs? He must have the best manager in show business. That guy is impervious to scandal.

Celion really showed she is a professional and sang the hell out of her song even with no monitors. Didnt miss a note.

My $.02
Frost

[picksail]

I thought that was Allison Krause with Sarah.

You're right Producher, I forgot to mention that when Alicia Keys pursued that low note, she missed it everytime.

Also, contrary to what many think, Prince is an amazing guitar player. I did not once assume that any of his playing was fabricated.

I do remember seeing Sting back in '94 and when singing the OH,OH, OHs in Syncronicity II, he botched the entire thing and responded by saying 'Oops!'. I think he was still a bit humble at that time. If just a modicum.
The best part of that show was watching Vinnie Caliuta play Every Breath You Take with one hand while lighting a cigarette.

I do agree that, while Christina is an amazing talent, she does tend to 'play all over the song'. It was interesting to witness her recover from the syncopation towards the end of the song. You know, the sixteen measure cadenza.

[Scott Shane]

Didn't watch it but I know I would much rather have seen some of these winners perform than the "winners" that did perform.


Pop Instrumental Album: "Mambo Sinuendo," Ry Cooder and Manuel Galban.

Rock Instrumental Performance: "Plan B," Jeff Beck.

Classical Crossover Album: "Obrigado Brazil," Jorge Calandrelli, conductor, Yo-Yo Ma, cello (Various Artists).

Native American Music Album: "Flying Free," Black Eagle.

Traditional World Music Album: "Sacred Tibetan Chant," The Monks of Sherab Ling Monastery.

Polka Album: "Let's Polka 'Round," Jimmy Sturr.

Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra): "Haydn: Piano Sonatas Nos. 29, 31, 34, 35 and 49," Emanuel Ax, piano.

Instrumental Composition: "Sacajawea," Wayne Shorter, composer (Wayne Shorter), from "Alegria."

Traditional Blues Album: "Blues Singer," Buddy Guy.

Contemporary Blues Album: "Let's Roll," Etta James.

New Age Album: "One Quiet Night," Pat Metheny.

Contemporary Jazz Album: "34th N Lex," Randy Brecker.

Jazz Vocal Album: "A Little Moonlight," Dianne Reeves.

Jazz Instrumental Solo: "Matrix," Chick Corea.

Latin Jazz Album: "Live at the Blue Note," Michel Camilo with Charles Flores and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez.

My .02


Scott

[STILL]

It was a total suck fest.

They're lucky they could light the place with the Black Hole of Suck at the stage pulling all the light in the building back into itself.

So transparently corporate and anti-art that I'm surprised those asshole wimp "artists" didn't have "PEPSI" tattoed on their faces......

What a bunch of chicken-shit media slaves.


gross.....

[drundall]

Originally posted by toledo3

It was cool to see Celine slip into that "**** it all" mode... it's great when an experienced performer overcomes those kind of difficulties with ease. I have never got one of her records, or been very fond of the music, but she is obviously the real deal.

I agree, though not a fan, I was impressed by that. Also by Outkast, also not a huge fan.

Alisha was bad but when I first see that kind of thing I usually give the artist the benefit of the doubt and call bad monitors, especially a newer artist. Hopefully it ain't her.

I was struck by the unprofessionalism of the whole thing. The sound was going crazy all night. Switching from ambient to dry, the aforementioned distortion on vocals, feed back. I first thought the distortion was my reception, but by the next act it was gone...Sounded like a first barbeque event.

Maybe the only way to sound good at the grammies is give a DAT and fake the whole friggin thing!

[tunesmith]

Only one person has given props to JT.

I shall talk about him. I was not a fan of N*SYNC. I merely tolerated them because I knew how hard they worked and I admired the sheer showmanship. It also brought a lot of psudo boy band singing gigs my way for commercials and such, but that's a different story.

Well, if you must know... I was a Jack in the Box Meaty Cheesy Boy and THAT was a fun gig.

Anyways, Justin has emerged (IMHO) as a real pop music threat. I thought his performance was the highlight of the show. Just seeing him play that Rhodes (simple as the part was) was enough to make me all giggly inside.

No dancing, no gimmicks. Just a great band with a great frontman singing a pop song. We could do worse my friends.

Tunes

P.S. HES SOOOOOOO HOT TOO!!!!

[muddy]

prince WAS really playing. he just happens to be THAT good to pull it off in that inimitable off the cuff style of his. amazing performance. and as "the girl (he's always had one)," beyonce looked DAMN fine! and if you cut out sean paul's shtick, sting & band did an AWESOME performance of roxanne! it was passionate, the vocal was huge, (that IS how sting sings; looking for bum notes is nit picking where he's concerned. it suits his music the same way robert smith's voice suits the cure's). and what made christine suck was that horrible excuse for a song. whoever wrote it ought to go back to doin' the laundry & reading the national enquirer. it's THAT kind of drivel & lowest common denominator writing that's sucking the life out of music. wouldn't have mattered WHO sang it. and i liked alicia keys; i thought it was an honest performance of a great song. white stripes were good, but the novelty of what he does wears off REAL quick. it ain't exactly brain surgery. and what sucked about chick & the foo's wasn't chick, it was grohl's notion that what he brought to the table was good enough to warrant using corea; i say come back when (or should i say if?) you've learned how to write., instead of forcing him to play over something so banal. oh yeah. and i thought timber was great! and i have NO use for n'sync. cool song, very cool performance. the pea's were great too.


ml