Monday, February 14, 2005

(Just a Few) Observations on the Grammys

Absolute high point of the evening: Kanye West performing Jesus Walks and the rousing response from the crowd. (Go here for more on the impact of this song on me.)

Anticlimax of the night: Kanye's speech accepting "Rap Album of the Year" honors. A perfect set-up seconds after his performance and he bombs the kill with a lame line about champagne.

Most overrated performance by duo or group: The caucophony they called a Tsunami Relief song. Is anyone actually gonna pay to download that? Most amazing voice this night, period: Alicia Keys singing If I Ain't Got You.

Runner-up most amazing voices (tie): Fergie's opening note of the night, and the old(est) Gospel singer.

Most exciting medley: The show's intro -- what a way to "get it started" (right).

Miscasting call of the night: The best they could do for Ray Charles' tribute was Bonnie Rait?

Lamest announcers: Let's highlight Tsunami Relief by getting a B-list actor and the comatose president of the Grammy Foundation to promote it. Doh!

(Not so) Spontaneous moment of the night: Stevie Wonder serenading Norah Jones with a few bars.

Wierdest performance: John Mayer singing Daughters. The song was lovely, but the facial ticks and garbled elocution were surprising.

Intriguing factoid of the night: Bono's dad was a wanna-be opera singer.

Most silly melodrama: J-Lo and hubby #3. The song was enjoyable, but the performances overacted.

Most tired look: Hey Slash, it's time for a haircut.

Most missed: Outkast

Most mysterious genre: Country. I just don't get it.

2 Comments:

At 2/14/2005 03:47:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Jeremy

Your observations were great. You definitely got a lot more out of it then me but we are on the same page with this Mr. West. What an opportunity to speak to the masses like his song did. Not that champagne was a bad thing :-) but that wasn't the best way to use your few minutes to inspire a generation. Sometimes I think I am too idealistic. But I expected more from him and I was disappointed.

Great post!

Liz (www.Latinaliz.typepad.com)

 
At 2/14/2005 09:21:00 PM, Blogger Bob said...

I skipped the Grammy's, but totally agree on the last point on Country music. I've heard that if you play country music backwards then your dog will come home, your marriage will get saved, and you'll join AA.

 

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