The Grammy has become another one of those well established institutions resting & existing on past merits, significance and importance-representing the epitome of internal & external politricks & being out of touch with the present, while grasping at anything to maintain its relevance & longevity into the future. As I said last night to my friends on facebook & twitter who were complaining about their disappointment in the the Grammy awards:

“We all suffer from battered music fans syndrome- the Grammy is that perfect lover that looks so good on paper that we must have him, but then he ends up being abusive & not at all what we expected, yet we just can’t leave him & still want to believe that what drew us in will somehow miraculously work itself out or change- He is never going to change – so accept him & deal with him or move on to someone better because you know he ain’t worth ish LOL!”

It seems without Twitter & Facebook most people would have tuned out of the Grammy’s last night, including the celebrities in attendance who were just as much on a twitter frenzy as those sitting on their couch’s at home- says a lot about their interests in their own awards show. I honestly couldn’t give you much details about much of what was said or many of the performances outside of what sparked the interests of facebookers & twitterers, eventhough I had my television on the entire time- most of the time on mute because I was basically just uninterested & the background noise was getting annoying. I was shocked to hear that India Irie won a grammy because I didn’t even know she had an album out this year. How hypocritical of the Grammy board to try & make people feel bad about downloading music for free, while they don’t even support their artists by actually opening up the playing field so we know that a talented artist like India Irie had an album available to buy, download or just know about. Eminem getting best Hip-Hop album was a bit of a stretch, which clearly showed some odd favoritism because he has hardly been on the music scene this past few years & I will be willing to bet that many people on the Grammy board or in general can not name 4 songs off of the album that won. I was was happy for Beyonce making history by being the only female to win 6 Grammys in one night, but it just didn’t come with the same feeling of excitement & anticipation as it did with Lauryn Hill making history with her 5, or even when Alicia Keys got her 5 in one night. Maybe it’s just overexposure or too much of the same, which is why so many are going gaga for Gaga & being completely unabashed about bestowing very accolade on the seemingly genuine innocence of Taylor Swift. Honestly the only thing that got me sucked into the matrix of even being remotely interested in watching the awards was what ended up being the much to do about nothing hype of the Michael Jackson tribute. It was lack luster at best, I could careless about the whole 3-D hoopla – but I must say Jennifer Hudson’s voice brought beautiful soulful church to my ears. Thanks J-Hud!

I have always loved Stevie Nicks since her Fleetwood Mac days & love the idea of icons performing with hopeful future icons, but Taylor Swift tried, but I don’t think she was ready for Stevie Nicks just as much as the Jonas Brothers were definitely not ready to hang with Stevie Wonder. That Stevie Wonder/Jonas Brothers collaboration still makes me cringe with just the thought & memory. I heard there was an overly bleeped hip-hop performance by Lil’ Wayne, Eminem, & Drake, but after having to listen to Quentin Tarantino bastardizing the negro dialect, I just had enough. It’s a shame that hip-hop artists continue to make music that is poisonous to our youth & unfit for general public consumption, yet hip-hop artists get invited to perform vulgarity laden songs at awards shows just to be censored-whose zooming who? As the late great Donny Hathaway said “Someday we’ll all be free”!

As far as the rest of the performances go, all I can remeber is that Pink gave probably one of the best performances of the night even though she recycled her past MTV awards cirque du soleil performance with a little added H2O, which really seemed to arouse the attention of many lesbians on facebook & twitter. Maxwell was a soulful, sexy, not trying too hard breath of fresh air, who brought out legendary Roberta Flack for a beautiful duet, even though Ms. Flack seemed to have forgotten some of the words, perhaps because her face was a bit too tight, but out of love & respect I will refrain from saying anymore because I love me some Roberta! Beyonce walked the red carpet & entered the building as Sasha Fierce in a gladiator inspired outfit recycled from Rihanna’s September 2009 fashion spread in Italian vogue, while recycling or paying homage to Naomi Campbell’s infamous supermodel runway strut, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm nation & a montage of Michael Jackson’s futuristic /robotic/military style performances- all sucked into one crotch grabbing, booty shaking, head spinning, mind boggling, brain shaking Sasha Fierce illuminati matrix that beamed you up to the other side wondering what the hell just happened!

Then there was the overly hyper auto-tuned – damn is that the same great academy award winning actor-Jamie Foxx -giving us a Precious flashback while having everyone wondering if he had had his last academy award winning moment? Don’t get me wrong, I actually love Jamie Foxx & think he can really be a triple threat as an academy award leading man type of actor, a great stand-up comedian as well as a talented & gifted musician -but finding the balance of integrity & knowing when to say when sometimes seems to allude him. Two of the best posts I heard all night on Twitter & facebook were -”If Black Eyed Peas are the future then I want to stay in the past” & “Remember when the Black Eyed Peas used to be an underground hip-hop group”? Most people who did remember those days concurred with the fact that that was the last time they bought a Black Eyed Pea album because Fergie completely assimilated the group into the pop tart world, where they basically sold their hip-hop soul to the almighty green devil. Many including myself acknowledge the fact that the pop Black eye Peas have a whole lot more zeros in their bank accounts than the underground Black Eye Peas could ever imagine, but with someone as talented as Will.i.am leading the group, I wonder how he really feels about losing his hip-hop credibility & being lessened in hip-hop circles as a pop star known to scuffle with the likes of Perez Hilton, while often getting out shined by Fergie (a non original member who holds the cards as the one who catapulted the group to mainstream success).

BEP-THEN

NOW
must say I don’t hate this performance but in general I am not running to buy a BEP album anytime soon.

The biggest talk of the show + the rapid & rampant activity of facebook & twitter was more about the battle of everyone seemingly chasing Lady Gaga’s fame & limelight, where the focus is on the costume to bring you the type of attention & credibility that masks the lack of substance & talent. Many of those lacking the substance & talent failed in this respect because one can not outshine Gaga at the her own game, especially since she has the substance & talent to back it up. It’s so funny to me how the same people who are going gaga over Gaga either don’t know or are conveniently forgetting in attempts to want to be associated with the idea & lure of newness or the desire for originality, that she is just a replica/throwback to Grace Jones, Madonna, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust & dear old Queen Elton John himself- the only thing original about Gaga is that she is allowed to shine in a pool of musical mediocrity & lack of creativity by being the first to mimic what no one else has thought to mimic to its fullest yet. Now everyone has caught on & desires a taste of the type of superstardom that always creates an industry formula to be replicated over & over again. Guess what? These fabulous icons of inspiration are still alive and are not ready to give up their reign, so tred lightly & pay respect where respect is due!

Everyone from guys to gals looked like they were auditioning for avatar, beyond thunderdome/gladiator remake, the Jetsons or one of Puffy & Mase’s shiny suit videos, which turned the red carpet into a futuristic not so hot- hot mess with everyone coming out- even the ridiculous Jersey Shore cast! I am more than sure that the fashion district is completely sold out of sequince, studs & shoulder pads. Khaki/beige/cream, gold & black seem to be the colors of choice for the evening -yawn & uninspiring. Some of my favorite red carpet looks included Pink, Jennifer Hudson, Fergie, Keri Hilson, Taylor Swift & I was even pleasantly surprised by the low key cream colored intricately designed gown worn by Beyonce- it was a refreshing change from the bodysuits & her usual gold overly bedazzled looks. I am still undecided about Rihanna’s dress because the furry front was a bit much for me. Common, Maxwell, The Jonas Brothers & Usher were a few of my favorites for the guys. I don’t know what happened to Jennifer Lopez, but I expected more from the fashion diva after so long -if she wants to compete with the new crop of pop divas then she better step it up like she’s JLo & not just Jenny from the block. Britney Spears & Katy Perry’s entire look head to toe-not so much! Lady Gaga -don’t see what all the buzz was about -frankly it was predictable & whatever to all those fashionistas who love to wear dark sunglasses at fashion shows & wave their fans like they are Karl Lagerfeld- saying it’s a work of art doesn’t make it fashion forward or beautiful fashion. Sorry Giorgio Armani, I maybe in the minority, but I was not impressed by the Armani Prive Gaga couture show. It seems designers are losing their edge by chasing trends instead of being the trend setters with integrity & legacy at the forefront. A well established design house with a legacy of making beautiful fashion for the sophisticated palate shouldn’t be begging & paying millions to have pop tarts, hoping to be future pop icons, wearing their designs when they have a following of real icons who truly give them the longevity as iconic brands. It is one thing for Mcqueen to turn out Gaga, but Armani prive just looks like they are just trying too hard to keep up with the Joneses by changing direction just to dress the “It Girl” of the moment.

I really would like to know how the Grammy’s can explain not inviting a top selling recording artist like Susan Boyel, yet extending an invite to the cast of the Jersey Shore, while many hard working deserving great artists sit on their couches at home watching & hoping to one day be able to receive a Grammy award invite. Inviting the cast of the Jersey Shore further solidifies the fact that the Grammy’s are more about fluff than substance & should not be really taken that seriously in defining one’s talent or “come-upings” as a celebrated member of the recording industry.

SMH

True Talent & Soul will never Die

2010 Grammy’s – A New Decade of Recycled Throw Backs

Here’s a funny review of the winners & someone who I think is hilarious & pretty much had the same thoughts I did except for the fact that he loved the Black Eyed Peas performance & could careless about it so he says he can’t be friends & the fact that he agrees that Taylor Swift rightfully received the album of the year award. According to much of the uproar on twitter facebook he is definitely in the minority in that thought process. I think too much flack & criticism was unjustly given to Taylor Swift- she is a talented young lady, who I think is a great role model in the over sexualized world of Miley Cyrus- Disney types pole dancing on ice scream trucks, when the majority of their fan base is under 13. As I said last night on Facebook if you don’t think that Taylor Swift should have won the album of the year then you should blame it on Kanye because he picked the wrong virtuous princess, All-American girl next door, who even the president of the United States came to her defense.