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What You Missed Because of Your Smug Indifference Toward the Grammy Awards

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (57)

grammyladygaga.jpg

The Grammy Awards aired last night on CBS, and if my Twitter feed was any suggestion, as many people talked about not watching the ceremony as actually watched it, delivering heaps of shame upon those who would deign to witness Lady Gaga arrive in a space-age egg. The Grammys really are different from some of the other awards ceremonies, in that the nominees include a wider array of demographics, as could be attested by the performers on hand, from Justin Bieber to Bob Dylan. The awards themselves have more power to validate critical preferences (giving awards to, say, John Legend and Arcade Fire) while also discrediting itself (awarding Train anything), which allows viewers to simultaneously laud and trash the ceremony, creating a weird vortex of celebration and hate.

But as the record industry hastens its extinction, the ceremony itself — the biggest stage of the year for the music industry — desperately attempts to flash its product, combining artists from different genres and creating, in some cases, some fairly remarkable performances. Mumford and Sons performed with Dylan and the The Avett Brothers; Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, and Florence Welch performed a tribute to Aretha Franklin; John Mayer, Norah Jones, and Keith Urban musically honored Dolly Parton; and Cee-Lo sang with Gwyneth Paltrow and the Muppets, which even the most ardent Paltrow hater would have to admit was kind of cool.

For those who sometimes remain obstinately ignorant, the Grammy ceremony offers an interesting cross-section of contemporary music, allowing some of us to see favored artists perform with people we’ve never heard of, and maybe even lend some credibility to unknown bands (I bought two new albums this morning thanks to the Grammys).

The whole thing is all very awful and great and embarrassing and fascinating, and while I’d never recommend watching the entire ceremony, it’s OK to put down your shotgun every once in a while and allow some new folks onto your lawn for an evening. Maybe you might just find something you like that wasn’t created before 1995.

Here were last night’s big winners.


Album of the year: Arcade Fire, The Suburbs

Record of the year: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”

Rap album: Recovery, Eminem

New artist: Esperanza Spalding

Song of the year: “Need You Now,” Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott

Country album: “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

Pop vocal album: The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga

Rock album: Muse

Female country vocal performance: The House That Built Me, Miranda Lambert

Pop duo or group performance: “Hey Soul Sister” (Live) Train

Female pop vocal performance: Bad Romance, Lady Gaga

Male pop vocal performance: “Just The Way You Are,” Bruno Mars

Rock song: “Angry World,: Neil Young

R&B album: Wake up! John Legend & The Roots

R&B song: “Shine,” John Legend & The Roots

Rap solo performance: “Not Afraid,” Eminem

Rap song: “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

Male country vocal performance: ‘Til Summer Comes Around, Keith Urban

Country performance by a duo or group: Need You Now, Lady Antebellum

Alternative music album: Brothers, The Black Keys

Spoken word album: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook), Jon Stewart









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Comments

Didn't watch but I'm glad Eminem finally won since he seems to actually care for some reason. But it would have been great if he'd performed "25 to Life" instead of "Love the Way you Lie" just as a fuck you to the Grammy awards.

Posted by: TylerDFC at February 14, 2011 9:31 AM

I have to give you credit for putting my attitude toward the Grammy's in the cross hairs and pulling the trigger. But I don't know that it'll get me to watch in the future.

If there was ever a reason to watch the Grammy's it would be for the performances. But I've found the Grammy's nominations and awards so befuddeling frustrating over the years that they've lost all credibility in my mind.

Awarding The Arcade Fire Album of the Year is a step in the right direction. But will it actually do anything to reverse the tide of Pro-Tools enabled hacks that are clogging up popular music right now?

When record companies stop trying for force facile pop acts and instead support artists with quantifiable musical talent, maybe then there will be a reason to watch.

Posted by: Tom Brazelton at February 14, 2011 9:34 AM

Nice try. I have found more new interesting music through bootlegs, Creative Commons artists, and Google searching than I ever have from watching the Grammys.

Posted by: Jim Doggie at February 14, 2011 9:44 AM

Christina Aguilera ... performed a tribute to Aretha Franklin ...
---
"R-E-S-E-C-T-P, by the dawn's early light ..."

Posted by: , at February 14, 2011 9:45 AM

Dustin, which two albums did you purchase?

I bought The Avett brothers last night after seeing them perform. I'm a sucker for awards shows so I watched the whole thing. So happy for Arcade Fire. Actual musicians winning a music award...yay!

(I got Mumford and Sons, and an album I've been meaning to get for a long time, but finally did so after the Grammy win prompt: Ray la Montagne, because I'm a white, 30-something cliche. I have to admit a curiosity for Esperanza Spalding, too. -- DR)

Posted by: griffimx at February 14, 2011 9:45 AM

Wait.

Hold up.

The Grammys gave Album of the Year....

...to the Album of the Year?

...The Arcade Fire isn't a washed-up band from the 70s.

What....I don't....

Posted by: ChristianH at February 14, 2011 9:48 AM

People still make albums? I thought those were obsolete.

Anyway, I didn't watch. Hell, I don't even listen to music anymore. Everything's been shit since Buddy Holly died.

Actually, I came here to say that I like the new Pajiba format.

(Thanks, BWeaves! I was just telling TK last night that I had pegged you as one of the first to dismiss it, as you are often the reader who dislikes change the most. This is a pleasant surprise. -- DR)

Posted by: BWeaves at February 14, 2011 9:55 AM

...it’s OK to put down your shotgun every once in a while and allow some new folks onto your lawn for an evening.

You ought not be talkin' like that. That there's a good way to get fed ta th' hogs. Or be wishin' you had been.

Posted by: Paultera at February 14, 2011 10:03 AM

"R-E-S-E-C-T-P, by the dawn's early light ..."

Shut up! You know how it's spelled!

Posted by: Todd at February 14, 2011 10:04 AM

Is there no such thing as the Metal category anymore? Just as well. We don't need no stinking Grammy's anyway.

Also, as much as I love Jon Stewart, isn't awarding him for a fucking audio book just a bit ridiculous? Especially under the guise of a "spoken word album"?

Posted by: Paultera at February 14, 2011 10:20 AM

It's a nice idea to give the Arcade Fire the award, but why is it happening now, when Funeral was by a long distance the better album and for a lot of people an era-defining record? This third album isn't especially great. The Grammys always try and be cool but lag behind the times by about five years.

Posted by: Caspar at February 14, 2011 10:20 AM

Esperanza Spalding's win makes me so happy. I'm disappointed a real jazz artist hasn't won Best New Artist before, but Spalding is an excellent start. Her cover of "Wild is the Wind" should be more than enough to bring people into the fusion fold. She's just so cool and talented and humble. I love it.

That some writers have taken the "OMG who the fuck is she and why did she make Justin Bieber cry" angle is infuriating. You shouldn't be writing about who robbed who if you clearly haven't listened to the nominees in a category. A teeny-bopper singer whose voice is just starting to change cannot compare to a heavily trained jazz musician with vocal chops. There is no comparison. I could accept Florence + The Machine winning over Spalding (Florence can blow and the songs have a modern, more bombastic Kate Bush feel about them), maybe even Mumford and Sons (their fun and kitschy throwback folk is refreshing), but not Bieber. This is coming from a Bieber apologist, too, as I think he's a fine nominee for the category for ubiquity, recognition, and production values.

Posted by: Robert at February 14, 2011 10:29 AM

Rowles, yesterday when I dropped by I noticed that you had changed the layout of pajiba. My initial reaction was that it lacked the warmth of previous versions, it seemed a little cold and detached. But now this morning I’m more receptive of the changes, I understand them now. Philosophically speaking everything flows nothing stays. Sometimes I think that in relation to the universe each person’s life is but a bit part in a larger and more profound journey. These changes that you've made signify evolution.

Posted by: Pookie at February 14, 2011 10:31 AM

Yeah I'm also down with the new lay-out, boss. Smooth.

Posted by: Caspar at February 14, 2011 10:33 AM

I bought the Mumford & Sons CD a little over a month after my brother's recommendation. (Well, I downloaded the entire thing as opposed to buying the physical CD). I think it was the first "CD" that I've bought in 4-5 years. Since my college days, I just don't buy or listen to music all that much.

It's fucking awesome. I love it. It's been about a month and a half now and I still isten to it constantly. Great, great stuff. While people's taste in music is always varied, you shold enjoy it, DR.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at February 14, 2011 10:35 AM

As a resident former Paltrow apologist I enjoyed that performance. Don't worry though, she hasn't won me back entirely.

Good on ya for buying Mumford and Sons, Dustin. I'm from Eastern Canada so they sound like a really fantastic version of every band I've ever heard in a local pub around these parts. I couldn't be more pleased by their success. I'll add that the new layout looks gorgeous. Nice work!

Posted by: becks at February 14, 2011 10:46 AM

Also, if you can suffer through some awful Bruno Mars and B.O.B. bullshit, Janelle Monae's performance last night absolutely killed:

http://hiphophoney.com/blog/2011-grammy-performance-bruno-mars-bob-janelle-monae/

That she didn't win fucking every single award last night is sad (that she wasn't nominated for anything is a god damn travesty).

Also, I really, REALLY dislike Mumford and Sons most of the time, and was pissed when I heard they were going to get to perform with Bob Dylan (let Ray Lamontagne do it!), but that performance was pretty badass, so, you know, props.

Final thought...Eminem's bullshit won over "Power." Likely to be remembered as one of the greatest rap songs of all time. So, you know, that's fun.

No, actual final thought, besides that Danger Mouse won Producer of the Year, and that The Black Keys won Best Record Packaging for what's in my top 10 favorite meta album covers ever, was that someone needs to tell Gwyneth Paltrow she can't sing. Pair her with Cee-Lo and she looks like a clown (and HE'S the one dressed like a giant peacock!)

Posted by: ChristianH at February 14, 2011 10:51 AM

ChristianH, Monae had the misfortune of only being nominated against Cee-Lo for "Fuck You." If he wasn't nominated, she would have won for "Tightrope" easily. That is so the kind of jam Urban/Alternative Performance always goes for.

Posted by: Robert at February 14, 2011 11:04 AM

The Black Keys won!!!! :):):):)

That's all.

Posted by: denesteak at February 14, 2011 11:08 AM

Gwyneth performing with Cee-Lo and the Muppets AND being a mom. How DOES she do it?

Posted by: Sars at February 14, 2011 11:15 AM

Sars, that's just the sort of shit every working Mom does. What you didn't see is that right before she stepped on stage she was de-boning 250 swordfish for a low key Grammy's after party she threw. If you can't manage it maybe you need to look into macrobiotics and pilates.

Posted by: becks at February 14, 2011 11:26 AM

The nly reason I was even tempted to watch was that one of my favorite musicians ever, the criminally overlooked and underrated Nuno Bettancourt currently plays guitar in Rhianna's band. Which is so hard to take.

Then I remembered that no matter what, no matter where she performs, my Nuno is shoved into the background and is never given a moment of love.

So I said Fuck It and didn't watch.

Posted by: klingonfree at February 14, 2011 11:27 AM

(I bought two new albums this morning thanks to the Grammys.)

That brought to mind the quote from "Community."

Thirty-something, I'm assuming. He has a land line and uses the word "album."

And that made me giggle.

You do make a good argument for watching the Grammys. I am woefully out of touch, musically.

Posted by: tamatha at February 14, 2011 11:28 AM

I heart Cee-Lo Green SO HARD. That ensemble was SPECTACULAR.
As were Gaga's shoulder ...horns, or whatever the hell.

This new layout, however... I don't know. On the one hand, it's nice to be able to read a little excerpt on the front page; on the other, it allows for far fewer things on the front page, and I can't remember where all those things are filed to find them in their permanent homes. I just don't know, DR. I just don't know.
I *guess* I'll still come here, though.

Posted by: Anna von Beav at February 14, 2011 11:36 AM

Also, that Eminem album is the tits. And I don't say that lightly.

Posted by: Anna von Beav at February 14, 2011 11:40 AM

See, here's what I do for all awards shows. I wait until they're over and then watch the highlight reel. No commercials, no shitty production numbers, all killer (relatively speaking), no filler. No awards show needs to be over 2 hours long.

Maybe if I was 20 years old and felt that finding out who won a Grammy was the most important thing on earth, I'd watch it. But I'm a grownup now, so it isn't.

You know what I did watch? Desperate Housewives. That's right. Desperate Housewives. Suck it, Grammy watchers.

Posted by: Slash at February 14, 2011 11:41 AM

I just really don't care about music that much.

But I like the format! Specially the header. It looks so official.

Posted by: Figgy at February 14, 2011 11:42 AM

But that Muppet thing? LOVE IT. Cee-Lo looks like Elton John in the 70s, but better.

Also: I love Gwynnie and I don't care whatchoo say.

Posted by: Figgy at February 14, 2011 11:46 AM

I hate the new Black Keys album. It's a massive disappointment. And I love them, own all their albums, have seen them three times.

Seriously, I have to know. Is it just me?

Anyone?

Bueller?

Posted by: TK at February 14, 2011 12:11 PM

"Elton John in the 70s"

That's the only Elton John I will admit ever existed. I don't know who the high-maintenence, petulant, foot-stamping, tepid, mediocre imposter who calls himself Elton John nowadays is, but I prefer my Elton singing Ballad of a Well Known Gun at top volume, thank you.

Posted by: klingonfree at February 14, 2011 12:22 PM

I don't want to whine or anything, but I gotta get this out:

I kind of like the new layout, but (on the main page) I think it only works for the posts that have large photos/videos that take up the entire column width. For example, the Best Lines from NBC's Thursday Night Comedies post, Joanna's Let These 7 Men Show You How To Win Valentine's Day, or this post. The combination of smaller images and an excerpt of text only works when the excerpt is shorter and can stay aligned to the right of the photo (Ex: the Anne Hathaway's Got A Fight On Her Hands as Marion Cotillard is in Talks to Join Batman 3). When it exceeds the height of the image, you end up with a word or a chunk of a sentence (widows and orphans) that's aligned all the way to the left beneath the image and it just looks bad. So, I would just stick to using the large photos. Just an opinion.

Oh, and I liked when you could see the number of comments on a post while you're in it, not just on the main page.

I'm done. I promise. Mostly.

Posted by: jM at February 14, 2011 12:25 PM

There were Muppets? Damn it!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at February 14, 2011 12:25 PM

TK, yep. Just you.

Posted by: ChristianH at February 14, 2011 12:33 PM

The only disappointment i really had was Lady Antebellum winning so many Grammys and Bieber walking away empty handed. That made me a sad panda.

But in all seriousness, two Arcade Fire songs to close the night? Yes please. The skeptical grandma in the room was even tapping her foot to "Month of May." While I was desperately trying to explain the whole album wasn't like that song it won album of the year and then she admitted that the second song was "alright" even if it was "weird."

And did anyone else notice how auto-tuned all the performances were this year?? I mean come on. It's the grammy's. Sing with your actual voice. When I called out Usher and Biebs on it a girl in the room was like "yeah but if you're dancing that much you almost NEED it," to which I replied "somehow artists made it through the first hundred years without it, maybe they should keep it up." She shut the fuck up.

Posted by: aroorda at February 14, 2011 12:37 PM

Nice try. I have found more new interesting music through bootlegs, Creative Commons artists, and Google searching than I ever have from watching the Grammys.
Posted by: Jim Doggie at February 14, 2011 9:44 AM

Are you single?

Posted by: grace b at February 14, 2011 12:42 PM

Figured as much.

Posted by: TK at February 14, 2011 12:46 PM

the criminally overlooked and underrated Nuno Bettancourt currently plays guitar in Rhianna's band.

Formerly of Extreme? Does he still paint his nails black?

Posted by: Brenton at February 14, 2011 12:48 PM

Oh and in case anyone was wondering why Kanye wasn't nominated, it wasn't only because he's a jackass. Oh wait. It is solely because he's a jackass.

They didn't want a Taylor Swift "I'ma let you finish" moment and they weren't putting up with his shit after he REAMED them for not awarding him the Grammy the last two times they've nominated him and not given it to him.

He may have deserved at least one (hell probably more) Grammys (grammies?) for Dark Twisted Fantasy, but it was Eminem's night. Eminem was an absolute JOKE two years ago (and not solely because he was fat, it was also cause his music blew donkey balls.) Good to see him back on top spittin hot fiah.

Posted by: aroorda at February 14, 2011 12:59 PM

Cee-Lo looks like Elton John in the 70s, but better.

Oh no you didn't! And klingonfree, I prefer the 70s version too, but he's still ELTON FREAKING JOHN. He will never be a mediocre imposter.

Posted by: elizabeth at February 14, 2011 1:19 PM

the criminally overlooked and underrated Nuno Bettancourt currently plays guitar in Rhianna's band.

Formerly of Extreme? Does he still paint his nails black?

Yes. I mean, it appears so in photos. His solo stuff is lovely...and so poorly marketed. Such a pity. What that man can do to a 12-string is kinda miraculous, and his electric stuff is um electric. Plus he's easy on the eyes. And I'm terribly terribly shallow.

Posted by: klingonfree at February 14, 2011 1:46 PM

Okay, will someone PLEASE explain why everyone thinks the Lady A song "I Need You Now" is good? Because it's not! The lyrics are trite and unoriginal, the melody is the same as every other country song and the vocals are fine but wasted on stupid lyrics.

Here's a sample:

Reaching for the phone cause, I can't fight it any more.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now.

That's gold? Really? That's teenage girl journal entries, not meaningful song lyrics. Why do people praise it so much? I must know!

Posted by: TWoP Fan at February 14, 2011 1:47 PM

The Grammy Awards? Is that still on?

Posted by: John W at February 14, 2011 2:20 PM

Album of the year: ...
Record of the year: ...

What's the difference?

Posted by: csb at February 14, 2011 2:28 PM

Posted by: becks at February 14, 2011 11:26 AM

Niiiiice!

Posted by: Lauren at February 14, 2011 2:33 PM

I think "Record" refers to the engineering and technical aspects of the song?

Posted by: Figgy at February 14, 2011 2:42 PM

The thing with Lady Ga Ga for me: I think her songs are memorable, but I don't like any of them.

Posted by: samantha t at February 14, 2011 3:08 PM

I think that Lady Ga Ga is a poor man's Madonna. She tries her best to be outrageous, but she ends up being boring.

Posted by: Pookie at February 14, 2011 3:22 PM

Oh and in case anyone was wondering why Kanye wasn't nominated, it wasn't only because he's a jackass. Oh wait. It is solely because he's a jackass.

Actually, aroorda, Kanye wasn't nominated because the Grammys changed their calendar so nominees have to have been released before September of the year of the nominations. Therefore, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy won't be eligible for a Grammy until next year's awards.

The reason that "Power" was nominated was because it was released as a single in the summer. The reason it didn't win is because the voters had wax in their ears.

But come on, let's be honest, even though "it was Eminem's night," if Kanye had been nominated, Eminem would have crawled back to his Detroit trailer park where he belongs. And when Kanye is eventually snubbed and Album of the Year is handed to Rod Stewart or Rick Astley or some old shit, it won't be because of Taylor "I'm Famous Because of Kanye West" Swift, but because the Grammys never get it right (this year excluded).

Posted by: ChristianH at February 14, 2011 3:40 PM

I think "Record" refers to the engineering and technical aspects of the song?
Posted by: Figgy at February 14, 2011 2:42 PM

I thought that too, but there's a category for production. According to Wikipedia:

"Many wonder what the difference is between Record of the Year and Album of the Year. Record of the Year is awarded for a single or for one track from an album. This award goes to the performing artist, the producer, recording engineer, and/or mixer for that song. Album of the Year is awarded for a whole album, and the award is presented to the artist, producer, recording engineer, and mastering engineer for that album. So, in this context, "record" means one song and "album" means the whole collection of songs on a CD or LP. In essence, "record" really just means single."

Posted by: ChristianH at February 14, 2011 3:43 PM

maybe you need to look into macrobiotics and pilates.

Becks, I got the same, useful advice from the Queen o' England!

Posted by: sars at February 14, 2011 4:29 PM

This is the source for Cee Lo Green's outfit last night.

http://theberry.com/2011/02/14/source-of-cee-lo-greens-grammy-get-up-video/

Posted by: Jadine at February 14, 2011 4:44 PM

Posted by: klingonfree at February 14, 2011 12:22 PM
---
"Burn Down The Mission," motherfucker.

Posted by: , at February 14, 2011 6:32 PM

TK - I sort of felt the same way, but after a few listens I realized I was letting my non-love for a few songs overshadow the rest of it. It's definitely grown on me, but I don't love it like I loved Rubber Factory or Attack & Release.

Posted by: nosio at February 14, 2011 10:14 PM

In my opinion I thought that Eminem was robbbed at grammys. He should have won record of the year.

Posted by: Harpreet at February 14, 2011 11:46 PM

griffimx: "I bought The Avett Brothers last night after seeing them perform."

If you bought "I and Love and You" - the song that they sang last night came from that album - I think you will really like it. It, too, is a true album in my opinion. I bought it when I heard a radio station actually play "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" and "I and Love and You" (which I think of as the "Brooklyn song") and those were the only two songs I knew, but as I listened to the album, I kept saying "wow, that's a great song too... and that one... and that one..."

Now I can't say that I know much about Arcadia Fire (sadly I wasn't impressed by their first song at all), so I could be wrong but, to me, that "I and Love and You" had not been nominated in any category - this year or last - to me, is a terrible oversight.

I'm so glad The Avett Brothers got some exposure on The Grammys though - because if more people like you buy their album because of it, that is indeed a great thing.

Posted by: Night Nymph at February 15, 2011 12:46 AM

The Avetts have much better albims than their most recent (I, and Love, and You, not Live, Vol. 3). Both Gleam albums would be a good start.

Posted by: DS at February 15, 2011 7:13 AM

The Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons are essentially the same band.

If you're looking to figure out what all the Arcade Fire love is about, start with their first album, Funeral, aka the best album of the Aughts.

Posted by: ChristianH at February 15, 2011 2:38 PM