Grammy Fusion

Once again the Grammys carried on their tradition of bringing together musicians of all different styles on to one stage but most of the odd combinations came out this year as presenters rather than performers. Ah, how I miss the days of pairing Eminem with Elton John.

I thought I'd note a few of my favourite moments:

• The Police opening up the show with Roxanne - I mean come on! That was just amazing. Does anyone know how to secure tickets to their upcoming tour???

• The Dixie Chicks winning every award for which they were nominated.  I love their latest CD and I think the fact that they stayed true to themselves, fought against ignorance and turned their experience into fabulous music is a wonderful message to get out to the Grammyized public.  Although I must say for a group of gals who have written some powerful songs, they didn't sound particularly articulate throughout their acceptance speeches.  Of course they gave so many that if you took the best lines from each time they were up on stage you'd get one really good speech as long as you left out Natalie quoting Nelson from the Simpsons.

            

• The Red Hot Chilli Peppers drapping a bedsheet sign across their speakers that said  "Love to Ornette Coleman".  I'm a big fan of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and I think they are incredible musicians so it shouldn't surprise that they would tip their linen, shall we say, to Ornette C. but still, it gave me pause and made me smile.  (Earlier in the show Mr. Coleman was presented with a lifetime achievement award but was quickly dismissed by Carrie Underwood as she accepted her best new artist award.  Nice Carrie. Real nice.  I guess you country kids don't care that the man revolutionized jazz back in '59.)

• What didn't make me smile was Scarlett Johansson giving away the final award and her lameo banter with Don Henley. Don was the Grammy Man of the Year - did he really need Scarlett at his side?  And she's recording an album?  Really?  And then she asks Don for advice and he doesn't give her any?  What message was that sending?  Was it supposed to be funny?  Next year they'll have to work on getting some better patter writers.

• Somehow I was able to catch that Stephen Sondheim was honoured last night too.  I wasn't sure what he won because his was one of those flash-on-the-screen-for-a-moment-before -we-head-off-to-break awards.  But now thanks to the power of the internet I have discovered that he was presented the Trustees Award because he is "indisputably one of Broadway's greatest composers and lyricists".  Indisputably is right.  I met him once here in Toronto.  I was pratically speechless but I thought I'd rather make a fool of myself telling him how much I love his music than merely admire him from a far.  So, I found a moment when he was without company and I walked right up to him and gushed as inarticulately as a Dixie Chick on Grammy night.  Reflecting on that memory, I'm all smiles again.

Comments

[James Thai]

BestBuy has presale tickets for the Polive available starting today (Feb 13) at noon. Email me if you need a code to access them, they were giving them out in their email newsletter.

[Shannon]

James! My knight in shining Best Buy promotional codes! What can I say? You have made my summer. Not only will I be seeing the Police live but my best friend will be coming back to town just to see the concert with me. It's almost as exciting as her upcoming wedding.
Thanks again James!