The Three Strike Rule: The Grammys

It was far from a memorable show, although it wasn't the worst by a long-shot. Seems like they could shorten the show by an hour and take out some of the superfluous love-fests. I didn't really need the Bo Diddley tribute – not because of the music, but because as usual, they botched the sound and you couldn't hear much besides Lucille wailing away. Also, am I the only person who thought that Whitney Houston seemed a little, well, over-medicated? I thought I had just heard the day before how she was getting her act together. I do have to say, though, that I was extremely pleased to see Plant and Krauss win, because if Lil' Wayne had won, I think I would have had to give up on the Grammys altogether.

Yeah, the so-called 'rap pack' was a noisy mess, though seeing a very pregnant MIA trying to hold her own among the misogynists was good fun. Couldn't agree more on the Cyrus/Swift duet, though to these ears, Swift actually has some musical talent BEYOND her manufactured country-pop persona, while Cyrus obviously has none. I liked the Radiohead w/ marching band rendition of “15 Steps,” and thought Macca was great (but Grohl WAY overbashes his drums, compared to Ringo, at least)…

I fear we've crossed the Rubicon. Everyone can complain about Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Survivor (TV), American Idol, Twilight, the stars of Twilight and just about any show on the CW with teenaged lifeforms in the cast, but nothing will change, alter or remove them. This is the post-criticism, post-demographic generation where nobody wipes that smear off the bathroom wall. They just revel in the comfort of its continued existence.

The vocals were mixed quite poorly all night long–which was fine as long as Katy Perry was singing, but not so fine with Plant & Krauss being drowned out completely by T Bone’s guitar. Other quick bites: I thought the Swift/Cyrus duet was not too bad, actually. The Jonas Bros. weren’t bad either, but no one could ever explain what they were doing onstage with Stevie. And why did Macca sing “I Saw Her Standing There” rather than something either new or more interesting? (How would Dave Grohl have torn up “Birthday,” for instance?)

Mostly, though, I have to say–thank goodness for TiVo. Also, I’m happy for Plant & Krauss, but I hate these years when Grammy voters are so intent on rewarding a particular act that they give Record of the Year to a song that, if it even was a single, wasn’t a successful single.

Oh, and one other thing–they got rid of the occasional scroll of the night’s offscreen winners. It’s the Grammy equivalent of the LA Times shedding one printed section after another and driving folks to the Internet. As annoying as the scroll always was, I think jettisoning it is disrespectful to both the winning artists and the fans of jazz, classical, folk, gospel and other forms that are now completely ignored.

Sir Paul is nominated every year in the same category and every year he fails to win. It's probably the most fascinating thing about the Grammys for me. Four years in a row he's been up for Male Pop and twice he's lost to John Mayer. Next year he'll get a nomination for this EP he has out now and he'll probably lose out to Springsteen.

Best performance of the night goes to Sugarland. That was a sweet performance by Jennifer Nettles.

Unfortunately I did see the Jonas Brothers ( I don't understand their popularity) but I missed Plant and Krauss. I am sure I will be able to find a video of it somewhere. I agree it was cool seeing McCartney and Grohl together.

Sorry I can't help with the lyrics of the Rappers.

Okay, no one has mentioned it, but U2 (though I absolutely love them) were not on their game last night.

That's a great point, Joel. If the Grammys are supposed to be a celebration of the last year in music, then these legends shouldn't be asked to sing their old hits. Let's hear the songs that were nominated!

Guyliner. That's all that needs to be said. I'm not looking forward to the new album.

“Weeds?”

See, I bought the big CD/DVD special edition of “…Atomic Bomb” the day it came out. I was super excited and… Pffft. Not much. I never listen to it. So with that in mind, there was a lot riding on the new album, at least for me. But this song is less than a trifle.

I'll gladly eat my words if the rest of the album is great, but I don't think I'll be chowing down.

Isn't it “weave?”

I got suck-punched into buying the same disc. I watched the DVD once, and then it just kind of sat there…

Didn't watch and doesn't sound like I missed much.

The problem with the Grammys is that for every one performance or pairing that is inspired, there are about four or five that make you cringe.

It may have a decade or so ago but I remember Aretha Franklin stepping in for an ill Luciano Pavarotti and delivering one of the most amazing live performance I've ever seen. Yet in the very same show, she performed a painfully obligatory “Respect” with none other than Dan Akroyd and John Goodman in order to shamelessly promote that awful Blues Brothers sequel.

Hint That You're Too Old To Appreciate The Grammys: Can't identify any of the folks up for Best New Artist

A dream broadcast: Two hour show – first half hour gets the statues passed around. Remaining 3/4ths = all-star jam. If you can't handle being onstage with the superstars, don't come up and waste everyone's time, go back to your P. Diddy afterparty and grimmace like a rockstar off-camera.

Does your wife also dislike the song “Stay”? I think I may be the only person who doesn't enjoy that song. Nettles can sing, no denying, but that song goes on about 2 minutes too long for me. I know every other country fan loves it, but not me. Whew, I've been carrying that around a while. Boy, Sugarland will be pissed to know that one fan disliked that song. Not.

I'm with Sharon and Malchus's wife. Nettles bugs me. Too much wink-wink, YOW, ROW, corny .. I don't know what it is. Maybe she's putting too much acting into her singing.

The west coast gets the Oscars live.

The west coast gets the Oscars live.