Posted on 02/14/2011 3:10:31 AM PST by greatdefender
Much like the music world itself, the Grammy Awards is a colorful train wreck of a television show.
Inexplicable results and mesmerizing performances mixed with the mundane added up to a generally unsatisfying evening for CBS Sunday. Unless, of course, you're Lady Antebellum.
The Grammys are barely an awards show anymore. As the music business has splintered and sputtered in recent years, the Grammys have become a performance show, advertising musicians who need the attention. Show producers don't even bother with a host anymore. For the first hour of Sunday's show, only one trophy was given out — for a live version of a Train song done better in the studio.
In theory, it's a great idea. If you're unfamiliar with an artist's work, it's much better to watch him or her in action than to listen to speeches thanking managers, producers and hairstylists. Or, in Train's case, Howard Stern.
In practice, the show's success or failure is tied to whether the artists can bring the goods.
Whether they took trophies home with them or not, the night's winners included Janelle Monae, Eminem, Cee Lo and Rihanna. Among the losers were Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Rihanna.
Yes, you read that last part right. Rihanna was spellbinding for her part in Eminem's ominous "Love the Way You Lie." When she returned later to perform "What's My Name" with Drake, she curiously dropped her hand-held microphone to her waist a few times while the vocals continued on.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Believe you and me, the next time Lady Antebellum come to Hartford, I was not able to attend last year, I will make an effort to go. They were IMHO, the only group that was worth the time to watch last night. Tim McGraw is awsome ALL THE TIME. Lady Antebellum made last night bearable.
I didn’t see AF. Saw Dylan, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Rihanna, and Lady Antebellum.
Had heard that BD’s voice was shot, but I never imagined he was that awful.
I say the big winner, with the most awards was Lady Antebellum from what I heard, which as I had said in another post, made watching what I did bearable. Never heard of Arcade Fire, and I thought what I heard it sounded like they were screaming, not singing.
Arcade Fire
#1 Album.
Sold out Madison Square Garden.
It’s Indie. Indie is popular with people who hate the crap that’s on the radio. Indie fans know a lot more about music than average people but they often do not know the songs on the Top 40. Indie Fans download a lot of music and go to a lot of shows. Many read pitchfork.com .
It’s sorta a separate indie world.
The Decemberists were #1 a week or 2 ago. Iron & Wine was #2. If you do hear these bands on commercial radio, it would most likely be on AAA, maybe alternative.
These bands get popular without radio and really don’t care very much about reaching the radio audience. They can have the #1 album, sell out Madison Square Garden, and remain cool, keeping their fans happy. They don’t have to write music for the idiots who listen to the radio.
That’s the problem, everyone who is smart and cool can find their own music, the music they really want to listen to, and play it on their ipod.
Radio appeals to those who can’t figure out how to do that.
Unfortunately, the only English channel I can get is AFN, so I watched the Grammys. I was pleaseantly surprised to find that it was quite enjoyable, all of it.
I didn’t see the show, but I’m listening to the album right now. So far, I don’t hear what I would call screaming. I’ve listened to it a few times before.
I’d rather listen to the new Deerhoof or the new Kylesa or the latest Electric Wizard, new Deerhunter but I’m in favor of Arcade Fire, its good stuff.
And they actually have great harmonies and it sounds like...MUSIC!!! I will take the hicks any day.
I don’t understand why you said that.
They could easily improve the super bowl show by making a contest out of it.
Whoever sells the most albums the week of the Super Bowl gets to play at halftime.
Let the market decide.
“Radio appeals to those who can’t figure out how to do that.”
Depends on the music genre itself. Ever since I had gotten for Christmas 2009 my Macmini, I listen on iTunes radio a number of good country and western music stations, including one in Pittsburgh, PA, one station, Y 108. Online radio helps country music thrive.
....I was talking NBC/FOX, a contest?....when it comes to SB half times it’s not a contest,it’s $$$$$$
Online radio is what via iTunes it what I listen to for music because the music sounds so clear, for my country/bluegrass/americana, the regular radio I only use for talkradio and sports only.
Yep, the Hicks are doing it.
I’ve found myself listening to more Country and Bluegrass the last few years, now it’s almost exclusively “Hick” music. Even my favorite watering hole has pretty much gone country. CMT is the most popular TV channel.
I do try to listen to other styles but just can’t enjoy it.
I’ve never been able to sing for one full minute without screwing up but I could hit my thumb with a hammer and make better sounds than I hear from most so-called talent these days.
Unfortunately, the only English channel I can get is AFN,
Which begs the question, in what language or languages are the others?
I don’t see why it begs the question, but Chinese and Japanese.
This is country music...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuOvllD8Baw
Who is there doing real country music now who is less than seventy years old?
“like a guy who smokes ten packs of cigarettes a day while inhaling gravel”
LOL! I’ve hated Dylan ever since “Like a Rolling Stone” came yowling over my car radio in 1965.
This year’s Super Bowl halftime, the Grammies... oh for the good old days when the performers threw up on stage while smashing their guitars. Now that was real class.
;^)
Well, there can be examples of good radio programming here or there. And it’s possible that this is a good time to be a country fan. AAA is ok in the rock world. Active Rock is bad in the rock world and Alternative is somewhere in between. Very little overlap between CMJ “Loud Rock” and Active Rock.
CMJ “Loud Rock” is much better. Better overlaps between CMJ and AAA. There could be a lot more overlaps between alternative music that might be a little bit too much rock for AAA and CMJ. Alternative really should be CMJ stuff. The majors don’t do interesting very well. And Alternative should be interesting.
BTTT
There is a tremendous amount of great new music out there.
Commercial radio does not play it.
If I first hear about a band because they’re on commerical radio, I automatically assume they suck.
I know where I find music that I like. Which is basically indie music, but I like heavier indie music.
There are lots of places on the internet to find just the kind of music you’re looking for.
If you like indie, you’ll be doing ok if you download all the pitchfork best new music albums and the CIMS chart. The CIMS charts are a lot longer. rateyourmusic.com best of 2011 gives some other choices that are good, but have a lot of metal. Might find some others on metacritic. And CMJ charts. Hit those charts, you’ll probably see the same names popping up.
There’s a lot of indie country and indie folk that some who like country or folk might like.
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