The Duct Tape Grammys
Published February 23, 2003
CBS executives thought up another use for duct tape that the Department of Homeland Security could only DREAM about - outright censorship of the artists it wants to celebrate (right?) tonight.
I'm all for limiting long speeches, that's a time thing and no one really wants to sit through long-winded ANYTHING.
Still, to come right out and say the person's microphone will be cut, as CBS exectives have? Is that for both pro and anti-war statements?
Just what is being celebrated tonight? I thought it was self-expression. How silly of me. It's why I got into music. It's why, at least half the time :) that there are words to accompany the music.
Why would CBS or the Grammy organizers or whoever decided, invite Sheryl Crow, Bono (oh, yeah U2, sorry), Madonna, Eminem and possibly Simon and Garfunkel to play. Is it because they are culturally relevant? And why is that?
The night is ripe for digs at the network and they will deserve it.
Tonight, I fully expect artists and presenters (that would be really good, standing up there silnet, not able to do the job) to come on stage with duct tape on their mouths. It will be brilliant on a number of levels, not least of which because that's what I'd do.
Is everything "pre-packaged?" [answer - almost, almost] See links below. :)
- The Duct Tape Grammys
- Published: February 23, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News, Video: Music, Video: News, Video: Television
- Writer: Temple Stark
- Temple Stark's BC Writer page
- Temple Stark's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I may watch just for this reason alone, though Dragnet sounds better (and that's not a cut down on Dragnet). U2 three years in a row? I think there's a lot of other music out there. And you posted the same post I was about to, sort of, on your site - namely here's the Grammys. Here's Blogcritics. See any difference? Thought so.
Any sort of list based on the majority of points in a first past the post system will always skew to the majority. For my listing, I chose records I actually went out and bought in 2002, and am still listening to. So, while I bought the Elvis Costello album (as I have every one of his 20some odd albums), I haven't listened to it in months, so I didn't vote for it. I have such a plurality of recordings that almost all of the albums I voted for didn't make the list. I'm sure there were many obscure and awful recordings cited, but majority rules. As for the Grannies, it is compiled and voted for by the industry, so that is why Dumpy's Rusty Nuts didn't get a nod again ("Somewhere In England" is their masterpiece).
And for what it's worth Critiquees was closer to the VV Pazz and Jop poll than anything else (and they have a larger statistical base and a complicated points system involving filling Christgau with malt liquor and spinning him around until he pukes. Or so I've heard).
Still, to come right out and say the person's microphone will be cut, as CBS exectives have?
Yes, and how quick they were to deny having said it, eh. Given that nobody seems to have got cut short, CBS probably were OK with any messages that got through. I am, however, sufficiently conspiracy-minded to suspect CBS leaned on the record companies to ask their performers to reconsider expressing their political opinions, thereby saving CBS as much embarrassment as possible...
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(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/3384)
I'm actually going to be watching "Davinci's Inquest" tonight, since I haven't watched the Grannies in, well, never. You say they have something to do with music?
Regarding duct tape:
I thought Red Green was behind the duct tape panic in the States. I was wrong. It is Henkel, who contributed $100,000 to the Republican Party in 2000 according to the Washington Post. I'd say that's a pretty good ROI.