Grammy analysis

Written by Al Barger
Published February 24, 2003
page 1 | 2 | 3

Or you can CLICK HERE to get the true and correct list of best songs, and CLICK HERE to get the true and correct list of the best albums.

For another view of the Grammys see here and here.

page 1 | 2 | 3
Unreformed hawkish Hoosier hillbilly and sometimes candidate Al Barger runs the still squeezin' down the psychodelic Kentucky moonshine at MoreThings.com, what with the paranoid religious visions and the Pentacostal music and visions of God and anarchy running amok and such. Somebody oughta call the cops to report his out of control freedom of conscience. Till they come to take him away somewhere where he can't hurt anyone else, you can check out his weekly column of NEW ALBUM RELEASES.
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
Buy from Amazon.com
When I Was Cruel When I Was Cruel
Elvis Costello
Music,
Nellyville Nellyville
Nelly
Music,
Simon & Garfunkel 1964-1970 Simon & Garfunkel 1964-1970
Simon & Garfunkel
Music,
A Rush of Blood to the Head A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay
Music,
The Chess Box The Chess Box
Etta James
Music,
The Eminem Show The Eminem Show
Eminem
Music,
Come Away with Me Come Away with Me
Norah Jones
Music,
The Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits: The Record The Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits: The Record
The Bee Gees
Music,

Grammy analysis
Published: February 24, 2003
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Section: Music
Filed Under: Culture: Media, Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: Country and Americana, Music: News, Music: Pop, Music: Hip-hop, Music: Rap, Music: Rock, Music: Soundtracks, Video: Music, Video: Television
Writer: Al Barger
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Comments

#1 — February 24, 2003 @ 08:16AM — Eric Olsen

Great job Al, Thanks!

#2 — February 24, 2003 @ 10:52AM — Mark Saleski [URL]

what the hell happened to Faith Hill? she sounded like she's had the flu or something. i'm not a fan of that kinda stuff be she sounded WAY off.

the Norah Jones choice was at least better than last year's Alicia Keys thing. Norah can actually sing.

and gees, al, you gotta get that Springsteen chip off yer shoulder...it's gonna force an early visit to the physical therapist! ;-)

#3 — February 24, 2003 @ 11:34AM — Tom [URL]

I entirely agree about Elvis Costello. What a shame to not honor him with *something* last night. He deserves a lifetime achievement award or something. But I have a hard time saying that When I Was Cruel would be deserving of Album of the Year, I'm sorry to say. It's good, but while I enjoy it for what it is, he's done SO much better.

I do, however, have to disagree with you on two points:

Norah Jones - I am not a fan, but that girl has a voice of pure gold, and is a tremendously talented change of pace from the pre-packaged crap we're normally forced to endure.

NSync's "tribute" to the Bee Gees - again, I am not a fan of either, but if that was a tribute then the Bee Gees should be terribly insulted. NSync has no idea what harmonizing means - one of the "singers" was either consistently slightly sharp or flat (or maybe it was more than one at different times). Their harmonization was very average at best, and pretty awful in general. The Bee Gees - THEY can harmonize. NSync can "sing" in the way that most American Idol participants can sing - their voices do something vaguely singing-like, but they're really no more talented than any other average person out there. That is not enough to honor someone like the Bee Gees.

#4 — February 24, 2003 @ 12:49PM — Ashleigh

In response to those who blast NSYNC: ha! they certainly proved with last night's tribute to the BEE GEEs they can sing and sing well
yes, at times they were off key, but compared to grammy faves like Faith Hill and John Mayer they certainly pulled it off. and to those who disagree I d like to hear YOU hit that a#!

#5 — February 24, 2003 @ 15:27PM — Bub

I agree that Faith Hill (along with Vanessa Carlton, Ashanti, etc.) sucked. And the porn star bleach job only added to my horror. I was under the impression she was a relatively classy chick. Anyway, NSync did shock the hell out of me. I'm no music instructor, but they sounded pretty damn good to me. I think Norah Jones is a bit overrated. She's Ok. Good. Not great. She may get great someday. She's as good a bet as any...

More so than the music, I'm turned on by great lyrics. Provocative, thoughtful, sexy, etc. Where are all the great lyricists? That's why I'm glad John Mayer, Eminem and India.Arie won something. At least they have something on their minds besides "let's dance, let's party, let's do it."

#6 — February 24, 2003 @ 15:53PM — Tom [URL]

If they can't hit the A# then they shouldn't be doing a tribute to someone who can, should they?

Remember, I am not a fan - but as for Norah Jones, this is a woman who's voice is completely genuine. What you hear is true natural singing talent. She does not have to shout or push her voice to get it to perform, as the majority of today's singers must (Faith Hill being an example last night - she was really pushing the limits of her volume to hit those notes, and it was showing in her ragged performance. I too wondered if maybe she had a cold or something. She's generally a pretty decent singer in her range.) I wouldn't buy Norah's album - it's just too adult-contemp. for me - but she is gifted with a gorgeous voice, something that was a glaring rarity last night, and is rare, period, in today's music.

#7 — February 24, 2003 @ 16:11PM — Ed [URL]

I tend to agree with most of you. Overall there were some pretty bad performances last night. I guess singing "in pitch" is optional when performing at the Grammys" My favourite was John Mayer followed by James Taylor. Kinda like here's someone who sounds real lame and here's someone who sounds real good. Now just for kicks let's give the award to the guy that sucks!!! Good contrast though. You can certainly appreciated how badly John Mayer is after hearing James Taylor....Norah Jones sounded pretty good and she seems to actually have some talent. Which is quite rare these days. It was better than some goofy reality TV show...but not a whole lot better...

#8 — February 24, 2003 @ 16:23PM — The Theory

yeah, John Mayer is pretty bad... in my humble opinion...

peace.

#9 — February 24, 2003 @ 16:39PM — Bob

I like Norah Jones too!!! I saw her do a duet with Willie Nelson one time and she smoked him!!! She's got a good groove.

Yikes That John Mayer performance was pretty scary though!!! Sorta reminded me of the year this guy just ran up on stage and started showing off a new coat he bought. I sat there kinda in aw wondering what the heck are you doing? Are you not embarassed? My advice to John Mayer would simply be ..Buy yourself a metronome and take some singing lessons...when you come to a guitar you can't play don't slow down and try and play it anyway. Spend some time prior to the performance practicing until you can get it down. Hey it may take some time but in the long run you'll end up looking and sounding a lot better.

#10 — February 24, 2003 @ 18:57PM — Lee

Did Nora pay them off??? She is okay, but multiple grammies?? Come on. I find her extremely boring and overrated. The judges must be getting old.

#11 — February 24, 2003 @ 19:14PM — Rebecca

i am really disapointed that Norah Jones won so many awards! she is so overrated i agree with a few of you saying she is boring, because she totally is! i think Avril Lavigne had a pretty crappy performance ( i am not a fan but i was sorta hoping she wud win more since she is canadian and all) i think Norah Jones should definetly not have won like Alicia Keys did last year! there were so many other people nominated that deserved it! I was very impressed with 'NSYNC's performance i think they did a very good job! and the remaining BeeGees looked impressed as well! all of the performances EXCEPT 'NSYNC's tribute were horrible! i also think Eminem's performance was good. i also think he deserved a grammy or two more instead of Norah Jones! If u hadn't noticed already i really don't thing she deserved more than 1!!

- Proud to be Canadian!

#12 — February 24, 2003 @ 23:15PM — Ricardo

finally a real artist get recognition - Norah Jones ..she's so sublime..what a talent!!!! tony bennet said : she isn't great - SHE'S PHENOMENAL... CONGRATULATIONS NORAH!!! GRAMMYS GAIN PRESTIGE AGAIN!

#13 — February 25, 2003 @ 12:14PM — Timothy Dick

I'm 23 years old which is relatively young. Yet I think that James Taylor made the two singer/songwriters before him look ridiculus. And the highlight of the program for me was Simon and Garfunkel singing "Sounds of Silence." They just don't write songs like they used to. I like the Bob Dylan line, "What do ya mean you can't repeat the past, of course you can!"

#14 — February 26, 2003 @ 14:50PM — Odi

Norah Jones is a dream come true! In a world riddled with so much studio enhanced crap! This gal is a breath of fresh air. If you want to appreciate what a sensational voice she has, listen to her album on a really good CD player, with earphones, she immediately has a tantalizing effect on you.

I bought her album, and it's the best investment in music that I have made in a very long time. Thanks Norah!

As for most of the other performers, they sucked! I love Eminem - the real deal. I love the Dixie Chicks, they can sing. N'Sync did very well, to my surprise! Faith Hill, tried too hard, I'm not a fan.

Paul Simon and Garfunkle, they are still so authentic and real, and I love their rendition of "Sound of Silence." Peace Out!

#15 — February 26, 2003 @ 15:00PM — Eric Olsen

Thanks Odi, we think very much alike, although I thought S&G were pretty ragged.

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