"Well, country radio wouldn't play this record either. Look who's No. 1 now."
Easily the most fun and varied Grammy show in years. Yea, yea, the 'cool' people aren't supposed to care about the Grammys. I can't say that I care about them, but it's a lot of fun to see who can make the silliest speech, who can surprise us, and who can bore us silly. Let's see: Gwen Stefani. OK, here's a piggish case of me being won over by old-Hollywood good looks, a cute voice and mile-long legs. The wife didn't approve but then I had to remind her that she didn't think Gavin Rossdale was "too hard to look at." Plus, we happened to listen to her solo CD at some friends' house on Saturday night after a coupla martinis. Fun was had by all. Southern Rock Tribute. Sure, "Free Bird" is the "Stairway To Heaven" of southern rock. So what? The old southern boys are gettin' old and grizzled, but they can still play with a lotta heart. Gretchen Wilson can really belt it out too. And maybe it's just me, but that Tim McGraw guy has so much less character in his voice than, well...everybody else on stage. Man, I haven't heard "Fooled Around And Fell In Love" in years! Green Day. So sorry if you can't take the political content. American Idiot kicks serious ass. Los Lonely boys. How did I not pick up on these guys? Their CD becomes a part of my collection later today. Black Eyed Peas. Yes, that whole medley thing at the start was sort of a big mess. But it was a big mess in the way that those Parliament/Funkadelic shows were a big mess. Everything louder than everything else. "Let's Get It Started" is serious ear candy earwurm material. Another record I've gotta snag later. Alicia Keys. Whooee, she can really sing. Still doesn't really do anything for me though...can't quite put my finger on why. Still, there's absolutely no denying the talent there. Jennifer Lopez/Ricky Ricardo....unlike these two. I sorta wanted to root for them but it's just so obvious that this song was a huge stretch for both of them. Loretta Lynn/Jack White. My favorite moment of the night. First Loretta bosses Jack around on stage, followed by the hilarious and respectful "yes maam"'s. Then Jack rubs it in the face of the modern country music establishment. My advice: get yourself a copy of Van Lear rose. It's killin'. Kanye West. I'm embarrassed to say that I've never heard of this guy. Nope, not one little syllable or note. Still, it was refreshing to hear from the part of the hip-hop community not obsessed with chrome wheels and other assorted bling. West, Mavis Staples, Blind Boys of Alabama. Yow, it was inspiring. Maroon 5. This reminds me of back when I still used to watch the Academy Awards show even though I hadn't gone to a movie in several years. Yep, I've never heard of Maroon 5 either. Best new artist? I guess so...though my choice would have been Los Lonely Boys. The Janis Joplin Tribute. Wow, Joss Stone was sorta OK...but then Melissa Etheridge came out and fricken tore the roof off the sucker. The Ray Charles Tribute. Man, I'm all a-teary eyed. The Tsunami Tribute. Not great, not bad. For some reason, I get nervous watching Brian Wilson sing. U2. The band people either love or hate. "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" was a moving tribute to Bono's father and one of the best songs from "...Atomic Bomb". Live, it was spectacular. Usher/James Brown. That Usher guys sure can dance. "Sex Machine" was waaaay too short. A missed opportunity there. That's it. Nothing earth-shattering this year (is there ever, really?), but it was about as fun as a scripted awards show can be.…
Article comments
26 - BoB
Los Lonely Boys owe everything to Los Lobos, including their oh-so-original band name. Los Lobos are STILL the best band in America, if you disagree or don't know, check out their latest album 'The Ride.' These guys have been kicking ass for 20 years.
27 - kanyewestsucks
I am a white man who bought your new CD, but I threw it in the trash this morning. You have a right to your uninformed ignorant opinion, but last night you were supposed to be HELPING people. Who the majority needing help happened to be black people. You showed that you in fact are a racist and selfish.
Did you know the Mayor of New Orleans is a black man? Mayor Nagin could have used New Orleans School Buses to evacuate people starting Saturday? The Hurricane didn't hit until Monday, idiot. It is common knowledge that the low lying flood prone areas of New Orleans are poor people and black, but this is from the Associated Press two days BEFORE the Hurricane hit:
NEW ORLEANS (AP)8/28/05 â€" In the face of a catastrophic Hurricane Katrina, a mandatory evacuation was ordered Sunday for New Orleans by Mayor Ray Nagin.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco, standing beside the mayor at a news conference, said President Bush called and personally appealed for a mandatory evacuation for
the low-lying city, which is prone to flooding.
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So President Bush PERSONALLY called the Mayor and Governor and asked them for a Mandatory Evacuation of "low-lying" areas, which everyone knows the majority are poor black people. I have seen pictues of thousands of New Orleans School Buses under water. Why didn't Mayor Nagin do public announcements on tv and radio telling people in low-lyng areas that the city will pick them up in, New Orleans School Buses, on every other even numbered street? That would have saved many lives. The decisions made by the state of Louisiana were made by Governor Kathleen Blanco, and the decisions made for the city of New Orleans were made by Mayor Nagin(who happens to be a black man, who was in control of the New Orleans Police Department). So if anyone gave the order "of shoot black people" it would have been this black man's decision not President Bush. I never knew you were such an ignorant racist self-centered man until last night.
28 - Matt
kanyewestsucks--could you please retrive the cd and send it to me? Its a shame to see your money go to waste.
Thanks