Dear Grammys, I'm Breaking Up With You

Jww Weghorst

Musical competition is lame. I like music because I like it, not because someone else does.

Beverly Ann Lynn

amen .. totally agree

Kenya Stafford Osakue

Fun.

Jimi Austin

They need to go away already. Its obvious they know nothing about the nominations or music in general.

Tanya Rehman

Taylor swift annoyed me

Lyndsey Stark Stang

I never watch it but there is no point in criticizing it if you can't even offer a way to make it better in your opinion. She sounded like a ranting unhappy child who needs help.

David Rozycki

Never watch that shit.

Dave Flick

If you could make it through the Frank Ocean Gump tune without changing the channel, you are far stronger than I am.

Sheena Williams

I liked that Mumford & Sons won atleast one Grammy. They're an awesome band. As for the rest of the show...it was mediocre and lackluster.

Jerise Harris-Henson

Ugh, some of you need to lighten up. I actually enjoyed most of it. I think the worst parts were Taylor Swift and that awful Bob Marley tribute but most of the rest were good. Jack White was awesome and so was Mumford & Sons. I was glad to see them win Album of the Year. The Grammys aren't perfect but this year I think they did a much better job than previous years. Of course it's going to be who is popular and who sells records. There are plenty of indie awards for all the ~cool~ kids to care about. Sheesh.

Calvin Perry Goforth

True John. I have felt that way as well until recently. Maybe we are just getting old and set in our ways......lol.

Lisa Williams Broomas

i liked most of the winners, but why is taylor swift still allowed to sing live on tv? Ugh

Don Walsh

Total garbage.

John Chance McKay

there is not a single song made in the last 10 years, I actually look forward to listening to. I have not bought new music in 20 years. and I love music. I actually hate the radio any more, due to the crap they think I want to hear.

Andrew Hernandez

Jack White was the highlight

John Chance McKay

I never watch that stuff---I never heard of any of the people on them, nor do I care.---One big Stroke fest, to make up for any lack of real talent.

Marshall Forse Walker

Was Dr. John even alive last night? It was kind of sad watching sit on stage not really playing & nodding to sleep

mcgintyfan

Amen. Couldn't agree more.

jeffbalke topcommenter

1 Like

I would have liked the Black Keys with Dr. John if: 1. You could actually hear the Preservation Hall band playing (arrange something for the Grammy's, don't just jam!) and 2. if the damn drummer actually hit his stupid drums -- this isn't a jazz band, it's rock and roll.

Frank Ocean was a complete and utter train wreck. I don't care how much buzz he has or how cool he is, he blew chunks in front of millions of people.

Jack White, who I don't really like that much, was very good. Jay-Z is basically great at everything he does, including comedy ("I'd like to thank the swap meet for that hat."). Bruno Mars's band was sickly talented. The Levon Helm thing was very good, though I'm with you on Elton John.

Unfortunately, perhaps the best and coolest performance of the night was the super abbreviated Brubeck tribute by Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Kenny Garrett, but no one tunes in to watch a bunch of old guys play jazz despite the fact that they destroyed every other musician in the place.

On the whole though, I broke up with the Grammy's a long time ago. They have RARELY gotten in right in their half-century-plus lifespan. For a long time, they were WAY behind the times to the point that they didn't even realize what great records were out that year. Now, the pendulum has swung and they are trying to turn "music's biggest night" into a quick-edit free for all short on awards and long on mostly bland performances and stupid social networking pandering (you are better than that, LL).

For years now, I've watched for the humor, not the gravitas. It's much more entertaining as a result.

cosmopolitician

1 Like

@jeffbalke good point. i don't think any serious music fans, or journalists, watch the grammys anymore with any weight. just really monday morning water cooler fodder at this point. Although it's worth mentioning that the only thing that felt overly-produced or commercial to me was freaking LL reminding us to USE HASHTAGS every 3 minutes. Curious what you thought about JT, Jeff. :-) You knew I was gonna ask!

deneyterrio

@cosmopolitician @jeffbalke fun. wins song of the year. Any argument for the validity of the Grammys is laughable. This is the same awards show that gave BEP an award for 'My Humps' and Milli Vanilli for best new artist

Having said that Dr John's album Locked Down is solid but NOT a blues album.

Grammys < turd sandwich

jeffbalke topcommenter

@cosmopolitician I missed it last night, but caught it today. I thought he was very good as usual. I think Jay-Z is pretty much brilliant at everything he does even though I'm not a HUGE fan of his music. Great is great.

It does bring up something that has bugged me for the longest time. I liked JT's performance of his song about 1000 times better than the recorded version. This is typically the problem for me with modern R&B music. I am drawn to the live band, and I hate the overdone production and canned drums. It's probably the single biggest reason I struggle to get into modern R&B yet the 60s and 70s versions of it are some of my favorite music of all time.

cosmopolitician

@jeffbalke yes, i've heard this a lot after last night's performance. i have to admit, i wasn't totally sold on Suit & Tie, but hearing it live with horns really pushed me over the edge. Also, the 2nd song he did, totally new to me, I loved. Although, i agreed with another review that I read last night, that he needs to lay off the over-analogized "love is a drug" theme. this is the 2nd song of his that compares love to a drug (Lovestoned, the first, is an amazing song from Future sex/Love sounds), but I lose a little respect for the songwriting when it's the same analogy. But stil thoroughly enjoyed the performance and i WILL be seeing him as soon as he takes to the road! :-)

Henry McRae Dillard

The Mutual Admiration Society Pissing Contest = Grammys/Oscars

cosmopolitician

I agree with almost every single point you make here. Actually probably every point. :-) But overall, didn't think it was that bad. Was elated to not have to experience Gaga or Nicky Minaj this year. What did you think about Rihanna? while my stomach turned every time the camera panned to her and Chris Brown, I thought her performance was great.

conebaby topcommenter

@cosmopolitician I'm not sure what's more offensive--her getting back w/ that kid or the show exploiting it for ratings.

I found it painful, how often they showed the two of them--especially considering he beat the shit out of her and couldn't perform AT THE GRAMMYS because of it, four years ago.

annaleicht

@cosmopolitician Her performance was great. She's at her best when she pulls back from the edgy dominatrix persona. It does seem she's lost some support from the general public over the whole reuniting with Chris Brown debacle, though. She's going to have a hard time separating her music from her personal life at this point.

cosmopolitician

@annaleicht agreed. leave that crazy shit for dumb nicky minaj. rihanna can actually sing. agreed on the chris brown thing. just don't see people every getting over that.