2013 Grammy Recap!
First, let me say that it makes me happy that you all enjoy
this from year to year. I’ve been doing
this since 2009, and you all have positively responded to it, and I look
forward to providing my commentary.
This year, even though I’m going to “GO IN” on the award
show itself, I would like to point out a few things about the Grammy’s in
general, to help you guys understand where I’m coming from. The Grammy Award Show is a production of the
Recording Academy. People win Grammy’s
not based on their chart positions, popularity, or sales. The Recording Academy that picks these
winners are an elite group of touted writers and producers with resumes deemed
worthy. Of course, there are some guidelines,
but ultimately – it is up to those who are already apart of the Recording
Academy to create space for those who want to become members. For those of you think that an artist should
have won in a category, get your writing and production credits up – because it’s
about power… not about JUST talent. Being that said… here we go…
I have to nod to the acoustic vibe that The Grammy’s was
going for. It exposes those who aren’t
real singers. Point blank period. BUT…
taking that into account, you must realize that you want to present the
best. And I am not sure if they
accomplished that last night.
Performances
Justin Timberlake was good. And was perhaps the best performance of the night!
I love the contrast in “Suit and Tie” already, but the performance just
made it that much more visually believable.
And anytime you bring Hov up to perform with you, it’s going to be
phenomenal. It almost seems as though JT
never took a break. In addition to the
performance, you have to appreciate the live instruments too. He channeled the big band feel, and managed
to pull it off with the whole black/white vibe too.
So, the tribute that Elton John was performing with Mumford
and Sons was a total distraction. I promise
he reminded me of Bobby Jones on the piano.
LOL! That suit was shimmering wasn’t it?! He is a legend so you can’t
talk too much about him… but we can COME for Mother Mavis Staples… LOL! I mean… other than the fact it sounded like
she had been gargling with rocks and glass, I couldn’t write about the Grammy’s
and NOT mention how she did.
Kelly Clarkson has been doing her GOOD singing lately. First, the inauguration – and now the Grammy’s
… Well kinda. I will say that she’s redeeming herself in these live joints. I
think she should think about a live album.
Granted, she had some moments of “Kelly, you’re just about to lose your
footing with all this emotional belting”… but she still stayed in KEY and
managed to pull it together as a cohesive and enjoyable performance. Not the night’s best, but certainly not its
worst.
Maybe it was the hair… but Rihanna was… ehhh… I don’t know
how I feel about it. I mean, we know she’s
limited vocally. And I applaud the fact
that she stayed in her lane (no pun intended – “Stay”) Can’t help but think that she was thinking
about Chris when she was singing. And I
liked Mikky Ekko singing it with her.
Ri-Ri got one of those voices that you need to break the monotony up a
bit. And he was a healthy distraction.
The performance was kinda boring though.
Now… the most aesthetic performance has to go to Taylor
Swift. She had a lot going on with her
performance. And I think that she did a
decent job – and she definitely channeled Alice in Wonderland. I don’t know if I like Taylor as an artist –
it seems like she’s hyped (lest we forget what poor Kanye did to her years ago…
LOL!)
Now Miguel… he was doing his thang! Y’all have to peep the fact that he was
really trying some things out vocally and TOTALLY nailed the beginning part of
his performance. And then Wiz in the
performance too? Wiz is perhaps the most beloved rap artist out right now …
this expectant father (of about 22 months now…) is forever “that dude” because
he’s wifing and impregnating a former-stripper that was scorned by popular
culture’s most scandalous rapper/personality. *shrug*
Maroon 5 is a great group, one of my favorite artists is a
member (PJ Morton). Adam was giving us a
great performance UNTIL he was interrupted by the yelling/scream of Alicia Keys
and that HORRID song. I love her as a
writer but I wish she would hang up her vocal folds on the next clothes rack
and just STOP singing – especially that daggum “Girl On Fire” song. UGH!!!! I knew it was going to be pitchy as
SOON as she opened her mouth. Now because the energy was already in the room –
I will give her a bit of a pass. Especially
since she had Adam Levine was covering her MULTITUDE of wrong.
Bruno Mars – what can you say bad about him? Sure he looks weird and has adult ADHD, but
the man brings energy which is 75% of a performance. I like the 80’s-pseudo choreographed band and
how they get everyone involved with him.
Then you add Sting… who is like a legend… and check the cameos in that
performance. EVERYONE knew the song and
looked like they were feeling it! That
shift to the Jamaican feel … I ain’t gon lie – I started beefin’ it up. It was
a SMOOTH transition. Shoutout to the
arranger! Now when Ri-Ri came out there with Ziggy – I was like “okay”… but
then I peeped the fit on Rihanna. I
instantly thought… this could be another Nipplegate. You could definitely see her tattoo, and the
way she kept lifting those arms… every man watching television was hoping to
catch a glimpse! The cameraman is a FOOL
for the shots of Chris Brown during that segment too.
Now – Frank Ocean… hmmmm…
Social media attacked the hell out of Frank for this. I loved the visuals that were going on. Now my only question is how do you sing out
of key when YOU’RE PLAYING THE SONG??
But it goes to show us that Frank, in all his undoubted and unmatched
creativity in his writing, isn’t really a singer. He’s a great mind, and he does well in his
lane. But his live performances have
been lacking for a while now. Now I
understand his song choice, my only issue is that you cannot force-feed someone
into accepting you. The general
consensus is that people accept Frank’s music.
And I think the acceptance of his music is because there is a genuine respect
for his ability. It didn’t make me feel
awkward, I just kept thinking, “Frank, you have to know your audience.” He was trying to make a statement on a
platform for his lifestyle. I understand
that. I just don’t think that the Grammy
stage was equipped to provide him with what he was attempting to do. The Grammy’s – as a show – lack validity in
terms of political, social and economic power.
It is designed to entertain! It highlights the achievement of artist in
terms of people who have “pull” in the industry. That’s all I’m saying. And then you whistle… you lost EVERYONE and
walk off stage… people clapped because it was the appropriate thing to do.
LL Cool J. I’ll take
time to pause there. For the most part he
did okay… until he tried to perform. I
was over it. Bro, take your walker and
live in the fact that you are a cultural icon with a fairly lucrative acting
career. You are a part of a class that
changed music for future generations. No
need to expose your feelings of inadequacy or irrelevance in music – we get it! Will Smith ain’t going out trying to be on Billboard’s
Top 100, so you shouldn’t either. Now a
highlight of his performance was certainly Travis Barker on the set. He wrecked that joint. I don’t know if he’s been going to late-night
sheds, but he was dynamic. I mean Travis
always been cold but now last night… he was the truth!
All in all – I have no qualms with the winners. Generally, the individuals who won this year deserved
their wins – not because of their performances but because of the influence
their work produced. There were some tough
categories there, granted. But it was
what it was. This award show gets a C.
