The Grammy’s. You can generally just chalk this night up as one where I’ll be watching something on the DVR. Seriously, I haven’t watched in, well I don’t remember the last time I watched. But this year is different. This year there is a carrot being precarisly dangled in front of my face saying “watch Melissa, magic will happen”. What is this carrot? This:
In case you are rock challenged, from left to right that’s: Josh Homme, Trent Reznor, Lindsey Buckingham, and Dave Grohl. I’m so damn amped up about this finale that I will be watching the entire Grammy’s this year, minute by miserable minute.
Well, that AND!!!! Queens of the Stone Age are up for two awards this year: Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Album.
All of my excitement over what boils down to several minutes of this several hour long mess got me thinking, “why the Grammy hate Melissa?” Hmmm, I love music. I love music a lot. I love music more than 98% of things in life. So why wouldn’t I watch music’s biggest award show of the year? Because they get it wrong so often. Don’t believe me?
Exhibit A: Best New Artist
Holy kiss of death. Go google the winners of this category. See if it doesn’t yield a lot of who and WTF moments. How many of these names went on to success? Want to feel a little more confused? Look at the nominees. Oh, shit, that’s how that guy won.
1993 yielded this list. All of the music being made and this is what it boiled down to. Arrested Development is cool. Their ONE album was great (yes, I know they actually made more albums). Thank god they took home the Grammy otherwise my heart might have achy breaked right in two.
Remember this year:
| Vacated[III] |
That was 1990 when the Grammy went to a group that didn’t even sing. And it wouldn’t be the last time it almost happened:
| Christina Aguilera |
Brit-brit and here dying goat paired with pissed cat whinings almost won in 2000. Xtina is still around. Kid Rock’s gone country. Susan? Macy Gray….well there was that one song.
Point is: for every Beatles (1965) there are (at least) two duds like Starland Vocal Band (1977) and a Marc Cohn (1992).
Look at these sparkly new artists.
Exhibit B: Album of the Year
There are some shining beacons of taste and excellence on this list, Rumors; Thriller; Joshua Tree, and then there’s:
| 1981 | Christopher Cross |
Christopher Cross |
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On what planet does Christopher Cross beat Pink Floyd? I mean, I’m guilty; I love me some Sailing, but let’s get real here. A Grammy for BEST album?
| 1997 | Celine Dion |
Falling into You |
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I’m gonna throw up.
Let’s move on.
Exhibit C:
It all boils down to this one, dear readers. As a 90s teen, I know, deep down in my bones, that the 90s were at least a little about rock. Right? Mixed in with the Color Me Bads (nominated for Best New Artist!) there were some minor bands that were well below the radar: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden et al. You know, because grunge and rock weren’t 90s at all.
In the 80s and 90s popular music had changed so much that new categories had to be invented: Best Alternative Album (1991) and Best Rock Album (1995). I guess the Grammy’s thought, shit, if we’re going to plug along awarding folks like Milli Vanilli, I guess we need to find some way to appease the people who listen to actual music. And that’s where my rock friends have been hiding in their jeans and tees for years. Those winners I can surely agree with…right?
| 1995 | The Rolling Stones | Voodoo Lounge |
oaifjahgao;pehaqoewt!!!! 1995 and the best rock album went to The Rolling Stones? For real….it did! I get they’re rock royalty, but a win, in 95? No effin way.
| 1999 | Sheryl Crow | The Globe Sessions |
Dammit man. That just hurts. These were the best rock albums of 1999?
The only positive I can really give is that Dave Grohl and his Fighters of the Foo have taken home many a Grammy. So sometimes they do get it right. But he’s not the only deserving musician out there making rock. What gives?
I just can’t figure out what the Grammy’s is based on. It’s not album sales (though I suspect that has some pull) and it’s not critical acclaim (at least not reliably). So what is the algorithm? Quick Google search and…Oh, there’s a “committee”. Nominations come from the record companies and the public through online submissions. Weird, I’ve never heard of vote solicitation, so who is voting/nominating? If it’s the same public watching and bringing us American Idol winners it’s all starting to make sense. I need to start some sort of change.org project to get my rock loving brothers and sisters to stuff the nomination boxes.
Get it right this year Grammy’s, just a hint.
| 2014 |
Bowie, Young, Sabbath, and Zeppelin = music gods. But this year belongs to QOTSA.
You know, maybe I don’t even want them to win a Grammy because most of my faves are not held to a Grammy standard. They’re held to something much, much more important, my standards. But then again, I did own a Chumbawamba album. So……
Just kidding! Give them a damn Grammy!
Who are your favorite nominees this year?
Stay posititive & love your life!
-Melissa
Today:
Listening to: The Milk Carton Kids – Michigan
Oh I totally forgot another major reason to watch this year! This guy is presenting:
Quick Stepp 