Grammy Magic

Last night's Grammy show was easily the best in years. Tons of surprises, but the real surprise was no posers.

No latest indie rock posers, no hooligan rappers, no pop tarts. The only possible exception was Rihanna, who is not exactly a no-talent in my book, but easily the least talented person to take the stage last night. Thankfully, her irritating rainy day hip-pop number "Umbrella" did not take home a win.

Everybody that hit that stage was the real deal. An actual talented, original musician or singer. How often does that happen? The tributes to stars of the past were ironically a breath of fresh air. Good Golly Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis!!!! Were there performances up to the level they set in their primes? No, but the fact that they can even get up there and do that well into their 70's (or 80s? I don't even know how old they are) is incredible. Tina Turner too! And, let's not forget John Fogerty. Creatively, he seems to be mining the same vein that won him success 30 years ago, but give him credit for still having the voice and the chops to pull it off live.

My least favorite act of the night was Alicia Keys. Yeah, yeah, I know she's talented. She's "classically trained." That means that she took piano lessons. And yeah, she's got a pretty good voice. But for all that she is touted as a creative person who writes (or, more often co-writes) her own songs, I just don't see the talent on that end. I've never been the least bit impressed with her songs. Well produced, and somewhat catchy (usually not that catchy even) but no lyrical wisdom, no clever wordplay, no memorable melodies, no nothing. Just overproduced hip-pop balladry. If she wasn't drop dead gorgeous (which she is), she wouldn't even have a record deal, much less all this attention. That having been said, she is at least a real musician and a talented person, worthy of a little respect and miles above the Britney's and Rihanna's of the world. But her arrogant stance and attitude comes through far more clearly than any artistic intent she may have. Fergie is a better singer, but has the grace to show a little humility. Speaking of which, did not Fergie and John Legend show how it is done? One piano, one voice and a little magic.

Will.I.Am's little mashup seemed to go over the heads of the crowd, but it was really cool and well done. His general goofiness makes a lot of people underestimate how talented he is. The goofiness is an act, a persona that expresses a worldview he wants to get across, and it's a shame some people just don't get it. "Let's Get Retarded" is his anthem, and he recorded that with more intelligence than goes into a dozen 50 Cent CDs. Or for that matter, Alicia Keys CDs.

Speaking of arrogant asses, Kanye actually impressed me for a change. He's still prone to making grandiose statements about his importance in the music world, and he is still a big baby when he doesn't win (he refused to make any statements to the press afterwards, presumably because he lost the "Best Album" award to Herbie Hancock), but to be fair, his performance was a highlight, and he had the decency to acknowlege the talent of other nominees, as well as the grace to laugh when Vince Gill took a playful jab at him from the stage. (Gill, after accepting his Grammy from presenter Ringo Starr, said, "I just got a Grammy from a Beatle. You had that yet, Kanye?" I still think he's too arrogant for his own good, but I'm genuinely sorry for him for the loss of his mother,(I cheered when he, when thanking his mother while they tried to play him off the stage, said "it would be in good taste to stop the music right now.") and it seems to have humanized him just a bit. I like Kanye better today than I did yesterday, and I really would like to see him make good on his creative ambitions.

And in conclusion, AMY WINEHOUSE, AMY WINEHOUSE, AMY WINEHOUSE, AMY WINEHOUSE!!!
The performance was great, the thankfulness and surprise was genuine, and I'm thrilled to see the girl looking healthier than she has in a while. I hope the media gives her a break. She's only 24 years old. Go Amy! I want to hear your next album. Here's hoping that she'll be better off after the rehab she refused for so long. Maybe next album, it'll be crack and booze she'll say "NO, NO, NO" to.

There was more, but I don't have time to go into it. The best Grammy broadcast for quite a while! Let's hope they don't screw it all up next year.