Pop is such a random catch-all term that it’s hard to figure out how the people that nominate artists for the Grammys figure out what constitutes “pop”. Of course, if you’re in the know, you just know that the labels that nominate their artists designate what categories certain songs go into, so…yeah, it’s totally random. This year’s nominees are the typical mixed bag of pop, a term that can navigate vast waters and describe everything from Michael Buble to Lady […]
Posts tagged "Grammy Awards"
Popblerd!’s 2011 Grammy Preview: Rock
It’s the dinosaurs, y’all! Grammy’s rock categories typically tend to honor those who have attained a certain tenure in the industry. Grizzled vets get carte blanche, and if you’re an up and comer, you know you’ve been accepted into the rock establishment when the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences starts heaping little golden gramophones on your ass (i.e. Kings of Leon, Green Day, Foo Fighters, The White Stripes, etc.) This year’s most interesting category overall (to me) is […]
Popblerd!’s 2011 Grammy Preview: Rap
Another year, another time to kvetch over the Grammy Award nominations, right? It may be music’s biggest night, but it’s hard to find a Grammy Awards that’s not fraught with controversy and/or boring as hell. The nomination process always results in head scratching decisions, and this year’s are no different. Katy Perry nominated for Album of the Year? Weird. Lady GaGa’s “Bad Romance” scratched off of the Record of the Year nominees? Uber-weird. No Lil Wayne nominations? Big Boi passed […]
Award Show Sundays: The Stevie & Bette Show
I’ve been in a Stevie frame of mind lately-definitely not a bad place to be. Mr. Wonder has won all sorts of awards during his career, but the feat that impresses most is the fact that he won the Album of the Year Grammy three times in four years-Innervisions won in ’73, Fulfillingness’ First Finale won in ’74, and Songs in the Key of Life won in ’76. Hell, when Paul Simon won the AOTY in ’75 for Still Crazy […]
Award Show Sundays: “I Saw Her Standing There”
When I talk about the Grammy Awards, I refer to Ken Ehrlich’s book At the Grammys: Behind the Scenes at Music’s Greatest Night quite a bit. The show producer’s recap of three decades worth of ceremonies is quite an interesting read. Excellently reverent in spots (he obviously has a hard on for certain artists like Bonnie Raitt and Melissa Etheridge) and delightfully bitchy in others (not a fan of Britney Spears…or Usher…or obnoxious former NARAS president Michael Greene), I recommend […]
Award Show Sundays: Enter Sinead
Earlier in the week, I published a piece making some suggestions on how to improve the Grammy Award ceremony. One suggestion I had was to focus on new artists, and I mentioned that the first time I saw or heard Sinead O’ Connor was on a Grammy show. Of course, from there it was a small step to go on YouTube, find the clip and post it for you guys. I was 12 when this show aired, so obviously the […]
Dear Grammy…
The Grammy Awards ceremony needs a face-lift, and I propose more awards and more performances by up-and-coming acts.
Award Show Sundays: He’s Marvin Gaye, Bitch
Time for another legendary award show moment-check out Marvin Gaye being given his first Grammy by Rick James & Grace Jones.
Award Show Sundays: Sweet Baby James
One of my favorite Grammy Award moments occurred back in 2003, when two of the artists tagged to carry the singer-songwriter torch into the 21st century joined forces with the man who lit the torch for a wonderful performance. The young artists were Vanessa Carlton, then riding high with her hit “A Thousand Miles”, and John Mayer, who had already scored huge hits with “No Such Thing” and “Your Body is a Wonderland”. Carlton performed a shortened version of “Miles” […]
Eminem, Lady Antebellum Lead Grammy Nominees
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Eminem and Lady Antebellum lead the pack of Grammy nominees. The nominations were announced last night in Los Angeles.
Award Show Sundays: Getting Close to the Carpenters
I believe this is the first Award Show Sunday that predates my birth. As I’ve been on a Carpenters kick lately, I figured posting one of their several Grammy wins would be appropriate. What a category to win in, too? For Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1971, they were pitted against four legendary groups-The Jackson 5, Chicago, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Beatles. Granted, their win sort of underscores Grammy’s historical bent towards the […]
Award Show Sundays: Little Richard Steals the Thunder
This is probably one of my 5 favorite Grammy moments of all time (ooh, an idea for another list!). It’s March 1988, and the Grammy Awards are at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Presenting the Best New Artist trophy are Buster Poindexter, who is enjoying mainstream recognition for the first time in his career thanks to his cover of Arrow’s “Hot Hot Hot”, and Little Richard. What results is Richard going wildly and hilariously off-script (someone should […]