Daoust

Anyone watch last night? What did you think of the performances? I thought Alicia Keys was good. Who was it that sang "Free Bird" with Gretchen Wilson. They were horrible.

The J.Lo/Marc Anthony song was el lame-oh.

I quit watching after Etheridge and Stone covered Joplin. Etheridge was okay. I assume she's lost her hair due to chemo???

Any thoughts?

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Craven Morehead

I thought the Melissa Etheridge/Joss Stone tribute to Janis Joplin was exceptional. Melissa is battling breast cancer. Her performance was incredible.

Free Bird was performed by Lynard Skynard - or whatever is left of that group along w/ Keith Urban and Dickie Betts. Its thought to get so many together to play in unison. Which is why I though the group effort on All Across the Universe sucked. Was to raise funds for tsunami relief. Didn't come off so well.

balderdash111

All due respect to Ray Charles, but it seems pretty likely that his wins last night were really tributes to an exceptional career. I haven't heard the album, but was it really the best of the year?

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boom29

I watched the Grammys on-and-off, between Desperate Housewives commercials, but I was fortunate to catch Kanye West's performance, it was amazing.

I sort of have to agree with the Ray Charles thing. I have not listened to his album (nor most of the other nominated albums), but it seems that whenever an artist dies, their music becomes, for lack of a better word, a tad "overrated." In not saying that he didn't deserve it, but I can't help thinking that his passing away played a major role in the voters' mind when it came time to vote.

caz

I agree with the statement about Kanye's performance being outstanding... and that that the J-lo/Marc Anthony thing being weak. I appreciate them trying to celebrate the hispanic culture by singing in spanish, but it lost appeal for me. I appreciate that Ray won last night, but I must admit that I don't agree that it was the best choice. That album was not even close to being the best out there.

Janey

Liked the effort put on by the Lynyrd Skynyrd bit. Except that i didn't know half the guest singers. Good to see the old time guitar work, and that old Elvin Bishop tune. wow.

have to agree that I gagged on the j-lo tune. so lame. Across the universe was also poorly done. Couldn't they get paul or ringo to show up ???

On the whole, an average show (nothing as poignant as Prince and Beyonce....) with a very passable hosting by Queennie. I'm glad rock had a high profile for once. wasn;t familiar with Kanye West. thought he was an old The Apprentice contestant...

Spektr

The Ray Charles tributes were great, Alicia Keys has an incredible voice, The Killers should have won, Tim McGraw sounded TERRIBLE, Across the Universe was completely raped, and I would not have been the least bit upset if a stage light or something had fallen on Maroon 5 and the world could possibly return to listening to at least halfway decent music.

jonjon42

overall I felt disappointed for most of the reasons that were listed above. I stopped watching in the middle of Across the Universe...then I queued up Let it Be in my stereo...yeah the grammy version sucked...

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NCB

The Skynard thing was a joke. Nothing like living up to the Southern stereotypes

jasonresno

Oie...Ray Charles winning the best record....made me gag.

I caught the Kanye West bit, and the Usher bit. Both well done.

Dissapointed with some of the "winners"

sgn43

I didn't mean to catch the show as I have little respect for the Grammys, but I was flipping through on our new flatscreen plasma TV, so I was hypnotized by how nice the picture was for the awards show. I was pleasantly surprised as their were great performances by Kanye West/John Legend/etc, Usher/James Brown and John Mayer.


But, as always, I think the actual awards given out at the Grammys are a joke.

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Harry Cox

double post

Harry Cox

Alicia Keys - Absolutely amazing. The highlight of the show.
Janis Joplin tribute- Excellent. I like Joss Stone, but not Melissa Etheridge. Despite my feelings, she did a great job. Her bald head creeped me out though.
Franz Ferdinand- Delightful surprise in the midst of a horrible mix of groups.
Across the Universe extravaganza- Despicable. They ruined a wonderful song with missed lyrics, off-key singing and desperate attempts to outdo one another. And I love Velvet Revolver, but what was with Weiland's David Bowie impersonation?
Southern Rock tribute- Horrible waste of time.
J-Lo/Marc Anthony duet- See Southern Rock comments.
Kanye West- Good performance. Loved the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Queen Latifah- She can really sing. Did a great jazz standard.
Usher/James Brown- The Godfather showed the youngster why he got his nickname.

Can't really remember anything else, but one thing really pissed me off. WHY GIVE LED ZEPPELIN A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IF THEY DON'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO GIVE A SPEECH?!?!?!?!

jakewesier

best performance of the night hands down was Jamie Fox and Alicia Keys. Fox tore that up, he was the best male vocalist of the entire night straight up. No disrespecting Stevie Wonder or anything.

stinkfist

Question- Did Lynyrd Skynyrd play the whole of free bird? Even the cool solo at the end? That has to be one of the coolest solos ever!

Harry Cox

No, it was just a very short version. That song is way too long to be played in its entirety on an awards show.

quadro2000

Melissa Etheridge rocked the house. For her to get on stage, while still undergoing chemo, and to not only show women around the world that it's okay to be bald from chemotherapy but to rock the fucking shit out of that song...just unbelievable. She sang the shit out of it.

It's no surprise that Ray Charles won. The album is good but nowhere near his best. But the Grammy Awards are much more about legacy than anything else.

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OFKU0

This was in Monday's Ottawa Citizen. Sorry no link

"We never, ever had a Grammy for anything," Page said during an interview on the red carpet, "and that's all right. Maybe we're not Grammy material."

Ha ha. Leave it to Jimmy to sum up for a lot of people what exactly the Grammy's are not, at least in part,....awarding musical excellence.

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Janey

Lots of missed opportunities at the Grammies: could've had paul & ringo for across the Universe, should've had an acceptance, performance from the remaining Led Zeppelin members.

disagree on the comments on the southern rock tho, it was refreshing to see/hear the classic guitar work. too bad it was mashed into a string of 'southern' hits, instead of some solid Skynyrd. In this time of too much dance/hip hop, it was good to hear rock.

jonjon42

I think alot of this was just as the saying goes
too many cooks spoiling the soup.

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rideough

How could they not give Zeppelin any airtime and still give them a lifetime achievement award. They have to plug Kanye West...never mind THE BEST SELLING BAND OF ALL TIME!!!!! They can't be relevant huh?!? Fuck the Grammy's! Fuck them in their ass! That pissed me off so much that I am boycotting the Grammy's for eternity. Never has there been such an injustice in the music business.

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Harry Cox

You do realize that Zeppelin never won a Grammy before this, right? There are countless numbers of great bands that never won. It's no secret that the Grammys are a joke. I really only watch for the performances.

Hampshire

i really likes the opening act, i thought it was delievered very well. Although i really didnt like the gwen stefani and eve thing. I cant stand that shit. Just my opinion tho!