Grammy Goes Gaga; Over Lady Antebellum, Arcade Fire, Esperanza Spalding, too!
NEWS JUNKIE POST
Feb 14, 2011 at 11:19 am
The biggest spectacle of all the Awards shows, The Grammys did not disappoint Sunday. The 53rd annual celebration of recorded music was an exuberant extravaganza filled with phenomenal performances, crazy costumes and some major upsets.
Sure Gaga left folks agog with her dramatic egg-strance as she emerged from an egg, and wearing what seemed like a yolk to debut her new single “Born This Way” on the Grammy stage. She’s a showstopping performance artist, for sure, but alas, some of us are old enough to remember Madonna’s late ’80′s act. Gaga did walk off ( in a very Madonna-esque leather get up) with a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.
But the big awards went to the fab country-pop crossover trio with that dubious name, Lady Antebellum, who scored both Record of The Year and Song of The Year honors for their melodic hit, “Need You Now.” Album of The Year Honors went to Canadian indie rock underdogs Arcade Fire ( who also performed one of the most pulsating performances of the night) for “The Suburbs,” beating out both Ladies Antebellum and Gaga as well as Eminem and Katy Perry.
The other big upset came from the Best New Artist category: The Academy shook off Bieber Fever and honored Esperanza Spalding. Besides beating Bieber, the jazz newbie ( wow, when was the last time a jazz artist won here?) bested the likes of Drake, Florence and the Machine and Mumford & Sons.
The performances were a mixed bag, with the producers, again, mixing groups and traversing generational and genre divides. The opening tribute to ailing Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin set the tone for a star-studded,exhilarating evening.
Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan performing “Maggie’s Farm, ” the ageless Mick Jagger’s tribute to the late, great Solomon Burke and Barbra Streisand reprising her hit “Evergreen” pleased the older crowd, while performances by Bieber and Usher, Eminem and Gaga kept the younger audience enthralled. And then there was Cee Lo Green–outdoing Elton John’s ’70′s featherganza — singing a sanitized version of his infectious funk hit “Forget You” with Gwyneth Paltrow( in cray-cray high platform shoes) and an assortment of Muppets. Let’s just say, they captivated everyone as they out-Gagaed Lady Gaga.
The problem with the Grammys is there are so many categories, inevitably, a slew are doled out the night before at the non-televised ceremony. Among Saturday”s winners, I have to single out Mavis Staples who, at age 71, scored her first Grammy nomination and win as she nabbed Best Americana Album honors for “You Are Not Alone.” It’s a shame more people didn’t see a true musical icon receive such a well deserved and impressive honor.
You can find a complete list of nominees and winners, as well as a bunch of backstage interviews, performance videos and other Grammy goodies on the official Grammy site.
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Beiber must be in a funk! That was the shocker of the evening – everyone thought he was going to win! Good for the Academy. I for one do not enjoy the Grammys at all – too much awful costumes, noise and too many categories. Try to trim it down won’t you………
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I just finish listening do some of Esperanza Spalding songs. Frankly I’m not impressed. She is attractive, great base player but I don’t like her singing. Her singing really irritates my ears. The people who voted for her looks only and not her ability do sing or they are tone deaf. I really can’t understand her winning for best new artist.
Who do you think should have won? Surely not Bieber. I was actually hoping for Mumford & Sons or Florence & the Machine. Time will tell who has the staying power. Past Best New Artists run the gamut: America, Carly Simon, Marc Cohn ( sublime) to Starland Vocal Band and Milli Vanilli ( ridiculous). Spalding may be an acquired taste for those not attuned to jazz, but she has serious musical chops and is part of a musical heritage that celebrates artistry over commercialism. That’s usual a blueprint for long-term success.
I think Christina Aguilara did well with the Aretha tribute because her part was mostly scatting and runs–no pesky lyrics to remember.
And Bieber fever HAS NOT hit us here in our household. But who knows if he has staying power. I used to think Justin Timberlake was just a boy band flash in the pan too and he has proved he is more than that. Time will tell.
Oh and Gaga was putting out rumors that she was incubating in her egg for 72 hours. Hmmm, but then it was leaked that at the rehearsal the night before she was in a glass coffin. So I guess she could not have been in that egg, right? I am all for the performance/spectacle of her act but let’s not lie about it.
Wow, Thats what I am talking about. Lady Gaga ROCKS!
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Personally, I think the whole thing is kinda crazy dude.
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