Tuesday, February 10, 2009

2009 Grammy Wrap Up

My comments on the 2009 Grammy Awards are in regards to the live performances ONLY!!!!

U2:

The show starts with a bang with U2 performing their new song "Get on Your boots".  Lyrics flash on a big screen behind the band....LYRICS!..... Remember lyrics? It's a great live performance, and then to my surprise Bono introduces Whitney Houston to present the first award. Haven't seen Whitney Houston in years.

 Al Green, with Keith Urban, Boys II Men, and Justin Timberlake: 

 From the first note, this performance is pure awesomeness! Its teams up like this that make the Grammy's stand out. You can't see this anywhere else. I have never listened to a Justin Timberlake album but he sure can kick pretty much anyone's but in the vocals dept. Keith Urban proves what a tasteful guitarist he is and that he can play beyond Country and B2M provide some of the strongest backup vocals ever.

 Coldplay 

I have yet to really get into Coldplay, but it's a solid and professional performance

Carrie Underwood

The last time I heard Carrie Underwood was at the Grammy awards. This is now the second time I have listened to her. The only thing country about the song she is doing is the twang in her voice. This is a Rock song. It's good to see the band get coverage too. Her lead guitarist is awesome and she gets a lot of coverage. I hope it's because she's good, and not because she is pretty.

I think a lot of the guys in the pit where torn between looking at the cameran and looking up Carrie Underwood's skirt. 

Kid Rock: 

Wow! I wasn't expecting this. I mean, I've enjoyed Kid Rock in the past, I haven't heard his new album yet, but now I want to. He did a medley of 3 songs from his latest album. I think I'm going online to buy this one before the evening is over. Even John Mayer was knocked out.  Kid Rock, ROCKED!

Taylor Swift and Miley Cyruss

I am naturally pre-disposed to hate this kind of music. Taylor has a warm folksy voice and Miley has a bad Stevie Nicks thing going on. They are both teen idols. But the difference is that Taylor is the real deal. Taylor is 19 and they are singing a song that she wrote about being 15. If Miley had recorded this song it would have been written for her by a guy in his 30's or 40's.

Jennifer Hudson

Poor girl, She has been through so much lately. I am not into this song, but she is an absolutely OUTSTANDING vocal talent (One of the best). 

The Jonas Brothers and Stevie Wonder

This is the first time I have heard the Jonas Brothers. It's good to see a boy band that is a real band and can actually play instruments You can't go wrong playing "Superstition" (one of the hottest grooves ever)! During the performance one of the brothers choked on his opening line. I can just hear internet talkbackers giving hate over this, But he just swallowed wrong. It happens to everyone. He had the grace and professionalism to keep going. 

Katie Perry

This is the first time I have heard Katie Perry. At first I was hating this. I was thinking "She really can't sing". She falls off key a lot. But then I realized that unlike most pop singers of her genre (who run around and dance a lot through their overkill stage show), that at least it was a real live performance and wasn't relaying on pre-recorded tracks (unlike a lot of pop singers in her genre).  So let me see, here......I am saying that she is off key, but giving her props for not lip synching.....I don't know if it's a good or bad thing.

Kanye West and Estele 

The two of them rap and sing to pre-recorded musical tracks and pre-recorded background vocals. I don't know whose song this is. but I like the song. 

Kenny Chesney

I don't listen to Kenny Chesney. I don't know much about him except that he's a big name in Modern Country music......I don't know, I might like this song if I heard it a few more times. It's well performed. It's more Country than what Carrie Underwood performed. 

Mia

Mia comes out pregnant wearing a shear outfit. I don't know if she is trying to be funny and ironic or not...She also has a lot of big name rappers joining her..But I don't get this. This did nothing for me. 

Paul McCartney (with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters on drums) 

It's fun watching Dave Grohl head banging while he backs McCartney. I love this song of course. Paul's lead guitarist Rusty does a killer solo on this song.

I hope I can rock as well as Paul when I get to be his age.  

Sugarland &  Adelle

Now this sounds Country (Sugarland that is). I might like this song if I heard it a few more times. They're really good. 

I heard a song by Adelle the other day that I liked (But it wasn't this one). I haven't heard much from Sugarland. Maybe I need to check out both of them in more detail in the future

Seeing a new artist like Adelle performing on the Grammy's gives me hope that the modern music industry will start caring more about talent, and less about super model figures.

Radiohead and the USC Marching Band 

Awesome! 

Justin Timberlake & TI

Like I said, I have no desire to buy a Justin Timberlake album, but he never ceases to impress me with his vocal prowess. I don't know who TI is.

I don't know whose song they did, I think it's a medley of songs they both recorded. They had an orchestra and I think the rest of the musicians are from Justin's regular band. He has a great live band.

Jamie Fox, Neo, Smokey Robinson, and Duke Fakir pay tribute to the Four Tops. 

Three stars team up with the last remaining member of the Four Tops to help pay tribute. Another real high point of the evening. Paul McCartney was wowed by this performance and so was I. 

Neil Diamond 

It's always harder for the older guys to vocally sound as on top of it as the younger guys, but you don't hear his age too much. You can close your eyes and still recognize him.

John Mayer, BB King, Keith Urban, Buddy Guy Pay tribute to Bo Diddley

This was so understatedly cool. Four great guitarists sing as much with their guitars as they do with their voices. Pure awesomeness! 

Lil Wayne, Robin Thicke, Allen Toussaint

This is one of the better Raps and Pop mash ups. I have never heard Lil Wayne or Robin Thicke (I have only heard of them). I liked Lil Wayne's rap. Robin Thicke seems to me like a cross between George Michael and Justin Timberlake. Then Allen Toussaint starts cranking on the piano and the musicians take center stage. This was a really cool performance, everyone was really good. 

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss 

I have this album, I like this album. This was a good solid performance of some good solid material. I wouldn't have been surprised to see more, I would've been surprised to see less.  

FINAL WORD

To me this was a very strong Grammy Awards telecasts for live performances. There where a lot of strong performances (and only a few weak moments) and this years show was clearly about the live performances and that's what I watch this for. If you missed this show, try to catch some of these on the internet.

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