Grammy Wrap-Up

I’m not going to while away about what the artists and entertainers were wearing, but I wanted to take a little time to talk about the Grammys.  I’ve long disliked the Grammys because I felt like major label bands were the only ones ever in consideration, and this is still basically true, though this is starting to change (see more later).  I should also clarify that when I refer to “major labels” I mean the primary mass record distributor for a particular genre.  I felt that there were some fantastic records released by independent labels (further known as “indies”) that deserved far greater attention.  I still think this is true.

I also hated the Grammys because back in the day of Napster the president of the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) made some obnoxious remarks about how free online file downloads were ruining the industry and preventing major labels from distributing their artists’ music.  While I understand the position he took and how file sharing was taking money away from the artists, I also have argued that the business itself needed to and has to change to catch up with technology and youth in general.  I think the hardest thing they had to deal with is that technology advanced fantastically in a short period of time.  They didn’t want to accept that things were changing, that bands and record companies needed to find other sources of revenue besides physical albums.   The fact that he made this statement annoyed me to no end and basically turned me off completely from the shows.

My anger started to subside a couple of years ago, and I have caught patches of the shows.  I’ve rarely if ever used the Grammys to determine what music to listen to since most indies were shunned.  However, the diversity of artists that were represented started to intrigue me, so I started to watch.  This year’s show did a better job of holding my interest, at least in the artists who actually won.

First, Album of the Year going to the Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs was a major win to me.  The record was released by Merge Records, an indie label that has been around for a long time.  Like most indies, though, Merge had never had a Grammy winner.  This win was a major coup for the indies.  Hopefully more focus will be given to their albums as well as other independent record label albums.

Second, Cee-Lo should have won for “Forget You”.  That song to me was the catchiest song I have heard in a long time, and I only just heard it four months ago.  Sure it’s a revenge song, but he does it with such straight-faced giddiness that I can’t help but like it.  In fact, that entire album deserves some more credit because it is a very solid album from beginning to end with great singing and music.

Third, Lady Gaga is rehashing old Madonna tunes.  It’s true, you cannot deny it.  “Born This Way” is “Express Yourself” all over again.  Even the underlying themes are practically the same.  While I acknowledge she has some talent, I worry that this is a pattern that will continue.  Some of her earlier stuff has harkened to Madonna’s glory days.  And her gimmicks certainly also reflect Madonna’s influence, though Gaga takes it further.

Fourth, the Black Keys won three awards on Sunday, though none were done live.  Though I like a lot of their music, Brothers was their first release to really gain popular acclaim.  So long as they don’t lose sight of who they were when they were just two making lo-fi blues records, they can do no wrong in my eyes.

I enjoyed the performances of a few artists on Sunday night.  Janelle Monae, whose ArchAndroid record is fantastic, was electric and has a great voice.  Bruno Mars, despite the fact that I really am not a fan of his music, exudes the soul of the late 1960s, so I have to give him props here.  Mumford & Sons performed as well as they usually do.  Eminem with Rhianna and Dr. Dre also did an awesome job.  Eminem was the only other band I would have liked to see win Record of the Year.  Recovery is a different record for him but a very good record.

Hopefully next year’s ceremonies will be as good as this year’s.  I think that if the organization shifts some of its focus away from the majors and looks at some indies, I think they’ll do all of us a favor.