Ah, the Grammy Awards. \nThe annual celebration of top 40 music where the Recording Academy throws a handful of golden Victrolas at standout musical talents from rock and roll to jazz to spoken word. The awards show isn't known for going out on a limb and nominating musicians who haven't appeared in the Billboard charts. Nevertheless, the voters usually do a semi-decent job of getting a diverse group of nominees. And unlike the Oscars, this academy usually recognizes deserving talent and not a celebrity presence.\n This year's show has an edge. With no frontrunner like Carlos Santana's Supernatural to mop the stage clean of statues, the Grammys are truly anyone's game. Let the bad mouthing and hair pulling ensue.
Grammy's darling just won't go away\n No matter how hard I try, there's no polite way to phrase it: Macy Gray has got to go. The annoying R&B artist was plucked from obscurity last year and nominated for the best new artist Grammy. Like Kid Rock and Christina Aguilera, Gray's album sales soaked up the publicity and grew faster than her bushy fro. It must be satisfying that it wasn't dedicated fans or hard work, but an awards show that made her music popular.\n This year, Gray's "I Try" was nominated for song of the year and record of the year. Either she's sleeping with academy president Michael Greene, or it was a typo. This song is atrocious. Nails-on-chalkboard atrocious. I spent most of last year dodging radio stations to avoid her scratchy croning. Other than the asthmatic voice, there is nothing unique or special about "I Try." \n The best song category should represent the highest quality song, be it unique melody, lyrics, vocal range, emotion or creativity. I asked fans of her music to look me straight in the eye and admit this song was the best out of every single note sung during the year 2000.\n What a surprise, no one could.
Set 'em up, knock 'em down\n I love the
academy's sadistic \nlove affair with pop acts. It nominates them in droves, makes them perform in front of millions of viewers, and then seldom rewards them with anything besides a night of flashbulbs on the paparazzi's ruby walkway. Mega-platinum, bubble-gum chewing "musicians" like Britney Spears, 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys have never won a Grammy. Even the Material Girl herself has been denied so far.\n The Recording Academy generally recognizes outstanding quality music, and outstanding quality pop music is an oxymoron. So how do you get the "Survivor"-watching masses that thrive on hot young pop stars to flock to a show honoring fuddy-duddies like Sting?\n Here's where the folks at Viacom, which owns CBS and MTV, show their brilliance. Example: Aguilera's "What a Girl Wants" is a crappy single not worth the CD it's burned on, let alone the best female pop performance Grammy. But what if the academy's undeserving nomination brings Aguilera on stage bursting out of a sparkly, see-through bra? The MTV rank-and-file marches to CBS to watch the live performances, which outnumber actual presentations of Grammys. Ratings go up. Viacom's shareholders happy.
Wow, that's a shocker\n The academy sometimes bores me with its predictability. Just check the female rock performance category: Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Melissa Etheridge -- snore -- no one new here. Crow and Morissette didn't have a new album in 2000. But the Grammys did surprise with some of refreshing yet deserving faces to the nominee list. Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP and Radiohead's Kid A were not the obvious choices for album of the year. The first album mired in controversy, the second in anonymity, these albums transcended safer, audience-friendly choices (No Strings Attached comes to mind) to gain the Grammy recognition they deserve.\n Other winners this year are rap, R&B and country music. I'm glad to see two R&B songs up for record of the year, even if one is Macy Gray. Although Destiny's Child and Dr. Dre received the most nominations, the best song/record of the year categories are dominated by pop and have no rap or jazz songs. Even though I'm not a fan, it's good to see the country genre represented well with Lee Ann Womack and pop-hybrid diva Faith Hill. The most diverse "top" category is the coveted best new artist, with country, rock and R&B all making appearances.
The predictions\n OK, so the Grammys were last night, but you all can still enjoy checking my predictions for the top categories and laugh at all the mistakes. I was 2-for-2 on acing exams last week, so I'm feeling pretty confident. Check www.idsnews.com/weekend for the actual winners.
Record of the Year\n"Say My Name," Destiny's Child \n"I Try," Macy Gray \n"Music," Madonna \n"Bye Bye Bye" 'N Sync \n*"Beautiful Day," U2\nAll but 'N Sync are major contenders here, but the '80s kings should come up gold.
\nAlbum of the Year\nMidnite Vultures, Beck \n*The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem \nKid A, Radiohead \nYou're The One, Paul Simon \nTwo Against Nature, Steely Dan\nI'm pulling for the upset. Of the choices, Eminem's album is tops in quality and creativity.
Song of the Year\n"Beautiful Day," performed by U2\n"Breathe," performed by Faith Hill\n"I Hope You Dance," performed by Lee Ann Womack \n"I Try" performed by Macy Gray\n*"Say My Name," performed by Destiny's Child \nAll the songs here are upbeat and optimistic; Destiny's Child's sullen, addictive tune will emerge.
Best New Artist \nShelby Lynne \nBrad Paisley \nPapa Roach \n*Jill Scott \nSisqo \nThe R&B wordsmith is the most unique in the field.
