As a self-proclaimed music enthusiast and the weekly music columnist for the Arts & Entertainment section of The Dartmouth, staying on top of music news, recent releases, upcoming festivals and notable awards is the most well-defined responsibility I have and one of the easiest to carry out. As such, Sunday night's Grammy Awards which, over its 52-year history, has become the most recognizable of music awards shows should have been a must-watch for me.
Unfortunately, I inadvertently abdicated my duties. To be completely honest, I didn't even know the Grammys were on Sunday until my mother sent me an e-mail about it that night. I could try to come up with other excuses for not watching, like a problem set that was due the next day or an impending midterm, but those would all be secondary reasons.
The main reason that I didn't watch or know about the awards this year is that, despite the recognizability of the name, the Grammys just aren't important. Although the categories of awards do cover a wide range of genres, from R&B, pop and rock to classical, jazz and comedy the nominees appear to be very narrow representations of those genres.
Furthermore, winning seems to be based more on radio play and album sales than actual innovation and talent. Case in point: Taylor Swift won the award for best album for her sophomore effort "Fearless." Swift also took home trophies for the best female country vocal performance, best country song and best country album. Apparently, the Recording Academy's membership is overrun with 12-year-old girls.
Even though I was unable but also unwilling to watch the Grammys myself, I fortunately had secondary sources to which I could turn for information and commentary.
Beyonce's performance at the show featured an instrumentally richer version of her ballad "If I Were a Boy," which spliced in a cover of a selection from Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know." When asked to comment, my mother wrote in an e-mail that Beyonce "looked hot swinging her hair around." Beyonce's attractiveness was verified by an overheard conversation in the library between two male students, one of whom asserted that Beyonce's good looks could be the only explanation for her staggering six wins that night a new record for most wins by a female artist in one year. Beyonce's Grammy domination included Song of the Year and Best R&B Song for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and Best Contemporary R&B Album for 2008's "I Am Sasha Fierce."
Host Stephen Colbert, who took home a trophy for best comedy album for "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All," successfully called out and mocked the entire institution of the Grammys and thereby all the performers who hold it in high esteem. His commentary was right on point, including his description of the Grammys as a celebration of "the right of celebrities to congratulate each other," but the star-studded audience wasn't so appreciative of Colbert's insight. As a result, the host's segments came off awkward and the outspoken Colbert became the odd man out.
Other notable acts featured a 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson with a short film and performances by Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Usher. Afterwards, Jackson's children accepted a lifetime achievement award on his behalf.
Lady Gaga performed "Poker Face," which transformed into a piano and vocal duet with Elton John for "Your Song." As expected, Gaga had an elaborate stage show, complete with industrial towers, smoke stacks and a flaming furnace. "Poker Face" earned the award for best dance recording, while Gaga's debut album "The Fame" claimed best electronic or dance album.
Pink surprised viewers with her high-altitude silk rope routine while singing "Glitter in the Air," although my mother "didn't think much of [her]." Lil Wayne, Eminem, Drake and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker came together for a medley of Lil Wayne and Eminem's "Drop the World" and Drake's "Forever." Drake was nominated for best rap song and best rap solo performance, and Eminem picked up best rap album for "Relapse."
A long overdue win came for Neil Young, who shared the trophy for best art direction on a boxed or special limited edition package with art directors Gary Burden and Jenice Heo for the "Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972)." Young has openly criticized the Grammy Awards and this was his first Grammy win in his almost 50-year-long career.
So yes, it was a big night for some artists and some trophies were deservedly earned. But in the end, all they really have is just metal on a mantle.
