Frankly, I wasn’t planning on watching this year’s Grammy Awards, but then at the last minute hit record on my DVR. The reason being is this: over the last several years the Grammys have become a top 40 showcase, just like every other, lesser music-based awards shows. And that sucks.
Case in point. I believe only ten awards were presented during the show, and they were of course, Record and Album of the Year, but the rest was filled out by pop, rap, and country categories. Even if Foo Fighters were in attendance, I don’t think any of the Rock or Metal categories would have been awarded live. Sure, I can appreciate top 40, but that’s not all I appreciate, and I wish the Recording Academy would take note of other people’s tastes (not just my own). Instead, I got to watch Justin Bieber be nominated in too many categories and give a lukewarm performance.
Overall though, his was probably the worst of the bunch. Everyone else seemed to show up. While I don’t like Olivia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License,” I can still appreciate her wonderful vocals. Same goes for Billie Eilish. Perhaps the only performance I was really engaged in was openers Silk Sonic. While I haven’t listened to their music, I know the style and I dig it, I just haven’t come around to listen yet. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, who make up the duo, also gave some of my favorite winners moments. It’s clear those two are having a great time working together. I would argue also that Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow were having an equally good time performaing. The set piece was grand and it paid off.
An area the Grammys succeeded in where the Oscars did not last week was the In Memorium segment of the evening. Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr, and Rachel Zegler all honored Stephen Sondheim while those in the music industry lost over the past year were remembered on screen. I will say though, given that Foo Fighters couldn’t perform due to Taylor Hawkins tragic passing, you’d think they’d dedicate more than 30 seconds to his legacy. Or at least offer up and awesome cover of a Foos’ song, but no. We get what we get, I suppose. Either way though, it was a very tasteful In Memorium, and I hope the Oscars take note for next year.
For the most part, none of the night’s winners came as that much of a shock. I expected Rodrigo to walk away with a few trophies, and she did. Even my lack of Silk Sonic listening doesn’t mean I was surprised with their multiple wins. And even with Hawkins’ passing, the fact that Foo Fighters swept the rock categories came as no shock at all. A winner that did surprise me was Jon Batiste’s for Album of the Year. I really only know this gentleman as the house band for Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but he was nominated for a ton of prizes last night. I’d say his victory was probably the sweetest, and given his reaction, I’m sure it was pretty sweet for Batiste, too!
I’m sure I’ll catch the Grammy Awards next year, too, but I’d love to see some changes. All in all though, a nice showcase for a talented group of people.