So many performances! So many questions left unanswered:
1.) what were those dancing washing machines with the Black Eyed Peas?
2.) why did the Grammys turn into a 90s love fest?
3.) why did Taylor Swift sound so bad live but still win so many Grammys?
I have all these answers and more friends.
I will first address the 90s memorabilia. Truth is, kids, the 90s was, oh 20 years ago now and that makes them VINTAGE. And we all know Vintage is IN, ergo, the 90s= IN. However, as for 90s vintage fashion? I'm not sold. The 90s were known for the 'grunge' look and we have seen the likes of 'recycled grunge', if you will, on hipsters and in Urban Outfitters stores everywhere.
Guess it's time for me to go back into the back of my 8th grade closest. We wore 'em baggy back then, but maybe it will be fitted now and I'll 'fit' right in. ha.
The biggest thing I took away from the Grammys- and I know, I know I am BIASED- was that Lady Gaga got robbed. Kind of like her current Olympic counterpart in flamboyant fashion crime: Johnny Weir (If you haven't seen this article, it is a WIN)
(Also, if you google images of 'hipsters' and 'Johnny Weir' you will be thoroughly entertained, I promise).
Now, I do love Taylor Swift. I think she is a talented songwriter, especially at such a young age. As mentioned in previous posts, my songwriting skills are non-existent, and if they did exist, they would be 'roundabouts the likes of Colbie Calliat (Starts in my toes, nose, grows, shows, hoes...you know ;).
So kudos to her. I also think she is such a breath of fresh air IMAGE wise. Too many young songbirds turn into psychosluttyhosebeasts (I'm looking at you Britney, Jessica, Mandy, Christina, Katy, Miley, Mariah...sheesh!) Taylor keeps it CLASSY. And for this I am GRATEFUL.
BUT
as for 'Album of the Year'??
Where is the innovation in Fearless? How is "You Belong to Me" any different than "Love Song" than "Teardrops on My Guitar" than "Fifteen"? All cutesy teenagey songs doing that pop-country-crossover thing (which I should also say I'm not totally sold on, btw. I really, really tried to like country once or twice. Namely when I had a crush on a guy who listened to country in high school. I taped every Shania, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, and LeAnn Rimes song off the radio old-school mix tape style. And he still never liked me. And I still never liked pop-country. So there ;)
Gaga, on the other hand, has really changed the music industry in many ways. I know I said this during the live blog, but it almost seemed like every musical act after her was trying to BE her with over the top performance art performances. Shoot, even watching ice-dancing this year on the Olympics has a smack of Gaga for me:
What the what?! And Gaga gets mocked for her attire?!
I know Gaga's fashion and performance art doesn't have anything to do with her ability to write a good album. And I will give you there is nothing extraordinarily genius about repeating 'pa pa pa poker face' over and over again. But "Paparazzi" sounds different to me than "Just Dance". And her latest "Speechless" is almost a nod to the Beatles, I will argue (It's got a little smidge of "Something" in it). It blended right in with "Your Song" when she did it with Elton, which I think is a testament to its genius. Granted, "Speechless" is on the extended Fame Monster album, and I believe just the original The Fame was nominated.
But girlfriend can sing live. So could B and Pink. I was really impressed with the first 3 performances of the night. Taylor was paired with Stevie Nicks for crying out loud for her "American Idol Finale"-esque duet. So much potential! But neither she or Stevie pulled through.
And then, of course, the live version of THIS happened
I have to agree with another music blog I read (videogum.com) What makes the Peas think they have earned the right to a 10 minute video epic? To quote the videogum blog: this is their "November Rain". Really?
At least it explains the washing machines. Oy.
In other news: I've given up listening to music in my car for Lent. In hindsight, this may have been a poor decision for an aspiring pop-blogger. I will try my best to keep up with the times, the jams, the awful, the awesome.
Also in other news: This blog post title is appropriately named after the multiple hangovers that ensued when Laura and I were snowed in a house for two weeks with friends with nothing to do but eat, sleep, and partake in alcohol. All I can say is we truly understand Ke$ha and her outlook on life now.
Peace,
Julia
