Post GRAMMY Musings
I watched the GRAMMYs this year while putting last minute provisions in a suitcase a few hours before a car was to pick me up and take me to the airport in the midst of the atmospheric-river storm in the sky above Los Angeles. Was I nuts to think I could get to the airport? Was I nuts to be willing to fly?
In the best of circumstances I’m a an anxious air-traveler. If you saw the biblical rain you’d understand why I was contemplating a Xanax.
It had been a long week. There were more GRAMMY parties than ever before. I pace myself these days. That said, I had a better time than I used to. I no longer feel like I have anything to prove. I don’t ask colleagues what they have coming out but rather ‘what’s been keeping them busy.’ Because, let’s face it…a lot of people don’t have anything coming out. It’s not like it’s the 90s when songwriters had 2 dozen cuts a year.
Hi Wally!
Anyway, it took 40 minutes to get to LAX (easy-peasy) and we took off right on time. Go Figure. I digested on the plane and report to you from San Juan, Puerto Rico where it is ALSO RAINING! 😳
Aside from the handful of times I attended the actual GRAMMYs I viewed it from my TV room with a bunch of music-loving besties while dining on homemade chili and caesar salad. And as you might imagine we could get quite catty. It was easy to MEOW during the years when there was a disproportionate amount of youth stage, hits written by committee, and an abundance of vulgarity. A few years back extremely woke culture found displeasure with and wanted to cancel “Baby It’s Cold Outside” but “Wet Ass Pussy” was welcomed on stage with open arms.
This year felt different. Because….
Tracy
That song. “Fast Car.” 36 years more ‘vintage’ and she’s as good as ever. Joined on stage by the country star Luke Combs who wasn’t yet born when FC first debuted on MTV. He said that he’s been obsessed with the song since he was a boy — the opening motif. He chose to cover it because of that love. Not a publishing cent to be made. The 2 generations and genres’ together was a sight for sore eyes and ears.
Billie
My last blog was all about how obsessed I’ve been with “What Was I Made For” ever since I heard it in the Barbie movie. I wrote adamantly about how it would win Best Song but before I pressed publish I thought twice. There were other nominated songs I wouldn’t throw out of bed. Songs that everyone responded to in a huge way: “Flowers.” “Anti-Hero.” Did I really want to be so emphatic and then be wrong? But I decided to stick to my guns. I’m happy I did. Because most of the voting members of the Recording Academy agreed with me. Billie’s performance was understated and elegant — absent of bombastic stage production. All that accompanied her was Finneas on a baby grand. AI may be here to stay but AI could not write a song like that.
Jay-Z…
…who gave praise to the GRAMMYs and applauded many of the nominees but also said there were some artists that didn’t belong there. Ratings, Popularity etc You could hear the audience gasp. He said he speaks the truth when he’s nervous. More people should be nervous. IMO.
Joni
I cried the same tears as when I saw her sing “Both Sides Now” at the Hollywood Bowl in October. Not a dry eye in the house. Meryl. Dua. Adam next to me on the sofa. My daughter Layla texting her teary face from Brooklyn. It’s not just the stunning song. It’s the particular notes Joni lands on. It’s her back phrasing. It’s her prosody. It’s that She is Queen. It’s that … how much longer will she be with us?
The Year Of The Woman! (Finally)
If I remember correctly, every album nominated in the Album of the Year category was recorded by a female artist. Not surprising. We’re Amazing. So why then, I ask you, (thx for the article Ali Handel) is there such a disproportionate amount of non-performing female songwriters invited by recording artists into their writing rooms? And the winner in the category is…
Taylor…
for Midnights. Taylor — who was called to the stage by the legendary Celine Dion who, with grace and dignity, expressed her gratitude for being asked to present after a tragic health diagnosis. You don’t have to love “My Heart Will Go On” to demonstrate respect for this woman and the decades of music she’s given us. Taylor ran to the stage (pulling the somewhat resistant Lana Del Ray with her) and took the award from Celine with out so much as a hug or a word to the audience about Celine’s legacy. (This just after another award where, when accepting, she announced the release date of her next album.) As for the pics of the 2 superstars backstage all Lovey-Dovey? I think it was a little too late.
Annie and Stevie and Tony and Billy
Young new artists are the fabric of the music business. Change and streaming and TikTok are the new paradigm. It’s all good. I just hope they keep including some adults in the building. Their’s are the shoulders on which we stand. Show the kids what longevity is made of. Their body of work is still resonating 50 years on. There’s a reason why.
Next year, I hope it’s a dry one in which case I’ll whip up another batch of chili and get ready to MEOW.
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