Well, as a GRAMMY Voting Member (a Member of the Recording Academy, AKA THE GRAMMY's)...I thought I'd share a few of my observations about this year's GRAMMY awards. So, (for us music lovers who actually care about the direction our music and our industry's headed), here's what happened at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in LA on Jan 26, 2020:
My Houston Area Grammy Member/Preview Party Invite...
Some OVERSHADOWING BAD News:
The big news was of course that very very sadly, this was the same day that Kobe Bryant and his 13-year old daughter were killed, along with several others, in a helicopter crash in the Calabasas Canyon area outside of LA. So naturally, this put a huge damper on the typical Grammy celebrations.
Other News and Winners:
Young (female!) artist, Billie Eilish, won album of the year, song of the year, record of the year and best new Artist of the Year. Here's what the Washington Post had to say about her amazing Grammy Sweep:
"Billie Eilish, the 18-year-old pop phenom who had the best-selling album of 2019, swept the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, winning all four of the major awards: album of the year for “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”; record and song of the year for “Bad Guy”; and best new artist." Billie and her brother Finneas O'Connell, wrote, produced and recorded all the songs- mostly about uplifting stuff such as "depression, suicidal thoughts, being a bad guy, global warming", and so forth...
Yes folks, the other talk of the Grammy's this year was Eilish's big fetish for wearing green all over...and take a look at those NAILS!...Yikes.
To me, the biggest news about Eilish was that she has very green hair-(of course!), and is obviously quite humble and unpolished. I also thought it was sweet & cute that she said in one of her (many) acceptance speeches, that she thought that the award "should have gone to Ariana Grande".
In other breaking news, Eilish is of the few female breakout stars who doesn't look (or sound!), like either Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande! ;) (OK so this news was mine...)
Best Pop Solo performance was won by Lizzo, who I think gave a sort of cool performance during the show, not just for her unique voice, and her interesting white furry outfit, but mainly because she plays the flute (like me!). I also loved the performance by H.E.R. because she started out at the piano on her hit "Sometimes", (woo-hoo just like me too!). And then she also played the guitar near the end of her song (what?), AND she sang her song pretty well too. Woah.
Other observations:
Other OVERSHADOWING BAD news: SCANDAL!!
This show was thrown a lot of last minute curves not only due to the horrific Kobe Bryant news, but also because of the hasty exit, (yes, less than 2 weeks before the show!), of ex-Recording Academy head Deborah Dugan — the 1st ever female to run the organization — followed by her explosive lawsuit that alleges gender discrimination and sexual harassment. By whom? To whom? Why whom? Or is this just another Hollywood #MeToo move?
Seems that a young relatively unknown female star, Eilish, pretty much took it all, so I don't really understand this lawsuit?? Is it aimed at the disproportionate number of male nominated vs. female artists, producers, etc. who were nominated, or was this alleged mysterious affront specifically aimed directly towards Ms. Dugan? And who dunnit? Please do tell us, Deborah Dearest, we want the dirt Sister!
Final Observations:
As I was voting this year, I noticed a lot more rap, hip hop and beat-loop based songs. (Surprise!), and coincidentally? less and less real musical talent, a lot of showy flashy stuff, a lot of trying to be trendy (AKA quiet, short electronically held chorded intros on almost every single pop song!), but a lot less real singing, less good writing and less instrument playing...a lot more electronic programming.
Also a lot of very strange collabs: As in: "Can you say Billy Ray Cyrus & Lil Nas X, etc., performing with just about every other rapper/hip hopper around"? Lots of pseudo-talented and weird performances during the show too, by some big names you'd never expect like the Jonas Brothers and even Ariana herself.
And where the hec was the real Neil Peart tribute????? I mean he's an absolute LEGEND on so many levels.
I think Eilish won because she and her talented brother didn't give a crap about being trendy, sounding (or looking!) like Ariana Grande, or following current trends, but rather because they're making their own trends based on doing what they want to do, love to do, and are good at. They also sound like themselves. OK! So, summing it up, they were themselves: complete with weird green outfit, some real humility, introspective lyrics, and green matching nails and hair...How strangely refreshing...?
Maybe we could all learn a lesson or two from these two talented young 'uns about being ourselves and doing what we love to do...
So what are your thoughts on all this? Clever observations?
Till next time,
DeDe :)
*Images courtesy of Getty Images and The Grammys
