The Grammys Still Suck

Once again, the old farts on the NARAS nominating committees make some bizarre picks for categories. Every year, they have to put some geezers on the list even if they don't deserve to be there just because they don't recognize the other names.

Until NARAS does away with nominating committees that consist of many, MANY older industry people, we'll have to continue to suffer through Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Steely Dan and others managing to weasel their way onto a grammy list.

With all due respect to the aforementioned musicians who I respect a GREAT deal, they belong on these lists about as much as Perry Como belongs in the best rap category. Oh, and lest you think it is just the older one's that bother me, any "boy band" or "girl pop singer (aka Brittany Spears, Chrsitina Aguilera, et al)" have no business anywhere near the mention of a Grammy.

Here's the list of everything in the Pop categories (Pop, Alternative, Metal, R&B, Rap and Country) copied from Yahoo. Enjoy!

1. Record of the Year: ``Say My Name,'' Destiny's Child; ``I Try,'' Macy Gray; ``Music,'' Madonna; ``Bye Bye Bye,'' 'N Sync (news - web sites); ``Beautiful Day,'' U2.

2. Album of the Year: ``Midnite Vultures,'' Beck; ``The Marshall Mathers LP,'' Eminem; 3. ``Kid A,'' Radiohead; ``You're the One,'' Paul Simon; ``Two Against Nature,'' Steely Dan.

3. Song of the Year: ``Beautiful Day,'' U2 (U2); ``Breathe,'' Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar (Faith Hill); ``I Hope You Dance,'' Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sellers (Lee Ann Womack); ``I Try,'' Macy Gray, Jinsoo Lim, Jeremy Ruzuma and David Wilder (Macy Gray); ``Say My Name,'' LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, RodneyJerkins, Beyonce Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson and Kelendria Rowland (Destiny's Child).

4. New Artist: Shelby Lynne; Brad Paisley; Papa Roach; Jill Scott; Sisqo.

5. Female Pop Vocal Performance: ``What a Girl Wants,'' Christina Aguilera; ``I Try,'' Macy Gray; ``Music,'' Madonna; ``Save Me,'' Aimee Mann; ``Both Sides Now,'' Joni Mitchell; ``Oops! ... I Did It Again,'' Britney Spears.

6. Male Pop Vocal Performance: ``You Sang to Me,'' Marc Anthony; ``Taking You Home,'' Don Henley; ``She Bangs,'' Ricky Martin; ''4. 6, 8, 12,'' Brian McKnight; ``She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa),'' Sting.

7. Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: ``Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,'' Backstreet Boys (news - web sites); ``Pinch Me,'' Barenaked Ladies (news - web sites); ``Breathless,'' The Corrs; ``Bye Bye Bye,'' 'N Sync; ``Cousin Dupree,'' Steely Dan.

8. Pop Collaboration with Vocals: ``Thank God I Found You,'' Mariah Carey Featuring Joe and 98 Degrees; ``The Difficult Kind,'' Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan; ``All the Way,'' Celine Dion (and Frank Sinatra); ``Turn Your Lights Down Low,'' Lauryn Hill (and Bob Marley); ``Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (My Baby),'' B.B. King and Dr. John.

9. Pop Instrumental Performance: ``Overture (Selmasongs),'' Bjork; ``Rebel Heart, The Corrs; ``Zona Mona,'' Bela Fleck and The Flecktones; ``Caravan,'' The Brian Setzer Orchestra; ``Camaleao,'' Grover Washington, Jr.

10. Dance Recording: ``Who Let the Dogs Out,'' Baha Men; ``Blue (Da Ba Dee),'' Eiffel 65; ``Be With You,'' Enrique Iglesias; ``Let's Get Loud,'' Jennifer Lopez; ``Natural Blues,'' Moby.

11. Pop Instrumental Album: ``Audio,'' Blue Man Group; ``Faith - A Holiday Album,'' Kenny G; ``Symphony No. 1,'' Joe Jackson; ``Pieces in a Modern Style,'' William Orbit; ``Hymns - In the Garden,'' Kirk Whalum.

12. Pop Vocal Album: ``Inside Job,'' Don Henley; ``Music,'' Madonna; ``No Strings Attached,'' 'N Sync; ``Oops! ... I Did It Again,'' Britney Spears; ``Two Against Nature,'' Steely Dan.

13. Traditional Pop Vocal Album: ``As Time Goes By,'' Bryan Ferry; ``It's Like This,'' Rickie Lee Jones; ``Songs From the Last Century,'' George Michael; ``Both Sides Now,'' Joni Mitchell; ``Timeless - Live in Concert,'' Barbra Streisand.

14. Female Rock Vocal Performance: ``Paper Bag,'' Fiona Apple; ``There Goes the Neighborhood,'' Sheryl Crow; ``Enough of Me,'' Melissa Etheridge; ``So Pure,'' Alanis Morissette; ``Glitter in Their Eyes,'' Patti Smith.

15. Male Rock Vocal Performance: ``Thursday's Child,'' David Bowie; ``Things Have Changed,'' Bob Dylan; ``Workin' It,'' Don Henley; ``Again,'' Lenny Kravitz; ``Into the Void,'' Nine Inch Nails.

16. Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: ``It's My Life,'' Bon Jovi; ``With Arms Wide Open,'' Creed; ``Learn to Fly,'' Foo Fighters; ``Californication,'' Red Hot Chili Peppers; ``Beautiful Day,'' U2.

17. Hard Rock Performance: ``American Bad Ass,'' Kid Rock; ``Take a Look Around (Theme from ``M:I-2''),'' Limp Bizkit; ``Grievance,'' Pearl Jam; 4. ``Guerrilla Radio,'' Rage Against the Machine (news - web sites); ``Down,'' Stone Temple Pilots.

18. Metal Performance: ``Elite,'' Deftones; ``The Wicker Man'' Iron Maiden; ``Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes,'' Marilyn Manson; ``Revolution Is My Name,'' Pantera; ``Wait and Bleed,'' Slipknot.

19. Rock Instrumental Performance: ``Off the Hook,'' Peter Frampton; ``The Call of the Ktulu,'' Metallica (news - web sites) with Michael Kamen conducting the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; ``First Tube,'' Phish; ``Until We Say Goodbye,'' Joe Satriani; ``Electric Lullaby,'' Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band.

20. Rock Song: ``Again,'' Lenny Kravitz (Lenny Kravitz); ``Bent,'' Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty); ``Californication,'' Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers); ``Kryptonite,'' Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell and Matt Roberts (3 Doors Down); ``With Arms Wide Open,'' Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti (Creed).

21. Rock Album: ``Crush,'' Bon Jovi; ``There Is Nothing Left to Lose,'' Foo Fighters; ``Mad Season,'' Matchbox Twenty; ``Return of Saturn,'' No Doubt; ``The Battle of Los Angeles,'' Rage Against the Machine.

22. Alternative Music Album: ``When the Pawn,'' Fiona Apple; ``Midnite Vultures,'' Beck; ``Bloodflowers,'' The Cure; ``Liverpool Sound Collage,'' Paul McCartney; ``Kid A,'' Radiohead.

23. Female R&B Vocal Performance: ``Try Again,'' Aaliyah; ``Bag Lady,'' Erykah Badu; ``He Wasn't Man Enough,'' Toni Braxton; ``As We Lay,'' Kelly Price; '' Gettin' in the Way,'' Jill Scott.

24. Male R&B Vocal Performance: ``Untitled (How Does It Feel),'' D'Angelo; ``I Wanna Know,'' Joe; ``I Wish,'' R. Kelly; ``Stay or Let It Go,'' Brian McKnight; ``Thong Song,'' Sisqo.

25. R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: ``Pass You By,'' Boyz II Men; ``Say My Name,'' Destiny's Child; ''911,'' Wyclef Jean featuring Mary J. Blige; ``Dance Tonight,'' Lucy Pearl; ``Coming Back Home,'' featuring Brian McKnight and Joe.

26. R&B Song: ``Bag Lady,'' Erykah Badu (Erykah Badu); ``He Wasn't Man Enough,'' LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins and Harvey Mason Jr. (Toni Braxton); ``Say My Name,'' LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson and Kelendria Rowland (Destiny's Child); ``Thong Song,'' Mark Andrews, Tim Kelley and Bob Robinson (Sisqo); ``Untitled (How Does It Feel),'' D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq (D'Angelo).

27. R&B Album: ``Nathan/Michael/Shawn/Wanya,'' Boyz II Men; ``The Heat,'' Toni Braxton; ``Voodoo,'' D'Angelo; ``My Name Is Joe,'' Joe; ``Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1,'' Jill Scott; ``Unleash the Dragon,'' Sisqo.

28. Traditional R&B Vocal Album: ``All the Man You Need,'' Will Downing; ``Cool,'' George Duke; ``That's For Sure,'' Jeffrey Osborne; ``Gotta Get the Groove Back,'' Johnnie Taylor; ``Ear-Resistible,'' The Temptations.

29. Rap Solo Performance: ``The Light,'' Common; ``Party Up,'' DMX; ``The Real Slim Shady,'' Eminem; ``Shake Ya Ass,'' Mystikal; ``Country Grammar,'' Nelly.

30. Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: ``Alive,'' Beastie Boys; ``Oooh,'' De La Soul featuring Redman; ``Forgot About Dre,'' Dr. Dre featuring Eminem; ``The Next Episode,'' Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg; ``Big Pimpin','' Jay-Z featuring UGK.

31. Rap Album: ''...And Then There Was X,'' DMX; ``Dr. Dre - 2001,'' Dr. Dre; ``The Marshall Mathers LP,'' Eminem; ``Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter,'' Jay-Z; ``Country Grammar,'' Nelly.

32. Female Country Vocal Performance: ``Breathe,'' Faith Hill; ``That's the Way,'' Jo Dee Messina; ``Travelin' Prayer,'' Dolly Parton; ``I Hope You Dance,'' Lee Ann Womack; ``Real Live Woman,'' Trisha Yearwood.

33. Male Country Vocal Performance: ``Solitary Man,'' Johnny Cash; ``Feels Like Love,'' Vince Gill; ``One Voice,'' Billy Gilman; ``My Best Friend,'' Tim McGraw; ``A Thousand Miles From Nowhere,'' Dwight Yoakam.

34. Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: ``Twentieth Century,'' Alabama; ``Cherokee Maiden,'' Asleep At The Wheel; ``You'll Always Be Loved By Me,'' Brooks & Dunn; ``Woody's Roundup,'' Riders In The Sky; ``Jimmy's Got A Girlfriend,'' The Wilkinsons.

35. Country Collaboration with Vocals: ``Strong Enough,'' Sheryl Crow and The Dixie Chicks; ``When I Look Into Your Heart,'' Vince Gill and Amy Grant; ``Let's Make Love,'' Faith Hill and Tim McGraw; ``Walk Softly,'' Ricky Skaggs and the Dixie Chicks; ``Murder on Music Row,'' George Strait and Alan Jackson.

36. Country Instrumental Performance: ``Leaving Cottondale,'' Alison Brown with Bela Fleck; ``Ode to a Butterfly,'' Nickel Creek; ``The Second Mouse,'' Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott; ``Rollercoaster,'' Keith Urban; ``Bloodlines,'' Steve Wariner and Ryan Wariner.

37. Country Song: ``Breathe,'' Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar (Faith Hill); ``Feels Like Love,'' Vince Gill (Vince Gill); ``I Hope You Dance,'' Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers (Lee Ann Womack); ``One Voice,'' Don Cook and David Malloy (Billy Gilman); ``The Way You Love Me,'' Michael Delaney and Keith Follese (Faith Hill).

38. Country Album: ``Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye,'' Vince Gill; ``Breathe,'' Faith Hill; ``Under The Influence,'' Alan Jackson; ``I Hope You Dance,'' Lee Ann Womack; ``Real Live Woman,'' Trisha Yearwood.

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The way to use life is to do nothing through acting,
The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu

[This message has been edited by Jeff (edited January 03, 2001).]

 

Tex: Notice, I said I respected all the people I dissed. The fact is that Bob Dylan was a great songwriter. Unfortunately, he felt the need to actually sing his songs. And what ever made you think that you have to write better than someone to have an opinion on them? I never cared for Dylan though I respected him greatly. IMO, he was/is a horrible guitar player and an even worse singer. His voice is like listening to sandpaper on a blackboard, but that's just me.

The issue for me is that many of the people on the nominating committees are individuals who have been with NARAS for YEARS and YEARS. Of course, they snubbed Dylan, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell and others during their prime. Now, they are the only names they recognize so they automatically get the nod.

I have NO problems with new artists at all. Music has to move forward. The only artist on the entire list I have no problem with who is older is the Paul Simon whose record is truly terrific. Dylan is still making records but it isn't like he's suddenly making Blood on the Tracks or something. Steely Dan was at their peak in the 70's with Aja and Gaucho but no longer.

I think Joni Mitchell's album is great but it is admittedly a pop standards album done in tribute, not really an album for pop consumption.

The fact is I like a lot of new artists but very few good one's ever make the list. Because the Grammy's are preoccupied with popularity and safe choices, they never make good decisions.

And, of course I know that awards shows are horrible at picking people although the Academy Awards probably does the best job along with SAG. Music is a business that requires endless categorization and every awards ceremony must distill their awards into 3 hours for TV. That means no jazz or classical artists get play in prime time and most of the "pop" categories get all the play and advertisers demand high ratings so you get crap like boy bands, etc on the list.

I love many older artists but even I am not crazy enough to think that the majority of them are still in their prime. That doesn't mean they don't still make good music. Paul Simon is an example as is Madonna or Prince or any number of great jazz and blues artists. However, they were once young artists everyone thought were crap too. The 60's and 70's brought us as much crap (Frankie Avalon, disco, Pat Boone) as any other decade. No decade is immune to bad music.

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The way to use life is to do nothing through acting,
The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu

[This message has been edited by Jeff (edited January 04, 2001).]

 

Dylan vs. Neal Young war? I think you're both going to lose that one.

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The way to use life is to do nothing through acting,
The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu

 

I'm not trying to turn this into some "I Hate Bob Dylan" thread. I was trying to make a point.

I do NOT blame the artist for the choices made and I have a great deal of respect for them. I've been playing music for 17 years and have ALWAYS been open to all types of music.

Critics are critics. They like what they like. My contention is that some records get consideration because of who recorded them not necessarily because they should make a list of best 5 or 6 of the year. Some deserve it like Santana's Supernatural (IMO), but others just don't.

I don't like Radiohead for example. I just don't care for them at all, but they ARE extremely well-liked by critics and, after listening to them, I understand why. I still don't care for the music but I appreciate why they are liked and understand their impact.

I don't get Eminem either and don't care for rap, but it is an important part of American music now that it has survived for nearly 25 years. It is actually half the age of rock and roll amazingly. Like I said, I don't care for Eminem but I'll leave that up to those who like and listen to rap on a regular basis. They understand it better than I do.

I think the key here is relavence. Eminem, Radiohead and others are more relavent to the musical landscape of the world today whether we like it or not. Dylan, for as brilliant an artist as he is, hasn't been relavant to the musical world in a very long time. Is that his fault? Hell no, but it is worth pointing out.

If Dylan released an album that had the impact on music this year like Santana did with Supernatural, he'd be deserving of all the awards. It doesn't make him a bad musician or his records bad recordings. It does however not give him relavence in the musical landscape of today.

I have heard Time Out of Mind and, though I think the songs are good, I didn't care for it as an album. Part of it is I just don't like Daniel Lanois very much based on the way he produces. He is brillant but he doesn't always work for me. Unforgettable Fire is an example of a record I loved that he nailed. He's worked with guys like Chris Whitley and that was cool. It just takes the right combination for me to like what he does and, for me, that Dylan record wasn't it.

All that having been said, I don't blame the artist, I blame the way the awards system has been set up, not the bands or artists. My biggest qualm is that there are too many allowances given to older critics and those from other fields for voting. In many instances, retired record exec's, celebrities and people from the wrong end (classical composers, etc) of the business get to vote on pop music. NARAS, to their credit, has attempted to fix some of this, but, like Tex said, it is all about politics. Even politicians like the President get votes on this stuff.

Like the rest of the business of music, the Grammys and other awards ceremonies give credit to artists that don't always deserve it and that is a shame.

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The way to use life is to do nothing through acting,
The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu

 

"Record" is their version of "song" of the year.

Tex: No biggie. I think Ginko is spelled P-R-O-Z-A-C.

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The way to use life is to do nothing through acting,
The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu