Watching the Grammy's. I'm wondering firstly, what Madonna's superhero name would be. That outfit warrants a superhero name for sure. I mean, Strawberry Shortcake panties, Wonder Woman's knickers ... neither of these hold a torch to that getup I don't think.
The Grammy's used to be a must-see event back in the day. That's when you saw performances that you knew you'd never forget. Like I'm still holding Michael Jackson's Man In the Mirror performance up there as a great moment when I got goosebumps sitting cross-legged in front of the screen with my mom and sister shouting at me every 2 minutes to get my big head out from in front the screen. I just kept creeping closer and closer, as if I could touch those people.
Good for Kelly Clarkson. I like her. Chris Martin. I wonder if he's one of those folks who's just high on life. Right kooky stage presence that fella's got himself there, movin' like a yoga breakdancer.
I just flipped over to catch American Idol and I'm cracking up because the "cryin' cowboy" serioiusly keeps cryin', and it made me laugh because I thought about the Brokeback Mountain craze. Today I read in the Philly metro about how Wyoming is experiencing a spike in tourism visits and inquiries. Seriously, I called that like weeks ago. I felt very strongly that across this nation, suddenly, there would be scores of gay couples takin' hay rides and givin' new whoops to the uses of more rustic lassos and whips in the wake of that movie's acclaim.
Back to the Grammy's - some serious technical difficulties for this Sugarland performance. This dude has on one of those skinny sleek cowboy hats that I used to think only wannabe cowboys wore. I expect my country singers to sport that Stetson. That thing needs to have some width on it, I feel. Like Big or Rich (whichever one is which) - now that hat's got some wingspan on it and I like it.
Don't Nicole & Keith look right cute together? Yay for Alison Krauss & Union Station. Loves them - that's a nice, good sound they got right there. Man, Mary J. is fidna gets it crunk. I love her live performances - she just jets to another plateau.
I really like the gray-headed fella on Idol, Taylor somebody, from Alabama or somewhere. I'm really tired of the black brothers, though, the Brittnams, or whatever their names are.
Bono has big feet. I'm not trying to say much else about it, other than I saw him doin' his little dance and I thought mercy, those are some big, clunky lookin' shoes. This junk don't go off 'til 11:30? I dunno if I'm gonna make it. It's 8:40 and my eyelids are flutterin', but I'm going to try, just in case, because I don't want to miss a great performance.
I do have to say though that these networks kill me with their award shows - why do I need to see all of CBS's stars at the Grammy's? I know we're all music fans, but it gets on my nerves, these cross-promotional attempts.
Lord. Mary came out lookin' like Austria just got doused by some of Switzerland's chocolate with that braid up on her head. That girl done gone to church on this song, just like she went to town on Elton's I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues. It's not her vocal prowess that slays me, but it's her energy, it's like she takes ownership of the song and sells it with her spirit. I really like that about her.
Kanye West dressed up like he might be a clown. Whup. There's Matt Dillon/Jim Carey. Aw yeah! David Bowie :) But seriously, who said those oversized ski glasses were cool? Not cute - I don't care how much they cost.
Kelly Clarkson is singing some song I don't know. Maybe I should know it, but I don't, and it annoys me to hear songs that may be your hit this week, but ain't the hit that got you there. Girl, sang somethin' errybody know - gives me the bread and the buttah, and Maria Callas called from the grave, and she wants her frock back.
Aw Gwen is so cute. Common looks good, too. I was hoping his album would've won, but Kanye snatched it with them gloves, lookin' like the Negro's answer to Saturday Night Fever.
There's something sweet about Paul McCartney's facial expressions. Like Stevie Wonder, he may have moments of melancholy, but for the most part I think of him as a perpetual optimist, on the cheerier side of life. He is rockin' out sho' nuff dressed like he's fidna head to Parliament and slap on a robe and a whig, though. Not that I was expecting ripped jeans and a metallic belt.
So far, this is just a'ight for me. I tell you what though, John Legend's mama is d-e-c-k-e-d out!
As excessive as she is, I still find myself loving Mariah. I'll always love her for Vision of Love, Dreamlover, Fantasy, etc. Even though We Belong Together is seriously overplayed, she performed that song better than I anticipated. I have to say that girlfriend be gesturin'!
I want to be in a choir. It's a good gig, seems like. You're always due for some backup somewhere - weddings, funerals, Super Bowls, award shows. Hurray for Mariah though, for real. She sounds almost like Mariah from back in the day. I seriously don't know how she be hittin' them high notes though. Somebody's Waterfords just cracked.
Mr. Buble know he is too cute, but I don't know what Teri Hatcher is wearing - she got on some kinda undie that looks a lot like the control top half of some pantyhose. Ok, hold up. Kelly Clarkson again? Dern. Bel Air called, and somebody wants their shrubs back from the bottom of her dress. She so normal. Good for her, though, but somebody better give my girl Gwen a lil sumpin' sumpin'.
In light of the previous post, I'm also watching PBS's African American Lives, where Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is tracing his roots, along with several celebrity roots - Oprah, Quincy Jones, T.D. Jakes, Chris Tucker, Whoopi Goldberg. Really awesome programming. I know black folks are everywhere, but in this particular show there's been a considerable focus on blacks in West Virginia, and I admit that prior to this the only black person I knew tied to WV was Randy Moss. I love PBS. This is so enlightening. Makes me want to go to the Library of Congress to start tracing my own family history since nobody else really seems to know too much. Gates even went to Salt Lake City and the Church of the Latter Day Saints. They have amazing records, certificates, etc. Cool stuff.
Look at Faith strum that gee-tar. I like her. She seems real nice. She's also got some backup singers that's over there gettin' down - props to the sistas, esp. homegirl sportin' her own Stetson. Love that!
Who is Devon Lima? I LOVE Fantasia! That chick will show out and I love it. I like this pairing much better than Van Hunt, Joss Stone and John Legend. Ciara has a great recording voice, and I'll leave it at that. No I won't ... How many Beyonce's do you think we need, really? She stood there and I thought, wait a minute. They are seriously reincarnatin' the same person - there's Ashanti, Ciara, Beyonce, Amerie and at least 3 other girls that I can't even name, but they're all Beyonce clones. Even Alicia Keys winds up styled in the Beyonce mold. It's weird.
Robert Randolph. Now there's a funky good time right there. Good casting on that one.
Oh mercy.That is a mohawk right deah. Shut it. Is there a reason why I can hardly hear this man? Granted he does appear to look sickly ... this is one of the illest planned tributes ever. Errybody lookin' around like they don't know if they should b singing or not. Oh my, jokah done walked off stage. People make yourselves look useful.
Cool points to Jay-Z and Linkin Park for bringin' Sir Paul up in the mix. Those are good Grammy moments ... especially when a song as great as Yesterday is involved. Reminds me of Puffy and Sting back in the day. That was great good stuff, too.
And then I just lost track of the Grammy's. Got bored and finished watching the PBS special. It really makes me want to learn more about my family, but this is harder than it looks initially, especially since the good ol' people who would be willing to "set down" with me for a spell have crossed on over. Fascinating stuff.
Just thought I'd OD on TV watching this week since, come Monday, I won't be catching any prime time TV until June ;)