GRAMMY NIGHT 2012: As a night expected to be focused on a young woman who sang "we could have had it all" shifts to the one who belted "Didn't We Almost Have It All?", comments are open. Matt and I will also be tweeting most of the night.
Not watching the show, but seconding your ugh. This isn't some glorious comeback; it's a man who sent his girlfriend to the hospital being rewarded and defended. People deserve second chances, but they have to earn them. All he's done is continue to make music without any sign of remorse.
What's particularly sad about Chris Brown is that it seems that at least part of Whitney Houston's problems related to domestic violence and abuse. Bobby was (rightly) pretty much cast out of the industry in the wake of his issues, but they seem all too willing to embrace Chris Brown, despite him basically refusing to apologize.
You know, I felt good about the tribute. Given how quickly they needed to put it together, it went well, and man, JHud hit all the right notes (both in terms of the song and in terms of the whole tone of the performance, which came across truly as a tribute).
I actually disagree. I thought JHud did a nice job, but I had three problems with it:
1) I didn't think she did as good a job as Whitney...I felt it was picthed too low. (although kudos for doing that difficult song in less that 24 hours). 2) I always think of Dolly Parton when that song is sung. I know Whitney made it her own, but Dolly wrote and sang it first. I honestly would have performed a medley of Whitney's hits...it would show what kind of range she had. 3) I love JHud, and I love that she lost all that weight, but was I the only one who thought the dress was somewhat less than flatering?
I remember the first time I heard the Dolly Version, years after I had become familiar with the Whitney Cover, which Dolly was kind enough to call Whitney to congratulate her about when it climbed the charts and for which Whitney, apparently neither during or after that call ever thanked her for writing. I was in my 87 Corvette traveling back from final tour of Duty in the Navy and I was somewhere in Tenessee near Nashville, having bought a Dolly collection at Ernest Tubbs record shop. When I heard it, I cried. Like a Baby. You see, there was this girl, and this perfect song, maybe even more perfect than Jolene, and I was about to stop being Lietenant JG Bell and about to become just Jimmy Bell again. It would have made quite a tribute, but maybe the reason Whitney didn't thank her for it was that there is such a disconnect between the versions, almost different songs. Maybe it wouldn't have made a good tribute after all.
EGOT Watch: Matt Stone, Trey Parker just an 'O' away with the win in Best Musical Theater Album.
ReplyDeleteDamn you, Phil Collins!
ReplyDeleteI gotta talk to LL about that cap.....
ReplyDeleteSo glad I am not the only one! It just looks.....odd.
ReplyDeleteBut he did a phenomenal job to set the tone -- we are in mourning, but we have permission to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. And, I'm really enjoying this Etta James tribute by Alicia and Bonnie. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I was expecting At Last, and ended up glad to have my expectations dashed.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love LL- was going to disagree with your Twitter comment, Adam....but then you self-corrected. :)
ReplyDeleteChris Brown. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteGuest above was me, btw.
Not watching the show, but seconding your ugh. This isn't some glorious comeback; it's a man who sent his girlfriend to the hospital being rewarded and defended. People deserve second chances, but they have to earn them. All he's done is continue to make music without any sign of remorse.
ReplyDeleteWhat's particularly sad about Chris Brown is that it seems that at least part of Whitney Houston's problems related to domestic violence and abuse. Bobby was (rightly) pretty much cast out of the industry in the wake of his issues, but they seem all too willing to embrace Chris Brown, despite him basically refusing to apologize.
ReplyDeleteParker/Stone will get their O when they make Book of Mormon into a film, and they write a new song for the film.
ReplyDeleteDear Grammys,
ReplyDeleteJennifer Hudson did a great job. But you shoulda given Whitney more than just 2 minutes.
You need a montage
Oh it takes a montage
Or at least some kind of medley.
You know, I felt good about the tribute. Given how quickly they needed to put it together, it went well, and man, JHud hit all the right notes (both in terms of the song and in terms of the whole tone of the performance, which came across truly as a tribute).
ReplyDeleteAnd I love Bon Iver, but his acceptance speech was painfully awkward to watch.
ReplyDeleteI actually disagree. I thought JHud did a nice job, but I had three problems with it:
ReplyDelete1) I didn't think she did as good a job as Whitney...I felt it was picthed too low. (although kudos for doing that difficult song in less that 24 hours).
2) I always think of Dolly Parton when that song is sung. I know Whitney made it her own, but Dolly wrote and sang it first. I honestly would have performed a medley of Whitney's hits...it would show what kind of range she had.
3) I love JHud, and I love that she lost all that weight, but was I the only one who thought the dress was somewhat less than flatering?
Why not have Dolly Parton sing it?
ReplyDeleteBecause then it would be a tribute to the awesomeness that is Dolly...
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I heard the Dolly Version, years after I had become familiar with the Whitney Cover, which Dolly was kind enough to call Whitney to congratulate her about when it climbed the charts and for which Whitney, apparently neither during or after that call ever thanked her for writing. I was in my 87 Corvette traveling back from final tour of Duty in the Navy and I was somewhere in Tenessee near Nashville, having bought a Dolly collection at Ernest Tubbs record shop. When I heard it, I cried. Like a Baby. You see, there was this girl, and this perfect song, maybe even more perfect than Jolene, and I was about to stop being Lietenant JG Bell and about to become just Jimmy Bell again. It would have made quite a tribute, but maybe the reason Whitney didn't thank her for it was that there is such a disconnect between the versions, almost different songs. Maybe it wouldn't have made a good tribute after all.
ReplyDelete