2002-2-27

The show begins:

-It’s U2! And they’re doing “Walk On”! What else is on?

– I come back to the show in time to see that U2 has won Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group For “Stuck In A Moment”. I’ve got to get myself together or else I’ll be watching ‘Dumb and Dumber’ tonight.

-Jon Stewart is hosting again? How come I didn’t know that? He’s doing an airport security bit. It’s funny ’cause we’re at war.

-Next up is Mya, Pink, Lil’ Kim and Christina Aguilera with “Lady Marmalade”. I haven’t heard this one in months. That isn’t a complaint. Do I even have to say how much I hate this cover?

-When they started performing. I immediately thought of B’s review of the song and video at whatever-dude. He ripped the girls apart months ago.

-There’s Patti LaBelle. That settles it. I’m stealing my cousin’s copy of Pure Funk when I go to his house this weekend.

-The Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals is..
“Lady Marmalade” by Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya & Pink. They performed and then they won. Shocking.

-Train is out to perform “Drops Of Jupiter”. I heard this song about 50 times on the drive from NY to Florida last year. It’s one of those songs that burrows its way into your skull and stays there for days.

-Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na………oh, sorry.

Best Rock Song
My Pick: “Yellow” by Coldplay. Who am I kidding? they didn’t just perform.
Winner: “Drops of Jupiter” by Train. At least U2 didn’t win.

-Pat Monahan gets points with me for being the first winner to thank his mama.

-Joke Of The Night: Jon Stewart looks up at the upper deck and says hello to the radio contest winners.

-There’s a Latin Grammys? Why?

-Another performance. Destiny’s Child and someone who’s name I didn’t catch performing in Spanish. I was entertained.

-Jamie Foxx, Ja Rule and Pamela anderson are out to present the award for Best R&B Album. I can’t believe Jamie didn’t get nominated for “My Name Is Willie Beamen” last year.

-Jamie asks Ja to appear on one of his records. Jamie’s got to realize that he’s not young, feminine or biracial enough to qualify for a Ja Rule guest appearance.

Best R&B Album
Prediction: Aaliyah. Posthumous awards are a Grammy trademark.
Winner: Alicia Keys “Songs In A Minor”
No shock there. I thought her album was the best of those that were nominated. The Grammy tend to keep it real when it comes to R&B. The best artist/album usually wins, as opposed to the Rock awards. There’s a seniority thing going on there. Hopefully, that won’t happen this year.

Bono: It’s still early

-N’Sync performs “Gone” and “Girlfriend” featuring Nelly.

Best Pop Performance Female
Prediction: Go Nelly!
Winner: Joseph finally gets one right. Nelly Furtado wins one for “I’m Like A Bird”. I like Nelly Furtado. And Nelly. Sue me.

-Nelly goes on for about a minute before ending her speech with a classic saying.
Nelly: Woooooo!!
Owen Hart: Wooooo!!
Ric Flair: Woooooo!!
Kurt Angle: Wooooo!!

-10 minute “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” sequences. Sitting through that made me a man of constant sorrow. …….

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
Dan Tyminski, Harley Allen & Pat Enright (The Soggy Bottom Boys)

-Alicia Keys performs “Fallin'”, flamenco style. I’m a little sick of the song, but the new arrangement made things interesting.

Best New Artist
Prediction: David Gray LOLROFLMFAO!!!
Winner: Alicia Keys That was a no-brainer.

-I’m running out of gas and there’s a lot of time to go.

-DMB performs”The Space Between”.

Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group
Prediction: U2
Winner: U2- Elevation. I hate that song.

-Janet Jackson’s out to present the Best Album award. Look at that stomach. Did anyone see that HBO special? Never mind. This recap is long enough as it is.

Album Of The Year
Prediction: “Stankonia” by Outkast .Wishful thinking on my part.
Winner: “O Brother, Where Art Thou” soundtrack.

-Mary J. Blige with an emotional performance of “No More Drama”. She looks like mini-Missy with that metallic jumpsuit.

Song Of The Year
Prediction: “Fallin'”
Winner: “Fallin'”

-Lifetime achievement awards are announced.
-Michael Greene gives a long speech about music piracy, calling it “pervasive, out of control and oh so criminal”. Those were some powerful words there. If I want to hear them again, i’ll download the speech off Kazaa.

-Before the commercial break, the announcer mentions that Tool won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance for “Schism” and Coldplay got Best Alternative Album for “Parachutes” at “ceremonies held earlier”. Good for them.

-Grammy winner Nelly Furtado performs “I’m Like a Bird”

-Leonard Bernstein tribute performance

-India.Arie performs the anthemic ‘Video’. Did she win anything?

-Some old Irish band wins record of the year.

-Final gospel performance featuring Al Green.

I know I missed a couple of performances (Bob Dylan, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Outkast) in my notes, but I was on the phone discussing the show with a good friend during hour 3.

All in all, I’d say it was an enjoyable show. Lots of live performances, no long winded speeches and a passable hosting job by Jon Stewart. I can’t complain. Actually I can, but I won’t because it’s 5 in the morning.