Ghastly Grammys

If you like Taylor Swift, please put my rather strong opinions on her recent Grammy win aside for just a minute. Taylor Swift won “Best Album of the Year,” with her album, “Fearless,” accepting her award with profound enthusiasm. Although I can’t turn on the radio without being bombarded by Swift’s sappy, youthful pop tunes, I just can not get past the fact that she won over artists like Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and The Black Eyed Peas! I was appalled.

She was very influential through 2009 and now, continues on into the new year. Influence though? Her music applies to one specific group of people, one target market, if you will: a range of pre-teen to highschool girls who absorb her musings on love and listen while Swift destroys Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. I would be a hypocrite if I said my itunes was completely devoid of Taylor Swift, and I stand by my four song selections, but that in no way signifies my support of her grammy win for “Best Album of the Year.” She seems like a very sweet girl, and I hate to rag on her so, but I simply must. Although most of the other nominees in her category weren’t exactly lacking grammys, it would have been nice to see such an important category win go to someone who has a bit more range/experience. (And maybe who doesn't sing off key when she performs...)

That’s all I’m saying.

It was nice to see Beyonce take home six Grammys and Kings of Leon took home awards for Record of the Year, Best Rock Performance with a group and Best Rock Song. Not unexpected was Phoenix's win for Best Alternative Album with "Wolgang Amadeus Phoenix."

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see many of the live peformances, but I did witness the catastrophe that was Andrea Bocelli and Mary J Blige singing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" for Haitian relief. They just did not go well together. I didn't like the pairing of voices nor the song choice. That's just not a song to be belted out by a diva and an opera star, it's more subtle than that. Bon Jovi, I just don't like, and I have no idea who that overzealous woman on stage with him was, but she was VERY into the music. She was pushing her voice so much in the beginning, she sounded more goat-like than Shakira! (No disrespect Shak, I love you more than you know.) As usual, Gaga put on a crazy performace, but this time she partnered with the incredible Elton John. You can say what you will about her immensely creative sense of style, but one thing is certain: She can sing. Although, they're an unlikely duet, John and Gaga sounded great together singing their rendition of "Speechless," which I've posted below.

I was pretty let down by the Grammys this year, and I'm surprised I watched as much as I did, (I'm not big on awards shows..) but, Grammys aside, there are still some great new songs I've found, eveyone should check out:


Symphonies by Dan Black (also, the duet with Kid Cudi):

Wear You Out

Keep Me In The Dark

Something Somewhere Sometime

Not to mention the Single of the Week on Itunes:


Shark in the Water by VV Brown: