Analyzing the Grammy races

[Bellamy]

Analyzing the Grammy races

 

ow that the pundits have given their Grammy odds, here's detailed analysis of the top four races.

 

RECORD OF THE YEAR

* "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey

"Feel Good Inc.," Gorillaz featuring De La Soul

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day

"Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani

"Gold Digger," Kanye West

 

It's a three-way race: Mariah Carey, Kanye West and Green Day.

 

Green Day would have this in the bag if "Boulevard" wasn't an old song — usually a Grammy kiss of death. Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" is one of the few tunes to survive that curse — indeed, she sang it on a Grammycast one year before it won best record — but that was because "Titanic" was unsinkable at showbiz awards.

 

"We Belong Together" isn't exactly fresh-squeezed, but it really was the record of 2005 given Mariah's much-hyped comeback. The big Grammy cliffhanger this year: Is this new burst of love coming from every corner of the music biz or just from her loyal, gum-snapping fans? The music awards she has won this year were mostly ones based upon CD sales (Billboard Awards, American Music Awards), not the opinions of music hipsters. She was not only shut out of the MTV Music Video Awards, but she has been snubbed at the Grammys every year since being voted best new artist of 1990.

 

Twice she's lost bids for record and album of the year. Most humiliating was her last "big comeback" when she entered the Grammys with six top bids and was expected to win best record or album for "One Sweet Day" or "Daydream." The pop diva got slapped in every category.

 

I think Mariah will finally win a top Grammy in this race this year, but I'm leery of Kanye's "Gold Digger." It's a catchy tune and he's a superhot music dude. Industry insiders consider him the ultimate hipster. By comparison, they consider Mariah to be an overripe, unsympathetic pop tart. Lucky for Mariah, many other showbiz insiders think Kanye's too big for his britches, so they're even. Besides, rap has never won this category. Advantage goes to the overdue diva who demands — and is likely to get — her Grammy crown at last.

 

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

"The Emancipation of Mimi," Mariah Carey

"Chaos and Creation in the Backyard," Paul McCartney

"Love, Angel, Music, Baby," Gwen Stefani

"How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," U2

* "Late Registration," Kanye West

 

Forget Gwen Stefani. The other four have a real shot. This could end up being Mariah's big win. Voters love to hail veterans in this category, but they tend to favor guy geezers: Steely Dan, Bob Dylan, Santana, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, etc. It could be McCartney's turn. He's never won as a solo artist, just as a member of The Beatles when "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" triumphed.

 

Most pundits believe U2 are the geezers to beat. Indeed, they're usually hard to beat any year, like in 2001, when "Walk On" snagged a surprise record of the year win, and in 2000, when "Beautiful Day" won best record and song, as expected. If I was betting money, I'd put it on the Irish pub chaps, but since I'm merely wagering my journalistic credibility, I want to go out on a limb for the contender who made the biggest noise artistically — and otherwise. Kanye!

 

 

SONG OF THE YEAR

(Songwriter's Award)

"Bless the Broken Road"

"Devils & Dust"

"Ordinary People"

* "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"

"We Belong Together"

 

Historically, this category, which rewards a tune's songwriter, usually lines up with best record, which acknowledges its recording artist. "We Belong Together" is the only tune in both races, so odds favor it winning here if it also claims best record. But the two categories have been splitting a lot in recent years, so I think they'll do so again. Here is where I think U2 prevails in a top race for "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," Bono's poignant elegy to his deceased dad.

 

 

BEST NEW ARTIST

Ciara

Fall Out Boy

Keane

* John Legend

Sugarland

 

Personally, I'm rooting for Sugarland and, failing that miracle, Fall Out Boy or Keane, but the Grammys never listen to me. The whole music biz is swooning over John Legend, claiming that he's so great that he'll someday be a real music legend, which I doubt, but that makes him the solid front-runner.

Source: http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldde...ys_8315020.html

[OnlyCeline]

Maaariahhhh !!!!Kaaannnyyeee111... OMG Greeeeennn Day....Like Them! Hope They'll When.... Edited February 8, 2006 by OnlyCeline

[winforlife]

Green Day

[Clari]

Kelly Clarkson won 2 awards!!

[Célinefull]

YES! Go Kelly! Everyone else at that awards ceremony was bogus..

[Céline's Blues]

U2 steals Mariah Carey's spotlight at Grammys

 

By Nekesa Mumbi Moody

ASSOCIATED PRESS

 

8:52 p.m. February 8, 2006

 

LOS ANGELES – Mariah Carey ended her 16-year Grammy drought, but rock gods U2 smashed her comeback queen dreams by snatching five trophies Wednesday, including song and album of the year.

 

Carey, one of the best-selling artists of all time, hadn't won a Grammy since her first two as a fresh-faced ingenue in 1990. This year, she was nominated for a leading eight and won three in the pre-telecast ceremony. No woman had ever won more than five in one night.

 

But Carey was shut out through the entire televised portion, losing twice to U2, once to Green Day for record of the year and once to former American Idol Kelly Clarkson for best female pop vocal performance.

 

“If you think this is going to go to our head, it's too late,” U2 frontman Bono said after the group won song of the year.

 

After winning the night's big award, album of the year, Bono told Carey, “You sing like an angel.”

 

John Legend won three awards: best new artist, best R&B album for his debut, “Get Lifted,” and best male R&B vocal for the piano ballad “Ordinary People.” His mentor, Kanye West, also won three.

 

Clarkson won two, including best pop album.

 

“I'm sorry I'm crying again on national television,” said Clarkson, tearful and shaking as she held her first Grammy. “Thank you so much, you have no idea what this means to me.”

 

The highlight of the show was the appearance of Sly Stone, the mercurial, psychedelic pioneer who disappeared from the music scene decades ago and hadn't performed in public since 1993.

 

Toward the end of a sizzling all-star tribute, Stone emerged sporting a pale Mohawk against his 61-year-old brown scalp and made his way through one of his biggest smashes, “I Want To Take You Higher.” Though the tribute was planned, many didn't expect Stone – who hasn't performed in public in years – to show up.

 

Keith Urban was answering questions backstage when Stone's performance began playing on a nearby monitor, and he had to stop talking.

 

“I think we just got upstaged,” Urban said in amazement. “Everything pales in comparison.”

 

Aside from winning the most awards, U2 provided one of the more rousing performances in the jam-packed show as they sung their hit Vertigo, then collaborated with R&B queen Mary J. Blige's gospel-inflected fervor for their classic “One.”

 

West's three Grammys matched his total for last year. The brash rapper/producer played up (or lived up to) his egotistical reputation as he won best rap album for “Late Registration.

 

“I had no idea, I had no idea,” West said in mock shock as he pulled a huge sheet of paper that read “Thank You List.”

 

Alison Krauss & Union Station also had three awards, including for best country album, while Stevie Wonder, who released his first album in ten years last year, had two.

 

The show started off on a two-dimensional note as the cartoon-fronted rock group Gorillaz performed their record of the year contender, “Feel Good Inc.” with the help of animation, a blue screen and guest rappers De La Soul. The performance then segued into a Madonna moment, as the pop queen – who was not nominated for any awards – shimmied through the Gorillaz' virtual space while singing her latest hit, “Hung Up.”

 

A brief, impromptu performance by Keys and Wonder was the first to energize the crowd. Wonder pulled out his harmonica and the two soulfully sang his classic “Higher Ground” as a tribute to the late Coretta Scott King, who was buried Tuesday.

 

“Let's keep trying to reach that higher ground,” Keys said. “I forever want to reach that higher ground.”

 

 

SO happy to see finally some good music winning Gramys! U2 deserved their attention all the FREAKING way to Golgotha. That silicon factory with two legs Mariah got her 5 min also even if she was SHUT OUT out of the main categories - I kind of feel for her but am extremely happy to see these lambs being so pissed off. EAT THAT HOS!!!! hahaahahahah

 

And Madonna...don't get me started on her... Looked gorgeous, sounded good, too and delivered a magnificent performance. Looking 30 again, eh? That's the real queen of pop.

[Bellamy]

I'm glad Mariah didn't win any important award as I expected.

[Céline's Blues]

I'm glad Mariah didn't win any important award as I expected.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I mean she kinda deserved at least one major category but then again just imagine how big her ego and her fans' attitude would be! I agree with you, Bellamy. Come back next year, Mariah.

[Bellamy]

I mean she kinda deserved at least one major category but then again just imagine how big her ego and her fans' attitude would be!  I agree with you, Bellamy. Come back next year, Mariah.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is already much better than before. I think she get some R&B awards as comfort.

Just like I've posted:

she has been snubbed at the Grammys every year since being voted best new artist of 1990. Twice she's lost bids for record and album of the year. Most humiliating was her last "big comeback" when she entered the Grammys with six top bids and was expected to win best record or album for "One Sweet Day" or "Daydream." The pop diva got slapped in every category.

So this year is good enough for Mariah.

[Clari]

Mariah sounded HORRIBLE. I had to change the channel to soap operas. I missed most of the grammies! I only saw Kelly get her 2nd award.

[Koolan]

I didn't watch this year's awards. too bad Whoriah

[Célinefull]

again, soooo happy that Kelly won two awards!!

 

and eat me, Whoriah, you stink..

[Krys]

whoopie! Whoriah has been beaten!

[OnlyCeline]

YYuuuhhooo.... JOhn Leeegeennddd!!! Grreeennn Dayyyy!!!! Maaarriiahhhh!!!! U2!!!!!!!!!! I saw it til 5:30 in the morning!!! HEhehehehe....Yyyeaaahhhh!!! Kelllyyy!!!

[Bellamy]

OMFG, Mariah looks so bad, and her voice totally cracked. And she went historical. I think she was pretending she is Aretha #2. Her body really looks like Aretha though. I can't believe she got a standing ovation for her psychotic performance.

You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/w/Mariah-Carey-perf...h=grammy%202006

 

Madonna looks so young and fresh. But the dance and araangement is exactly the same like MTV awards.

You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/w/Madonna-Hung-Up-G...h=grammy%202006

 

And you can watch Kelly Clarkson here: http://www.youtube.com/w/Kelly-Clarkson-Gr...h=grammy%202006

[Leone]

Wow.. I gotta see that!!

[Mozinha]

YAY FOR U2!!!!!!!

Mariah got what she deserved

[Leone]

I've seen it now..

Well how can I find the wright words to describe what I saw.. Why is she getting so freaky when she's reaching those [not that special/impressive] notes?

She looked so funny walking from left to right like a baloon that is stuck on the ground and can't fly up.

 

Also.. It looked like some parts were lipped (to fill in those notes she can't reach).. so several times after the high notes.. she's singing but nothing is heard trough the speakers.. also when it does is sounds worse then it was seconds before...

Strange

Edited February 9, 2006 by Leone

[Bellamy]

Also.. It looked like some parts were lipped (to fill in those notes she can't reach).. so several times after the high notes.. she's singing but nothing is heard trough the speakers.. also when it does is sounds worse then it was seconds before...

Strange 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's not because of lipsync. I think it's 100% live. But her voice cracks. She tried very hard to hit some notes, but she just can't sing them out. She totally lost her voice. And many high notes were actually sung by her backvocals, like always.

[Céline's Blues]

Although all the other performances were nice (and Madonna's being the highlight of the night right at the beginning) truly NO ONE can deny that Céline is the ultimate live performer. Everyone who performs at Grammys seems to be shaking on stage, you see that in their eyes. Céline on the other hand just goes out and does her thing professionally, gracefully and amazingly. Every damn time she's on TV...and although she may be shaking inside, she handles the situation like the most high profile TV star. The teenager lambs or the stuck-up woolfies (Whit fans) almost never give Céline credit for this little thing, but these little things are too obvious to me. Watching those Grammy performances reminds me always how talented she is as a professional singer/performer. And even her own fans tend to forget to appreciate her stage presence and her simple grace that is coming from the bottom of her heart.

[Mozinha]

One of my favourite live performances EVER was Celine at 97 Grammy. It's really impressive! She is amazing.

 

Mariah is just ridicullous.

[poetic]

I don't undestand the thing with Gorillaz and don't like it either but Madonna was great. The little duet of Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder really like it and he is really funny. I really enjoy the duet of U2 with Mary J. Blige. I can't wait to see them in concert here in Mexico. I mean U2 of course.

I love when McCartney joined to Jay-Z and Linkin Park On the other hand the tribute to Sly and the family stone was so horrible too much performers and any really good, a complete waste of time. Only enjoyed for Joss Stone.

 

I'm very happy for Kelly, she sounds amazing, very cute her speeches but I hate the dress.

 

And I love see Michel Bublé, Fiona Apple.

 

I miss Céline mainly when I saw to Christina next to the piano and I think 'Oh where are you Céline.'

Edited February 9, 2006 by poetic

[Celine-Express]

Mariah Win

[OnlyCeline]

At Least Mariah HAs Won 3 Awards...Bettah Than Nothing....

[GoldenLeaf]

Also.. It looked like some parts were lipped (to fill in those notes she can't reach).. so several times after the high notes.. she's singing but nothing is heard trough the speakers.. also when it does is sounds worse then it was seconds before...

Strange 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's not because of lipsync. I think it's 100% live. But her voice cracks. She tried very hard to hit some notes, but she just can't sing them out. She totally lost her voice. And many high notes were actually sung by her backvocals, like always.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mariah is so ridiculous

[Clari]

Kelly has been on the radio ALL DAY LONG.

[scallywag]

Stupid Whoriah.... Yay Kelly

[winforlife]

Mariah sounded HORRIBLE. I had to change the channel to soap operas. I missed most of the grammies! I only saw Kelly get her 2nd award.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I thought she sounded terrible as well! During her first song, I didn't understand half the words she was singing- at times her voice sounded like nails going up and down a chalkboard( shivers). I turned the tv off during her performance too

 

The only reason I watched was to see Madonna and Kelly.

Madonna looked great and what a body! Her work out change from yoga to pilates hpaid off, a more feminine physique.

Her opening performance was great with the animation group, Gorillas. Her voice was decent and today I watched her new video, "Sorry". One scene reminds me of her video

"Music". My initial impression was another club music video.

 

Here is the link for those who haven't seen it yet:

 

http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?mo...e/firstview.adp

[Célinefull]

Mariah's hands hit the notes that her voice couldn't...if only she could sing as good as she can gesture the notes...

 

also, did you see at the end of We Belong Together, and throughout the tough notes on the other song, she holds the mic at a full arms length away from her mouth..this is a trick that some singers do because the further away from the mic you are, the less it picks up the imperfections in your voice. She sounded like she was screaming and squealing and she couldn't get any power at all...plus, what is with the tacky hair extentions and the faux English accent in all her interviews..she is soooo fake!

Edited February 10, 2006 by Célinefull

[Bellamy]

At Least Mariah HAs Won 3 Awards...Bettah Than Nothing....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Too bad, none of the award was televised. She didn't get a chance to say something on Grammy. Poor Mariah.

 

Mariah's hands hit the notes that her voice couldn't...if only she could sing as good as she can gesture the notes...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In China, we call her gesture as "shredder" . She can kill a cow with that. Maybe she had learn some Kung Fu.