2 posts tagged “grammys”

I usually avoid the Grammy awards telecast like the plague. Few of the nominees or performers interest me. I watched most of the show this year, however. It was...uninspiring, to say the least. A few observations:

• There seemed to be 5-minute commercial breaks every 10 minutes
• Justin Timberlake definitely doesn't do it for me (although he somehow has developed cred with indie-types).
• I've listened to the latest Dixie Chicks album a fair amount, mainly because Minnesotans Dan Wilson and Gary Louris co-wrote most of the songs with the gals. While I enjoy hearing the Wilson and Louris influence, it's only a decent album. After all the crap they went though for daring to make an anti-Bush joke, it's nice to see them be recognized by their peers. When they won for best country album (ironic, because it was the country fans and radio stations that boycotted them in response to the "unpatriotic" statement they made) Natalie Maines said "That's interesting. To quote the great Simpsons, ha-ha!" (with the proper Nelson Muntz inflection)
• I was most interested in seeing The Police play, but didn't realize they were going to lead things off. I caught the video on YouTube, and they sounded decent. I thought it was a little odd that thy came to the front of the stage for a bow after playing a single song, but I guess they're excited (at least Andy and Stewart) to be playing together again.
• The Red Hot Chili Peppers finished things off, and I was reminded why I haven't given a crap about the band since Blood Sugar Sex Magik. They played some lame poppy rock ballad that was painful to hear. Flea's wardrobe was at least amusing. They had a hand-written sing proclaiming "Love to Ornette Coleman."

Here's The Police playing "Roxanne." I liked Sting's little jump at the end. I'd like to see them when they tour, just to check out Stewart Copeland's mad drum skills, but i don't think I'll be shelling out $50-$100 for an arena show.

The Grammy Awards will be televised this Sunday. I normally don't pay much attention, since I don't listen to shitty pop music. However, The Police will be performing at the show! They are near the top of the list of bands I wish I could have seen in their prime. (Sorry- Sting's solo stuff just doesn't do it for me.)  Rumors of a reunion tour persist, but it's looking like a one-time gig (not that I'd fork over a C-note to see them play in a big arena). Other than Sting, Stewart, and Andy, here are the other performers:

Shakira & Wyclef Jean, Chris Brown, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Rascal Flatts w/Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, the Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, John Legend, Ludacris, John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Justin Timberlake.

Ugh. Can someone call me when The Police hit the stage?

Here's the first time they played "Message in a Bottle" live:

And here they are playing at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Cermony, in 2003:

Alright- I think I'll just stick with the image of the band as young, badass reggae-influenced punks. I'm sure their performance at the Grammys will be disappointing. Unless they break out "Synchronicity II."