GRAMMY'S 2011 LIVE PERFORMANCES REVIEW:
After getting back and unwinding from probably the best Grammy show ever, it is time to reflect on what we have just seen/heard. It was about the artist and not the awards this year. The majority of the Grammys were announced earlier in the day, and only a handful of Grammy’s were awarded during the evening. It was entertaining and exciting to watch artist perform who we don’t normally get to see live.
The evening started off with an Opening Tribute to Aretha Franklin, recently diagnosed with cancer and not able to attend, but posted a taped message of appreciation. The medley was performed by:
Yolanda Adams, Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welsh of Florence and the Machine, and what a performance they gave, these girls can sing! They sang the songs that made Aretha a Grammy winner super star. The Surprise was Martina McBride, a country singer/songwriter, who hung in with the powerful voices of the girls who are known for belting out a tune, she did hold her own, and very well at that. I am sure Aretha was proud of all of their performances.
Lady Antebellum paid Tribute to Teddy Pendergrass, who died January 2010. Unfortunately, they only sang one of his songs. “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”. Not really a tribute, more of an acknowledgement, that moved them into their songs “American Honey”, and “Need You Now”. The later won 3 Grammy’s and the most coveted Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Album. After a slow start their harmonies were right on and as beautiful as ever.
Lady Gaga, a hatchling emerging from her big plastic egg, performed “Born This Way”, in the style and drama we expect from her, reminiscent of a Madonna performance. Her voice was flawless, and the dancing was sexy, with impeccable timing, and the costumes like the skin of a newborn babe. The perfectionist had everything going for her, and her earlier grand entrance had everyone buzzing with anticipation before she crawled out the egg she arrived in. Lady Gaga Won Best Pop Vocal Album for THE FAME MONSTER.
Miranda Lambert, performed her song that won the Best Female Vocal Performance for her “The House that Built Me”, She was a bit pitchy in the beginning, and after following Lady Gaga, maybe her confidence was frayed, but in the end she did a nice job and country fans loved her.
John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban, paid Tribute to Dolly Parton, who received the Life Time Achievement Award. They sang “Jolene” by Parton. Norah and Keith did great jobs, but Mayer was somewhat off, or just out of his element. The guy is just unlovable. For such a hefty award little time was spent paying a tribute to Dolly
Katy Perry, for a minute it looked like she may try something like Pinks’ Trapeze act when she came out singing on a swing, (didn’t your Mama ever tell you to keep your knees together?) “It’s Not Like the Movies” which was ok, a little slow, but once she got off the swing she wanted to salute all the Valentines Lovers and got right into “Teenage Dream” that was upbeat and rocked the song and had the audience singing along with her. Nice performance for the 4 time Grammy nominee.
Bruno Mars, B.o.B, and Janelle Monae, begin the montage with “Nutin on You”, featuring B.o.B and Bruno Mars, both were slightly off-key, but the musicians kept it together, and it had an overall feel that it worked, but they both struggled with the notes. They switched it up and did a retro R&B version of “Grenade”, and again Bruno, was off-key and his voice sounded as if it were cracking and not very strong in a few parts, but again the musicians had it rockin. From there Bruno, took over the drums, and B.o.B to the guitar for Janelle Monae, an up and coming new artists sang “Cold War” which was rocking, but her voice waivered a bit , until she was able to pull it off and the crowd seemed to appreciate their efforts.
Justin Bieber, Usher, and Jayden Smith. The set begins with Justin playing the Acoustic guitar, for just a few minutes, and the change up begins with a drum core, getting the beat going before Justin gets into “Never Say Never” with bright lights flashing and acrobatic dancers filling the stage and the young singer strutted his stuff moving around the stage and finally ending in a dance routine, when Jayden Smith popped up on the stage and did a little rap interlude, while taking advantage of the big stage. They end back to back, arms crossed the light dims and Usher’s gravelly voice “Oh My God" is heard in the dim light, the lights begin flashing, the stage becomes electrified and the crowd went crazy. Usher’s vocals and moves had the crowds roaring the entire time, and it ends with Justin popping back onto the stage doing a little synchronized dancing routine and added vocal for the grand finale. It was a tremendous hit with the crowd and a great performance by all.
Mumford and Sons, The Avett Brothers, & Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons, started out the set and performed “The Care” an Acoustic tribute, and did a bang up job, vocally and instrumentally. They were upbeat, lively and engaging. The Avett Brothers performed “Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise” with great vocals, and truly seemed to enjoy being their singing and playing their instruments with smiles on their faces. Bob Dylan came out singing "Maggie’s Farm", his voice scratchier, and even raspier with years of singing/performing. He will be 70 yrs. young June 2011 and is still relevant. While he sang both groups were in the back ground playing banjo, guitar and base, and nearly drowned him out, but what you could hear sounded just as current as they were, and he even had a little smile on his face, OMG! An excellent over-all-lively performance and they all truly seemed to enjoy doing what they do.
Adam Levin, Eminem, Rhinna, Dr. Dre and Skylar Grey, Adam Levin’s role was only at the piano when Rhinna took the lead with her “Love the Way You Lie”
Adam, was never to be seen again. Rhinna’s performance was stunning, with the fire burning in the background, and the emotion which she sang, you could imagine the pain of the song lyrics/title. As the flames rose higher in the back ground Eminem took center stage and infused his anger toward women in an emotional vein popping rap. Rhinna came from stage 2 to join him on the main stage singing the chorus, as Eminem rapped, she did an exit stage left. The song transitioned as Skylar Grey took on the female role with strong and poignant vocals singing “I need a Doctor”, Dr. Dre joined them and rapped with Eminem in sync, and the crowd went crazy for the performances. The highly anticipated performance was powerful and while the content was painful, and the message is not favorable to women, they somehow have made rage & violence against women artful and acceptable in the music world, with a few added bleeps.
Muse, the British rock band, with Mathew Bellamy lead singer, brought down the house with a strong and exciting performance and winner of the Best Rock Album. When the winner was announced they received a warm polite applause which seemed kind of cool after the outstanding performance the crowd acknowledged earlier.
Cee Lo Green & Gwyenth Paltrow, performed Cee Lo’s F***You! The colorful Cee Lo, was adorned in bright colored feathers & a beaded/metal head piece and was just plain out there. Move over Elton John, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, we have a new drama queen in town. His voice was crisp and the Muppets Puppets were charming and added more color and whimsy to a fun song. Gwyenth came out singing in a slinky skin tight jump suit, and did a very nice job of “Forget You”, same song, just a come clean version and slithered onto the piano, to perform the duet with Cee Lo. They both did a great job. Fun, good performance! A crowd pleaser.
Rihanna and Drake, singing “What’s My Name” starts out with Drake rapping, which was slow and not feelin it kind of start but once Rhinna begin to gyrate and shake her bootie Shakira style, and rub up against him, his rap became more prominent in the number. Rhinna let loose with a few steamy Beyonce moves, and her dance troop like the Havana Revue, gyrated to the music and the flames grew higher as the sultry number came to a climax.
Barbra Streisand, sang “Ever Green”, from a Star is Born. Not sure people got it that the song was a Grammy Winner, and Oscar Winner for the movie, starring Barbra and Kris Kristofferson, who introduced her. She did a great job, and sounded as good as she did when she made the movie, which was a re-make, and is a possible remake coming, with CLint Eastwood producing and Beyonce as the lead.
Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq, it was Mick’s first time as a Grammy performer, and he stole the show at age 67, while he strutted his skinny little ass like a peacock, in that tiny green tuxedo jacket. He skipped, he jumped, he ran the stage like a marathon, all the while singing Solomon Burkes “I Need You” as a tribute to the late singer/songwriter. Raphael, was brought into the spot light as Mick played off him, by pushing him back,and encouraging the guitar man, singer/songwriter, producer in a playful and action packed medley of fast paced high-stepping movements. The crowd was on their feet from the moment Mick opened the act stage center in a cape, James Brown fashion, and as flamboyant as Solomon Burke really was. Truly one of the surprising highlights of the evening and one that will be remembered by all for years to come, and a prime example of how relevant a person of his age really is, and an attainable example to be as alive as his performance was.
Arcade Fire, the big winner of the night for Album of the year, the Canadian Alternative Rock group, took the stage performing “Month of May” from the album The Suburbs, with strobe lights flashing, and stunt bikes peddling in circles, it was confusing, but it was the Grammy’s and over the top sells. When the winner of the Record of The Year was announced the crowd seemed stunned, yet polite, that the alternative group won top honors. They said their Thank you’s and went back to the stage and played a less dramatic rendition of the song to end the evening.
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