Fame
This year’s Grammy Awards show was adorned with a plethora of female artists, the likes of which have never before been witnessed by the American and worldwide public. Welcome to Ladies Night Out.
Year after year, I watch this show and shake my head in disbelief at what’s being pawned off as award-winning music. Not so much this year, though, as the current stream of new artists and new music seems vastly improved.
Even in the field of rap, with its traditionally vulgar and shocking lyrics and absence of melody, things are looking up. This is best illustrated by newcomers Megan Thee (not a typo) Stallion, who captured three Grammys, and Lil Baby, who recreated, by way of video, the scene outside a burning Atlanta restaurant where Rayshard Brooks was gunned down by the police.
Absent from the show was The Weekend, who reportedly bad-mouthed the Recording Academy after being a sore loser last year. Thinking he’s too cool, he had hoped to revive his claim to fame.
“Is it any wonder you are too cool to fool? Fame, bully for you, chilly for me. Got to get a rain check on pain. Fame, fame, fame, fame what’s your name? Fame.” (“Fame” – David Bowie – 1975)
Garnering top honors for Song of the Year was H.E.R. for her protest anthem “I Can’t Breathe,” while the afore-mentioned Stallion took home the Best New Artist award. Relative newcomer Billie Eilish, who swept last year’s top categories, repeated her Record of the Year victory with her smash hit “Everything I Wanted.” Meanwhile, Taylor Swift (Is Taylor Swift? You bet your sweet bippy!) won the Album of the Year trophy for her much-admired quarantine record “Folklore.”
Beyonce, winner of four new Grammys, busted the all-time record for the most Grammys (28) by a female artist. She also captured top honors in the R&B category for her protest song “Black Parade,” as well as Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. Korean mega-stars BTS lost to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
In case you were wondering, there were actually several male artists who took home Grammys, including Gary Clark Jr., who won for Best Rock Song, “This Land”; Best Country/Duo/Group Performance, “Speechless” by Dan & Shay; and Best Comedy Album, “Sticks & Stones” by Dave Chappelle.
OK, so I’m supposed to have some local content in my weekly musing, so I should mention that I watched the Grammys at home, here in Crestline. Not only that, 60 Grit gave a stunning performance onstage at Snow Valley that same weekend, and a local band plays in front of the laundromat on Lake Drive every weekend.
“Fame (fame), what you like is in the limo. Fame (fame), what you get is no tomorrow. Fame (fame), what you need you have to borrow, Fame. Fame (fame), It’s mine….
Keep it flyin’, Uncle Mott