Let's review the Grammys, shall we?

14 years ago

For once I watched the whole show (well, most of it). I thought LL Cool J did a nice job of emceeing. I liked the way he started out the show, paying tribute to Whitney Houston in a way that was just right, I thought. Later, I was blown away by Jennifer Hudson's tribute rendition of "I Will Always Love You." She didn't try to emulate Whitney at all, but sang it with a lot of her own feelings. Beautiful voice.

I was happy to see Glen Campbell's excellent performance! The last time I saw him on TV, he seemed more confused (he has Alzheimer's), so I was a little nervous for him this time. But he was terrific.

Did anyone notice the two women sitting and texting during his standing ovation? Not nice.

It was great to see the remaining Beach Boys together again. I thought the beginning of their song was a little ragged (understandably, considering how long it's been since they performed together), but it picked up when the other musicians joined them.

I loved Adele's performance--and how great that she isn't skinny as a rail, doesn't strip, and doesn't find it necessary to have a gimmick or special effects. Normally I'm not crazy about gum-chewing at awards ceremonies (or anywhere else), but it seemed part of her naturalness.

I like Carrie Underwood a lot, and she did her best, but she seemed an odd choice for a duet with Tony Bennett. Perhaps that was the point, but she was clearly out of her element.

Loved the Alicia Keys/Bonnie Raitt tribute to Etta James.

Paul McCartney still rocks!

I'm sure I'm showing my age, but I didn't like all the musical numbers. IMO, the worst of them was Nicki Minaj's performance. Is she trying (and failing) to be a black Gaga? I never heard of her before last night, and if I never hear (or see) her again, it will be too soon. :-)

So.....what did you think of the show?

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Comments (30)

mamatoad
14 years ago
I agree with all of your review! I thought Glen Campbell gave an exceptional performance considering his problems and I was happy to see that. He looked so much better than he did the last time I saw him. I did not like Taylor Swift's braided, messy hair and clothing for the one performance. Other than that, she was good, in my opinion.
maddielee
14 years ago
I was just telling a friend that I thought it was the best 'awards' show that I have seen in a long time.

About those 2 women who were sitting and texting...I felt they were rude, and wondering if they were maybe seat fillers?? (For those who may not know; Seat Fillers are everyday people who keep a seat occupied when a guest goes to the bathroom. The camera doesn't want to show empty seats during an airing.)

ML
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maddielee
14 years ago
Mamatoad, Taylor Swift wears that country girl costume when she does the song in her live concert. Kind of a barnyard setting.
sleeperblues
14 years ago
I didn't see all of it, just the last 90 minutes or so. I loved Taylor's performance, and thought the clothing was reminiscent of the photos of Dorothea Lange's photos of migrant workers in the thirties.

I loved, loved, loved Adele and am so happy her voice is intact after her vocal cord bleed. But then I have loved Adele since her "19" album.

I loved JHud's version of the Whitney song, and actually got a tear in my eye.

Not quite sure what Nicki Minaj's vision was, but I enjoyed the production without liking the music. Alisande, she performed at the superbowl with Madonna and has a huge hit with "Superbass".

And, of course, got to see someone I know win a Grammy for best new Artist, Bon Iver. A little awkward acceptance speech, and I missed their first award.
alisande
Original Author
14 years ago
The Catholic church has been at war with Obama over birth control recently; I was thinking last night maybe now the Bishops will turn their wrath on Nicki Minaj. LOL

I didn't know about Seat Fillers, Maddielee, but if that's what they were I predict they don't get hired again. Turns out we weren't the only ones who noticed them.

Somehow I didn't see Taylor Swift's "country" outfit, but I loved her formal gown.

Sleeperblues, do you know Bon Iver personally? I wasn't familiar with their music either.

BTW, Adele thanked radio stations for playing "Rolling in the Deep," which she said enabled it to cross over. She said it wasn't a pop song. What kind of song is it? I love it, and would have called it pop. But I'm definitely not up on all the current song genres.
User
14 years ago
I loved the whole thing. I'm a big Adele fan..great voice, and of course I like the oldies. Paul, Bruce, Beach boys and Glenn Campbell. They should knock the snot of those texting girls when every one else was giving Campbell a standing O. What total disrespect. You are at the Grammys the biggest show in town and yet you TEXT??? Punks. Love Taylor's straight hair..hate her curls. She's so pretty and talented. Hated the Nicki part ..never heard of her till last night. Loved Jen Hudson's song to Whitney. There's a voice as good as hers was in it's prime.
foggyj
14 years ago
Agree with everything said. Sometimes it's really hard to watch the "newcomers". The serious grab for attention, just dosen't do it for me. Truely talented people don't need all that distraction.
Otherwise, very good show. Loved the old guys.
lydia1959
14 years ago
I watched all but the last half hour. Thought LLCool J did a nice job... love Adele, Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry - so I was happy to see them there. Loved the Beach Boys song and was surprised at their advanced ages that most of them still sounded really good. Glen Campbell was wonderful too!

Great show for the most part. I had never heard of Bon Iver or Barton Hollow (the folk singers), but liked what I heard well enough to add some of their stuff to my Amazon 'wish list'.
lydia1959
14 years ago
Whoops... that should have been 'The Civil Wars', 'Barton Hollow' is the name of their album.
jennmonkey
14 years ago
Sleepblues, you personally know Bon Iver? I love them, have one of their CD's sitting in the drawer right next to me at work!

I loved Adele, she's fabulous and is herself and I love her voice. Unfortunately she's being being WAY overplayed on the radio and I think it will burn people out on her. Her songs are wonderful, but after the 10,000 time, you get annoyed.

Jennifer Hudson did an great job with I Will Always Love You, but it really made me think that nobody sounds as amazing as Whitney.

Lady Gaga dresses weird/too revealing, but I don't think she'd ever try and be as offensive as Nikki was last night. I think she is trying to be outragous for popularity, but while Gaga sings about loving yourself for who you are, etc. (overall good messages), Nikki is straight up trying to be vulgar and offend particular groups. Gross.
mare_wbpa
14 years ago
I googled "Rolling In The Deep". Adele, according to a quote describes it as a "dark blues-y gospel disco tune". I was curious also. I thought it was Pop.
marie_ndcal
14 years ago
Tony Bennett seem a bit confused towards the middle/end of the song, but was better when Carrie Underwood steped up to sing.. Maybe he is also showing his age (as we all are). He picked it up right away.
I do wish the Beach Boys had done one of my favorites--Surfing USA--but then that would really bring back memories to some of us!
I am sad that Adele won so many awards. She is good, but to me not that good. Others got shoved out.
matti5
14 years ago
This was the first time in years that I watched the entire show. I thought it was great and LL did an outstanding job. The tributes to Whitney were well done and as always Jennifer Hudson sang from her heart.

I noticed when they did the tribute to those who had passed, they did not show Don Cornelius. LL immediately made mention of him after the tribute ended. I'm guessing someone forgot to add him.

One of my a favorite performances was Bruno Mars. Loved the dancing, singing and energy. Adele was also amazing. My least favorite was Nicki Minaj, not sure how to describe it other than freaky and nightmarish. I do like a couple of her songs, BUT definetly not that one.

All in all a very good night!
liira
14 years ago
Bruce Springsteen-rocked!!!!!!!! Never heard of Bruno Mars, but loved his singing and dancing! Love Adele. Great show!
sheesh
14 years ago
I did not wath the show, but want to tell you that I have both of Tony Bennett's Duets albums, and they are great! He and Lady Gaga sing The Lady Is A Tramp... Gaga is wonderful in it, and Tony giggles a little. Carrie Underwood, also great doing It Had To Be You. You should hear Queen Latifa and Tony sing Who Can I Turn To...FABULOUS! k.d. lang has never been better. Those women can belt outta tune with the best of 'em!

Also on Duets II are Amy Winehouse, john Mayer, Natalie Cole, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, and others. It is a great album, in my
opinion better than Duets I. Hub and I saw Duets II on PBS a few weeks ago, loved it, so bought both discs. DI features Bono, Buble, sting, Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, B. Streisand, Dixie Chicks, and others.
lynn_d
14 years ago
Alisande, I agree with you 100%. We missed the beginning of the show so didn't see the Beach Boys, would have loved to! After Nicki's performance we both said "What was that?" I sort of liked her before that.

I saw the texting too, shows a lot of class.

I thought Glenn Campbell did a great job, tho he was lost on the stage at the end. He looked older to me last night, I had seen him on Kelly or Ellen when he was on.

Tony Bennett and Carrie sang that on his Duets II CD, I love both of those cds.

I too loved Adele! I am so glad she won, what an emotional evening for her.

We thought Paul McCartney did GREAT! I don't know Bon Iver but I loved his stumbling speech, it was pure and from the heart.

The Memorium didn't list Don Cornelius nor did it include Etta James, I found that odd.

And as good as I thought Jennifer Hudson did (and it had to be so hard for her to do it) I really wish someone had talked her out of that dress and into one that fit.
Kathsgrdn
14 years ago
My daughter's boyfriend loves Nicki Minaj, why I have no idea. She texted him about how bad that performance was when we were watching it last night. He missed it, his dad was watching their tv. It was awful. Lauren has played her songs for me and I hate her voice.

Loved Taylor Swift's performance, costumes and all. So did Lauren. Hated Paul McCarty's first song...the Valentine song. Loved the all the old guys singing and playing together with the younger guys. It was great, although, I didn't know who over half of them were.

Loved Glen Campbell's song, grew up listening to him as a child, even though I hate Rhinestone Cowboy. They overplayed it when it first came out and I never could stand that song but I did enjoy it last night.

Fast forwarded through Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood's song, it wasn't great.

Didn't care for a lot of the groups/singers, maybe I'm just getting old. I liked Adele, and may have to buy a CD of her's.
sleeperblues
14 years ago
Jenn and Alisande, I don't know Justin Vernon from Bon Iver personally, but my kids have met him. He has been musically talented since high school when he and about 8 friends put together a group called Mount Vernon, which was a jazz band. They even released a cd. 3 years ago Justin came to the school and performed some Bon Iver songs with the jazz band as a fundraiser because they were invited to play in the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition in NYC. It was a sold out, packed house and he was awesome. I've never seen him with the Bon Iver band, though.
dedtired
14 years ago
I never knew the guy from The Sopranos is in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band before last night. Steve Van Zandt. Where have I been?

I only saw the first hour and the last half hour because I was watching Downton Abbey.
matti5
14 years ago
Dedtired, Steven's wife was also his on screen wife on the Sopranos. I sure miss that show!
alisande
Original Author
14 years ago
You can catch Van Zandt on the Netflix series "Lilyhammer." I started watching it last week.

Don't feel bad, Dedtired . . . I didn't know he was in The Sopranos, and I didn't know he was in the E Street Band either. :-)
liz
14 years ago
I thought the whole show just rocked...I had the good sense to set the TIVO up Saturday night cause I was working Sunday...I got home right as Bruce Springsteen was singing and just listened and played on the puter while coming back down to earth...I'm so glad I tivo'd it cause I've watched it on and off tonight...Hubster doesn't watch shows like this but he enjoyed seeing the Beach Boys, Tony Bennett, and Glen Campbell perform...It was very tasteful as far as Whitney goes...I know it had to be really hard for Jennifer to sing that song...it sure made my eyes well up...

I think Adele is the bomb...I've been humming her song all day...I hope she has a long and wonderful career! I loved the Target commercial that came on with the little girl on the bus singing her song and all the other kids joined in!
maire_cate
14 years ago
I didn't watch any of it last night but I did tape the show and watched it today. How nice to be able to fast forward though the commercials and avoid the performers that I have no interest in watching.

My DD gave me Adele's CD last year and I was thrilled that she won. What a charming individual - so talented and apparently so normal! How refreshing.

It was great to see the Beach Boys again..so much better than 'Maroon 5' who covered them. Mike Love is still a good looking man. Good old Glen Campbell should looked like he loved performing on stage. How bittersweet to know that this is his final tour.

I loved the finale with all the guitarists jamming together - Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and my favorite - Dave Groh, still head banging after all these years.
kacram
14 years ago
I ususally don't watch. Last night was no exception. I have heard clips though. It amazes me that hollywood and music peeps decry domestic violence,there have been some psa's and they gave their prayer for Whitney, then they give a rousing greeting for Chris Brown, who, practically to the day beat the living daylights out of Rhianna (sp). That was hard to see.
I like looking at the fashions the day after, Fergie looked like she was wearing a Halloween tablecloth over granny panties! ahahahahaa...

The way Adele styles her hair and makeup make her look 43, not 23! Love her voice!
amyfiddler
14 years ago
the civil wars are amazing. google their acoustic version of billie jean...youll love it.
bengardening
14 years ago
Who were the 2 little girls who had ELLEN written across the front of their shirts?
I saw them on the yahoo home page of people arriving for the emmys.
alisande
Original Author
14 years ago
Omigosh, Amy--thank you!! I never heard them before, but I just played this video and I'm in love (with both of them)!
matti5
14 years ago
Bengardening, the two little girls were Ellen's red carpet correspondents. She found them on youtube several months ago singing and dancing a Nicki Minaj song. They are huge fans. The two girls are cousins and I think they are from England. They are hysterical. Ellen has them on every couple of months. They were also her correspondents for the American Music Awards.
lynn_d
14 years ago
Bengardening, they are from Britain, one of them (the one with dark hair) adores Nicki Manaj and was on You Tube performing her song. Ellen saw it and brought them here, put them on her show and introduced them to Nicki. When it turned out that Nicki was going to be on the Grammy's Ellen sent them to the Grammy's as her Red Carpet Roving Reporters...... I wonder what she (Ellen) thought of the girls seeing Nicki's performance.....wonder what their parents thought of it.
matti5
14 years ago
Lynn, I too wondered what Ellen and the girls parent's were thinking as they watched Nicki's performance. The girls probably thought it was great.

I thought it was qutie funny that Ellen and one of her assistants dressed up as the two girls for the Halloween show.

Let's review the Grammys, shall we?

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