The Grammy Music Awards were on the other night. I didn't watch. Sometimes I review who was selected, but mostly I don't care. The awards just don't seem quite right.
e.g. Look at the nominations for "Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance":
Bruce Springsteen
Bob Dylan
John Fogerty
Prince
Neil Young
…and then also the "Best Rock Album" nominations:
Green Day
AC/DC
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
Dave Matthews Band
U2
I see a problem. Don't you? Not only are there no new "rock artists" from 2009 listed, but there isn't a new one from the past decade. In fact the newest ones are Green Day (formed in 1987) and Dave Matthews Band (formed in 1991). Seriously? Is "Rock" stuck in the mud or something? Now I know these guys are all still active, but it just seems wrong somehow. Sure they blazed new ground 20+ years ago, but continuously handing out awards to the same musicians over and over seems a little lame for "Rock'n Roll".
On the flip side, you look at "Pop" and the artists listed always seem so trendy. They may be remembered 10 years from now, but not for blazing any new ground, and possibly not in a good way. They may be viewed the same way the giant shoulder pads and big hair from the 1980s are viewed now.
I look at the Grammy's and I look at what albums from last year moved me, and it just seems so disjointed. I also look at what artists are pushing us in new directions, combining or creating sounds like never before, and they don't make the cut. I listen to all kinds of music, and yet even I feel like I'm on the outside looking in when I look at the Grammy Awards. Perhaps I am not as broad as I thought in my tastes? Or perhaps they do not truly represent music as broadly as they claim?
Of course it is run by the "The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc." which includes assorted organizations and people inside the music industry. They are the people who select the nominees and ultimately the winners. The music listeners of the world have no say. It seems weak. A better way to judge *might* be looking at units sold for up to 1 year from date of release. Then everyone would get a chance to vote with their dollars. Then again, maybe the results would not be much different? Who knows? If I had way too much time on my hands I'd do the numbers, but I'll leave that for others willing to accept the challenge.
My selection today was indeed the winner for the "Best Alternative Music Album" and so I suppose there is something to be said for that. Phoenix formed in 1999 and "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" is their 4th album, but they still are new enough without being trendy to possibly negate my arguments above.
Any thoughts on the topic? Anyone?
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Click here for more info on Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – "1901".
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Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
