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Not that anybody cares about the Grammys…
by Jim DeRogatis | Dec. 01, 2011
Especially during the last decade, when the half-hearted but undeniable attempt of the ’90s to actually adhere to the stated “honor artistic excellence” mission of the most prestigious awards in popular music has yielded to a more-desperate-than-ever rush to laud sales, such as they are, during the dying days of the old-school record industry that gave birth to the prizes and which the folks who hand out the golden gramophones are futilely determined to preserve, but here is a link to the schizophrenic list of the 2011 nominees (among them Adele, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga, surprise, surprise; Foo Fighters, because voters don’t want to ignore horrible mainstream rock; Kanye West, but not in many of the top categories, and this year’s way-outta-left-field “Arcade Fire pick,” Bon Iver, ack).
And here is a link to me talking about the silliness of all of this with a big-time mainstream local radio personality this morning. (And if he can’t credit me as being from WBEZ, thanks to his corporate owners’ policies, well then I won’t mention his station’s call letters here; take that, WGN! Oops…)
(P.S., hometown nods, for anybody who cares just a little bit--and these ain't in any of the major categories, so big deal so what: Wilco, best rock album; R. Kelly, a few R&B genre nods, and Lupe Fiasco, best rap performance.)
Co-host of “Sound Opinions,” “the world’s only rock ’n’ roll talk show,” originating at WBEZ and distributed nationally on public radio via PRX. DeRogatis is a full-time lecturer in the Professional Writing Program of the English Department at Columbia College Chicago and the author of eight books about music.
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Comments
I don't even know where to begin complaining about the nominees....
P.S. What's the difference between a "Record" and an "Album?"
P.P.S. Mumford and Sons?!!!!
Steven Wilson's Grace For Drowning got a nod, that's cool.
@Trevor
Record of the year is more comparable to Song of the year. Record goes to the performer of the single, 'Song' goes to the songwriter. Next time, maybe do your own research. You're already on-friggin-line.
And yet, in spite of agreeing with your assessment, Jim, I'll still watch the show. Many may not like Mumford and Sons, but I know plenty of people who liked their performance at the Grammys last year, and then that led them to explore other artists in the "beard rock" genre like the Decemberists and Fleet Foxes. So any time music is front and center, good music CAN seap to the masses. I saw Cut Copy got a nod, so that's good.
@steve
You're totally right, of course, but Trevor makes a fair (if half-assed) point: the category names for the Grammys don't make much sense. Then again, if you're paying attention to the Grammys, you're hopefully either a publicist or an idiot, because no one else should care.
Also "local" - Chicago Symphony Brass and Rachel Barton Pine.
Brendan, why should anything "make sense" for an award named after the "gramophone,"
which was the English term for the USA's "phonograph," the first device for recording and
replaying sound? The two names were originally those used by two rival manufacturers.
So childish the 50,000 watt blowtorch won't mention your station. It would be nice if they focused on producing good, competitive programming, rather than pretending you don't exist.
Anyway, thanks for the great books, columns and show. I'd love to hear you cover two topics on air.
1) Grammys: History, politics, money sources, who does it and why they continue. I've been a music fan since I was 8 and, to me, the show always felt "out-of-step" or "off."
2) Jan Wenner's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Again, I'd like to know the history, politics, money sources, etc. I saw the very moving John Lennon exhibit there, just after 9/11. Every year, the nominees are announced and everyone complains that "undeserving" artistis are inducted in lieu of their favorites. I look at the hall as the founder's personal record collection. So, he doesn't like Kansas or Yes or Rush...who cares? Everyone would probably be mad that I don't own a Flaming Lips or Smashing Pumpkins album!