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Bitching and moaning about how terrible the Grammys are is just as tired as the awards show itself, so we'll do our best to avoid it. This year's show had its share of highs (the Radiohead/USC Marching band collab, the chance of MIA giving birth on stage and forcing Lil Wayne to deliver the baby) and lows (Queen Latifah calling the group of Kanye, Jay-Z, TI, and Lil Wayne "The Rap Pack") but we still had a reason to watch as some Chicago-based artists were up for some awards.
Two of the night's most emotional moments revolved around singer Jennifer Hudson. After singing at the Super Bowl, her first public performance since the murders of her mother, brother, and nephew, Hudson performed, "You Pulled Me Through" at last night's show and pulled down the award for "Best R&B Album." During her acceptance speech, Hudson thanked, "my family in Heaven and those who are here today."
Another Chicagoan who pulled in a little Grammy gold was the embatteld Kanye West. His performance with Estelle, "American Boy," won for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, though the song lost out on "Best Song" for producer Keith Harris.
Chicago-based producer John Karkazis, who has a studio in Pilsen, lost out on Producer of the Year (for work with Plain White Ts, Staind, Three Doors Down, and Black Tide) to the legendary Rick Rubin.
After the jump, more videos of some of our favorite Grammy moments.
Radiohead and The USC Marching Band
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I don't like being the guy who complains about grammer on the internet, but this one's funny ... "After making her first public performance since the murders of her mother, brother, and nephew at the Super Bowl ..."
I missed that part of the game.
Geez, Marcus. Talk about a case of the Mondays...Amended.
jennifer's performance was heartfelt.
estelle/kanye west were straightforward, but well done.
mia was awesome, if just for the fact that she performed on her due date.
radiohead was cool.
taylor/miley were the worst of the night. taylor's voice was so ridiculously flat.
Does anyone here think Taylor Swift is little more than a pretty face? I've seen her on tv shows three times now, and her raspy, thin vocals leave much to be desired. She strikes me as though she should be on the new 90210 or something.
I'm not sure which fact shocked me more:
1. Boys II Men are still around? And performing at the Grammys?
2. Boys II Men are now down to 3 members. Guess the economy truly is forcing cutbacks everywhere.
i think one of them is not in good health, and no longer performs with the rest.
i heard the tall baritone has some sort of genetic back issues and cant perform or anything any more.
I would like to point out, with all due respect to Jennifer Hudson, that she DID NOT sing live at the Super Bowl, and I'm getting tired of so many people thinking that she did. Both she and Faith Hill lip synced to versions they recorded a few weeks earlier. Hudson did a great rendition of the song, but it just irks me a bit that most people out there were under the impression she sang live, and conquered this huge thing by getting through the song.
She is going through an unimaginably difficult time; her performance last night was more genuine and heartfelt than the Super Bowl performance for sure.
I feel like somebody has to mention the Katy Perry "performance." I cant wait for her to go away.
Even though the awards weren't part of the Grammy broadcast, it's also notable that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra won two Grammy awards this year.
Best Engineered Album: Classical for Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago
Best Orchestral Performance for Shostakovich Symphony No. 4
They may not be as flashy as Kanye, but they're pretty awesome! :)
Sigh...I knew I would overlook someone....Thanks!