I previously mentioned that I applied for virtual media credentials for the Grammy Awards. My application was denied. So instead of reading quotes or watching videos from my interactions (or more likely other people's interactions) with the winners and nominees, you're going to get my thoughts and observations of Sunday's ceremonies.
I would like to know the ticket protocol for Grammy nominees. My assumption is that each nominee gets to bring a +1. There’s probably also some type of fine print that children under a certain age are not permitted. In looking at the audience, Beyoncé brought her husband Jay-Z and their oldest child. Alicia Keys brought her husband Swizz Beatz and their two kids. Shakira brought her two sons. Of course, the people I just mentioned are some of the most famous people on this planet. Mark Guiliana got nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Mark is obviously an extremely talented musician, but I know nothing about him or his personal life. I randomly picked his name for this hypothetical. Let's say that Mark has a significant other and a 5 year old daughter. Could he have brought them both? Only his partner? This is something I might have learned with media credentials!
Okay, let’s get to the show and the awards.
I feel like Chappell Roan puts on heavy make-up going for a David Bowie look. That's a good thing. There should be more David Bowies in this world.
The Rolling Stones won for Best Rock Album. This Grammy is exactly what the band needs to kick off their career. I see big things in their future!
Before or after a commercial break, comedian Jim Gaffigan had the microphone and said something about Trevor Noah getting traded to the Dallas Mavericks. This was a safe and timely joke about a blockbuster NBA trade. I actually thought he might go with a foreigner taking a job or something about immigration that would have been much more risky.
Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers has to dye his hair and facial hair, right? Dude is 62 with no gray whatsoever.
Sabrina Carpenter sang Espresso and seems like she has a really good sense of humor based on the vaudeville-style performance. Espresso is a really fun song too, though she also included a portion of her song Please, Please, Please which is a huge step down in my opinion.
To paraphrase Shaq, while I knew the name Doechii, I need to apologize for not being familiar with her work.
Best performance of the night. I had trouble posting the entire performance, but here's a link in case you missed it or want to see it again. Entertainment Tonight only shows a small part of it.
Since many of my posts have Pittsburgh references, congratulations to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on winning the Grammy for the Best Engineered Album, Classical.
Since many of my posts have Ithaca College references, congratulations to 1979 Ithaca College alumnus Elaine Martone on winning the Grammy for Producer of the Year, Classical.
While I don’t think Jelly Roll was in attendance, I hope that he, Post Malone, and Teddy Swims are on a text chain where they just discuss facial tattoos.
Buzz Aldrin was in a Verizon commercial that aired early during the show. A reminder that Buzz Aldrin is the perfect person to be in a commercial during a music awards ceremony.
I enjoyed that Best New Artist medley though I admit that I was surprised that Kajagoogoo was nominated in this category. "Too Shy" must be 30 years old. (Since I probably won't understand this reference when I look at this post next year, Khruangbin earned a Best New Artist nomination. I know more Kajagoogoo songs, and I already named it.)
Are we done with Benson Boone yet? He just comes off as whiny in Beautiful Things. I guess he could make a decent living being a Paul Skenes impersonator.
Overall, I liked the show. I think there was a nice balance of celebrating the music industry while acknowledging and supporting Los Angeles after the devastating wildfires. I'm glad that Beyonce finally won Album of the Year, and Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us was unavoidable and a massive hit.
Looking forward to covering the event next year!
Chappell Roan photo by Kevin Winter/Getty; RHCP picture from Instagram's RedHotChiliPeppersClubMexico page; Benson Boone photo by Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty.
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