grammy thoughts

and she don't stop: rihanna tranced-up the grammys

Regarding the Chems' second Best Electronic/Dance Album Grammy, all I can say is whew. While the recording academy is known for being conservative and playing catch up all the time (this year saw tributes to Tina Turner, the Beatles and Jerry Lee Lewis), the Grammys have been on the ball when it comes to the dance-album category. You could argue that Justice is more cutting-edge or LCD is more popular with the critics. But the Brothers did work it out, turning out not only a proper long-player with eclectic moments in terms of emotion and energy, but one one of the duo's best albums ever. As I've said, I think LCD's disco-punk-style of "historical slumming" is a step back (the Chems We Are The Night is far more visionary and technologically evolved), and Justice only had two decent songs on its album. Tiesto? Dutchman, please. Shiny Toy who?

[Here's the full list of nominees and winners].

Unfortunately, the Best Dance Recording (single) category continues to recognize big names in pop (JT took it this year). Same goes for the Best Remixed Recording category. Although the remixers rightly take credit, the voters surely weigh in based on the original artist (in the case of this year's winner, Public Enemy). It's hard for the academy to filter this out. For the singles, you can't really say Justin Timberlake's track ("LoveStoned/I Think She Knows") ISN'T dance music. It might not be core electronic dance music, but it's surely music for dance floors. Same goes for the remix category. The only remedy I could think of is nominating remixers unattached to particular remixes, so long as they had work in circulation during the eligibility period.

Dance music was well-represented in nominees ranging from Kanye West to Rihanna; "Umbrella" is not exactly dancey, but "Don't Stop the Music," which she performed on the show, is straight up trance-pop. So let's count: Two straight up dance songs, "Stronger" and "Don't Stop the Music," were performed on music's biggest show. Not bad. But I thought it would have been proper for Kanye West to give a shout to Daft Punk during the performance. I discovered that a lot of people who watched had no idea Daft Punk was playing in the Grammys' house during the rendition of "Stronger." You had to know to know, you know?

In general, I think the show could still be more contemporary. In bending over backwards to serve its membership and to play catch up, the academy is losing a whole generation of music lovers. Aside from performances by Kanye, Rihanna and Amy Winehouse, the show was too geezerly. The geriatric vibe was a water-cooler joke in offices across the land. Much praise and respect to the oldsters, but the youngn's really are being alienated here. Pop is about them.

Finally, here's a great preview analysis of the Grammys' conservative history by legendary rock critic Jim DeRogatis.