Biggest Surprise: Sly showed up!
Best Acceptance Speech: Kanye West... anyone who can make fun of themselves is alright with me.
Worst Acceptance Speech: Kelly Clarkson's blubbering, high pitched first speech. Joy is one thing, but bring it down an octave... that sh*t hurts human ears.
Best Live Performances: Sly tribute (except for the fact Joss Stone still has not learned how to sing with others - flashback to when Melissa Etheridge schooled her). Keith Urban/Faith Hill (relaxed, confident, in tune). Kanye West's Revival of the MC Hammer entourage (entertaining, clever, humourous, visually interesting). Herbie Hancock/Christina Aguilera (kinda jazzy and very classy). Sugarland (looked like they were having the most fun on stage). New Orleans tribute (I loved seeing Miss Irma Thomas up there).
Worst Live Performance: Ciara, sweetie, please promise never to sing "live" again... yikes! HIDEOUSLY bad. Lip-syncing is your career friend. Being a size 2, however, will continue to get you far.
Most Educational Moment: After performing on stage with the legendary Sly, Ciara confessed she thought Arrested Development had written one of Sly's signature tunes, "Everyday People." Again, she is a size 2... and pretty... did I mention she is really, really pretty?
Okay, Now The "I Really Am Dumping On Ciara" Moment: How the hell does she win a Grammy and Amerie doesn't? Then again, it was for a video. Size 2, people, size 2... and pretty.
The "Is It Just Me?" Award: Was that the first Madonna performance on the Grammys that did not completely suck. I almost enjoyed it.
Most Surprising Win: U2, Album of the Year. Great artist. Excellent album. I assumed equally deserving records from Mariah or Kanye would have won this prize.
Most Disappointing Win: Aretha, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "A House is Not a Home." Because of my utmost and lifelong regard for Aretha, I will say no more than I absolutely disagree.
The "Maybe Next Time" Award: Fantasia, see above.
The "Where They At?" Award": No gospel (I don't count Mariah's spectacle), jazz, or classical performances.
Worst Non-Performance Decisions: Why not allow those who won Lifetime Achievement awards to perform? Specifically, the marvelous and vital Jessye Norman.
Oddest Non-Nomination: Kanye really should have been nominated in the Producer of the Year category given his own nominations plus the strong work he did with John Legend, Common, and Mariah.
Overall, not an awful show, but nothing special either. Other than the Sly tribute, nothing else worth really savouring from the way too long show. It was not the best way to spend three and a half hours.
And see, I was really feeling kinda (notice I said kinda) bad that I didn't watch the show...instead opting for everything else I had on TiVo but did not watch. I had 4 people IM me when Sly was on and demanded that I turn my channel. Apparently he left the stage before his performance had ended....what was that about? Let's hope youtube has that taped. BTW....you have the whole house cracking up on the Ciara caper.
Posted by: EJ | February 09, 2006 at 02:17 AM
I am pee-Issed that I missed this. I fell out of love with the Grammy's some time ago. But I definitely would've turned in to see/hear a tribute to Sly. I'll have to see if I can find a copy.
No comment on Ciara except to agree that she is pretty.
Posted by: j. brotherlove | April 01, 2006 at 10:53 PM