Wednesday, February 24, 1999
Music’s big night out
MUSIC: Separating the real winners from the award winners helps
make sense of dubious Grammy ceremony
By Tenoch Flores, Teron Hide,
Brent Hopkins and Michelle Zubiate
Daily Bruin Staff
The Grammy Awards define the cream of the music world. The
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences objectively selects
the best and most cleverly written compositions and heaps upon them
such accolades as "Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without
Orchestra)" and "Best Album Notes." These fascinating categories
demonstrate the cutting edge of recorded music today, and should be
considered the be all and end all of entertainment knowledge.
Those fans more interested in a real view of music can look at
the Grammys for what they are: a bloated, self-glorifying
misrepresentation of popular entertainment tastes. Artist
nomination is perplexing, categories are either confusing or flat
out ridiculous and guidelines for winning are never adequately
explained. Nonetheless, the awards remain an unavoidable part of
the music scene, so they cannot be completely ignored. Rather than
writing the Grammys off outright, the Bruin will examine the major
categories and offer its own spin on what will and should win.
Record of the year
"The Boy Is Mine," Brandy & Monica
"My Heart Will Go On," Celine Dion
"Iris," Goo Goo Dolls
"Ray of Light," Madonna
"You’re Still the One," Shania Twain
Will: "My Heart Will Go On"
Should: "Ray of Light"
Album of the year
"The Globe Sessions," Sheryl Crow
"Version 2.0," Garbage
"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," Lauryn Hill
"Ray of Light," Madonna
"Come on Over," Shania Twain
Will: "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"
Should: "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"
Song of the year
"I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing," Diane Warren
"Iris," John Rzeznik
"Lean on Me," Kirk Franklin
"My Heart Will Go On," James Horner & Will Jennings
"You’re Still the One," Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania
Twain
Will: "My Heart Will Go On," James Horner & Will
Jennings
Should: "Iris," John Rzeznik
R&B song
"All My Life," Rory Bennett and JoJo Hailey
"The Boy Is Mine," Brandy, Lashawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III,
Rodney Jerkins and Japhe Tejeda
"Doo Wop (That Thing)," Lauryn Hill
"Lean on Me," Kirk Franklin
"A Rose Is Still a Rose," Lauryn Hill
Will: "The Boy Is Mine"
Should: "All My Life"
R&B album
"Live," Erykah Badu
"Never Say Never," Brandy
"A Rose Is Still a Rose," Aretha Franklin
"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," Lauryn Hill
"Embrya," Maxwell
Will: "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"
Should: "Embrya"
Knowing that the Recording Academy’s cut-off date for nominees
is late September, the Bruin will list those that came out late but
are deserving of recognition.
Dru Hill: the successor to the R&B a cappella throne
formerly held by Boyz II Men. This group has quietly built
themselves up as a force, able to handle slow jams as well as
bumpin’ jives. Their sophomore album, "Enter the Dru," received
only moderate hype and remained as one of the better soul albums of
the year.
R. Kelly: With three singles from his latest album, "R," already
roaming the charts, R. Kelly has once again reestablished himself
in the "groove and grind" rhythms. He has slightly altered his
repertoire with a touch of gospel and rap. Additionally, it is rare
that a double-disc CD is truly worth buying, but this one is
deserving of a second look.
Total: The lack of strong, veteran, female groups has allowed
this sophomore concoction, "Kima, Keisha and Pam," to be very
noteworthy for its creativity. Acquiring a subtle maturity to their
naughty, playful sexual undertones, these ladies deserve to be
noticed. No longer under the complete supervision of Puff Daddy,
the Trackmasters and Missy Elliot have transformed this trio into a
more complete package of vocals, background and confidence.
New Artist
Backstreet Boys
Andrea Bocelli
Dixie Chicks
Lauryn Hill
Natalie Imbruglia
Will: Lauryn Hill
Should: Hill, but with Natalie Imbruglia a close second.
This is by far one of the most difficult to understand
categories, lauding both teen-idols (the Backstreet Boys) and opera
singer Andrea Bocelli.
Lauryn Hill’s inclusion is also confusing, since she has
recorded with the Fugees for several years. As for
lesser-publicized artists, The Bruin suggests Remy Zero, Placebo
and Jimmy Eat World. If established artists such as Hill are
considered to be "new," then these bands are just as deserving of a
nomination.
Female pop vocal performance
"My Favorite Mistake," Sheryl Crow
"My Heart Will Go On," Celine Dion
"Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You," Lauryn Hill
"Torn," Natalie Imbruglia
"Adia," Sarah McLachlan
Will: "My Heart Will Go On"
Should: "Torn"
Male pop vocal performance
"Save Tonight," Eagle-Eye Cherry
"My Father’s Eyes," Eric Clapton
"Anytime," Brian McKnight
"Lullaby," Shawn Mullins
"You Were Meant for Me," Sting
Will: "My Father’s Eyes"
Should: "Save Tonight"
Pop instrumental performance
"The X-Files Theme," Dust Brothers
"Big Country," Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
"My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From Titanic)," Kenny G
"Follow Me," Pat Metheny Group
"Sleepwalk," Brian Setzer Orchestra
Will: "My Heart Will Go On"
Should: "Sleepwalk"
Another bizarre category, melding electronica with jazz, easy
listening, and swing. Kenny G will probably get the nod, merely
because the unstoppable juggernaut of "My Heart Will Go On" has
entrenched itself so deeply into everyone’s consciousness, it has
become an automatic winner. More deserving, however, is Brian
Setzer, whose sensitive and deft arrangement of the Santo and
Johnny classic both retain the original’s beautiful emotion, as
well as brands Setzer’s trademark guitar licks on top.
Pop Album
"Pilgrim," Eric Clapton
"Let’s Talk About Love," Celine Dion
"Left of the Middle," Natalie Imbruglia
"Ray of Light," Madonna
"The Dirty Boogie," Brian Setzer Orchestra
Will: "Let’s Talk About Love"
Should: "The Dirty Boogie"
Country Album
"Sevens," Garth Brooks
"Wide Open Spaces," Dixie Chicks
"Faith," Faith Hill
"Come on Over," Shania Twain
"Where Your Road Leads," Trisha Yearwood
Will: "Sevens"
Should: No pick
Rock Song
"Bitter Sweet Symphony," Richard Ashcroft, Mick Jagger and Keith
Richards
"Celebrity Skin," Billy Corgan, Eric Erlandson and Courtney
Love
"Closing Time," Dan Wilson
"Have a Little Faith In Me," John Hiatt
"Uninvited," Alanis Morissette
Will: "Uninvited"
Should: "Celebrity Skin"
RK album
"The Globe Sessions," Sheryl Crow
"Premonition," John Fogerty
"Version 2.0," Garbage
"Celebrity Skin," Hole
"Before These Crowded Streets," Dave Matthews Band
Will: "Before These Crowded Streets"
Should: "Celebrity Skin"
This year the Grammy people continue the trend of choosing their
rock and alternative nominations with weak stomachs.
The only nods that fans of the riskier beats receive come in the
forms of Hole’s "Celebrity Skin" and Marilyn Manson’s own hard-rock
recognition for "Dope Show." Although we should be glad that the
pop maniacs even know these people exist, full credit will only
come with a minor miracle – that is, a "best album" nomination for
two very deserving albums in 1998. Unfortunately, they just don’t
have the guts.
In all the mayhem, the organization also failed to find true
treasures in the less mainstream acts of Placebo’s "Without You I’m
Nothing" and Fatboy Slim’s "You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby." But then
again, they might not have ever had the chance to hear them on Star
98.7.
Although some evident promise remains with the Garbage and
Smashing Pumpkins nominations, the category was definitely knocked
down a peg with Sheryl Crow. Boring yet obligatory, Crow’s talents
exactly represent what the Grammys call "rock music."
Rap solo performance
"Dangerous," Busta Rhymes
"Lost Ones," Lauryn Hill
"Hard Knock Life," Jay-Z
"Gone Till November," Wyclef Jean
"Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It," Will Smith
Will: "Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It"
Should: "Gone Till November"
Rap album
"Capital Punishment," Big Punisher
"Life in 1472 – The Original Soundtrack," Jermaine Dupri
"Vol. 2 … Hard Knock Life," Jay-Z
"Harlem World," Mase
"The Love Movement," A Tribe Called Quest
Will: "Vol. 2 … Hard Knock Life"
Should: "Capital Punishment"
The Grammys are rarely a sign of quality, but the rap
nominations are atrocious. Jermaine Dupri? That’s just
terrible.
The only decent nomination is Big Pun’s "Capital Punishment,"
but other than that, it’s just another wack night at the Grammys.
How on earth could Outkast’s album be overlooked? Inexcusable.
Outkast puts out the best album of ’98 and gets no recognition – it
even went platinum, which is apparently a prerequisite for
nomination).
Gang Starr’s "Moment of Truth" also should have at least got a
nomination.
Unless you’re a hip-hop masochist, do yourself a favor and watch
something else.
Polka album
"Polka Party With Brave Combo – Live and Wild!," Brave Combo
"Push It to the Limit," Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push
"Memories," Walter Ostanek
"Let the Sunshine In," Del Sinchak Band
"Dance With Me," Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
Will: No idea whatsoever
Should: "Push It to the Limit." Why? Because Gomulka kinda
rhymes with "polka." It’s a sign from God.
In conclusion, these awards should be taken with a grain of
salt. Far too many deserving artists were overlooked, and the whole
thing reeks of self-promotion.
Don’t trust what the Academy says is good music, make those
judgments for yourself.
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