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49th Annual Grammy Awards
Give the board of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) credit; it knows it has a problem. At long last, the institution has acknowledged, at least in part, that its annual celebration of the music industry is dreadfully dull. In the end, though, its method for solving the annually recurring issues made what can only be described as a marginal improvement to the proceedings. In the same manner in which it has taken to new artists long after they have achieved widespread popularity, NARAS swiped a page from the four-plus-year-old play book of American Idol — which, in turn, was a reconfiguration of the U.K.’s Pop Idol — in order to determine which amateur would have the opportunity to strut around the stage with Justin Timberlake. Selected via a vote that concluded almost three-quarters of the way through the broadcast, Robyn Troup became the latest in a frighteningly long line of people to achieve 15 minutes of fame via a series of surveys held by telephone and online means. The only voting process that possibly could be more suspect would be one that was cast via a Diebold machine. For what it’s worth Troup kept pace with the former ’Nsync star, and the duo appeared to develop some solid chemistry as they tackled both Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine as well as Timberlake’s My Love. Nevertheless, it’s doubtful that the Grammy Awards really needed to turn another manufactured celebrity loose upon the world. Faring better was the reunion of The Police, which treated the heavily sedated Grammy audience to what was only the band’s third public performance since 1986. The trio of Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland sounded tight — far tighter than it ever did during its heyday. Yet, the predictability of Roxanne combined with the brevity of the group’s one-song segment made the whole, heavily hyped affair seem rather underwhelming. Although there were other flashes of inspiration scattered throughout the Grammy Awards broadcast, most of them not only were tucked inside otherwise mediocre performances, but they also were separated by long, dreadfully dull spaces of utter nothingness. Consequently, the event once again proved to be the ultimate endurance test for all but the most heavily caffeinated viewers. Where’s Michael "Soy Bomb" Portnoy when you really need him? Introduced by Joan Baez, the Dixie Chicks delivered a polished rendition of its crossover hit Not Ready to Make Nice. Although the tune didn’t veer from the template of its recorded counterpart, the trio succeeded in conveying the combination of anger, disappointment, and sorrow that are contained in the song’s lyrics. Still, for a group that was being celebrated for speaking its mind, it remained remarkably tame behind the microphone. Natalie Maines in particular seemed suspiciously subdued. Every time she spoke, she commented about not having anything to say, which gave the appearance that, perhaps, someone had warned her to steer clear of controversy. Elsewhere, Mary J. Blige and Earth, Wind & Fire helped Ludacris to bring Runaway Love — a cinematic tale of child abuse, inner city violence, and teen pregnancy — to life. Supported by John Mayer and John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae salvaged Like a Star from her overproduced, self-titled debut, while on a tender reading of his own Gravity, Mayer raised the ante by unleashing a fiery torrent of blues-inflected bursts of guitar. Finally, amidst a shower of confetti, the Red Hot Chili Peppers used Snow (Hey Oh) to pay tribute to The Police, more than three hours after thoughts of Roxanne had faded away. Of course, no Grammy Awards ceremony would be complete without a well-intentioned but horribly executed tribute. In this case, The Eagles’ Hotel California, Desperado, and Life in the Fast Lane were sterilized by the camera-friendly posing and overwrought singing of Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood. At least the presence of Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson and fiddle player Johnny Gimble kept Underwood focused during San Antonio Rose, a remembrance of Bob Wills that served as the segment’s introduction. Still, it was a captivating performance by Christina Aguilera that stole the show. In tackling James Brown’s It’s a Man’s World, she simultaneously found a fresh perspective for the song without losing touch with the original version’s passionate outpouring of emotion. Her impeccable delivery served as the perfect entree for a rundown of last year’s fallen icons. The dance routine that was set against a video image of Brown combined with a ceremonial draping of a "Godfather of Soul" cape over a microphone made this final farewell all the more touching. As for the awards themselves, anyone who blinked likely missed them completely. Consequently, a quick recap is in order: Dixie Chicks snared five awards — including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year — for its work on Taking the Long Way, while the Red Hot Chili Peppers received four nods — including Best Rock Album — for Stadium Arcadium. The Grateful Dead, Ornette Coleman, The Doors, Bob Wills, Joan Baez, Booker T & the MG’s, and Maria Callas received only passing acknowledgments of their recently granted Lifetime Achievement Awards. In other words, as has been its custom in recent years, the show was a rather performance-heavy event. While this kept the awkward segues and lame bantering to a minimum, it made it impossible to appreciate the music that has been issued since the last ceremony was held. It seems as if each year, more and more categories have been shoved aside to make room for mainstream fare. Instead of highlighting the wide diversity of artists at hand, the program increasingly looks like the lackluster American Music Awards. Fortunately, NARAS President Neil Portnow left file-sharing music fans alone and instead used his segment to highlight the importance of music education. If only he’d take his own advice and leave behind the heavily scripted, one-dimensional lineups of today in favor of the wide-reaching, genre-jumping broadcasts of years past, he’d restore some semblance of galvanizing momentousness to the program. What follows is the complete list of nominations, with the winners highlighted in bold: General FieldCategory 1 - Record Of The Year(Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.) Be Without You You're Beautiful Not Ready To Make Nice Crazy Put Your Records On Category 2 - Album Of The Year(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.) Taking The Long Way St. Elsewhere Continuum Stadium Arcadium FutureSex/LoveSounds Category 3 - Song Of The Year[A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.] Be Without You Jesus, Take The Wheel Not Ready To Make Nice Put Your Records On You're Beautiful Category 4 - Best New Artist(For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.) James Blunt Chris Brown Carrie Underwood Field 1 - PopCategory 5 - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) Ain't No Other Man Unwritten You Can Close Your Eyes Stupid Girls Black Horse And The Cherry Tree Category 6 - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) You're Beautiful Save Room Waiting On The World To Change Jenny Wren Bad Day Category 7 - Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal(For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) My Humps I Will Follow You Into The Dark Over My Head (Cable Car) Is It Any Wonder? Stickwitu Category 8 - Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.) For Once In My Life One Always On Your Side Promiscuous Hips Don't Lie Category 9 - Best Pop Instrumental Performance(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) Mornin' Drifting Subterfuge Song H My Favorite Things Category 10 - Best Pop Instrumental Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.) New Beginnings Fire Wire X Fingerprints Wrapped In A Dream Category 11 - Best Pop Vocal Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) Back To Basics Back To Bedlam The River In Reverse Continuum FutureSex/LoveSounds Field 2 - DanceCategory 12 - Best Dance Recording(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances. Vocal or Instrumental. Singles or tracks only.) Suffer Well Ooh La La Get Together I'm With Stupid Sexy Back Category 13 - Best Electronic/Dance Album(For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.) Supernature Confessions On A Dance Floor A Lively Mind Fundamental The Garden Field 3 - Traditional PopCategory 14 - Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) Duets: An American Classic Caught In The Act Wintersong Bette Midler Sings The Peggy Lee Songbook Timeless Love Field 4 - RockCategory 15 - Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) Nausea Someday Baby Route 66 Saving Grace Lookin' For A Leader Category 16 - Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal(For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) Talk How To Save A Life Steady, As She Goes Dani California The Saints Are Coming Category 17 - Best Hard Rock Performance(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)> Crazy Bitch Every Day Is Exactly The Same Lonely Day Vicarious Woman Category 18 - Best Metal Performance(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) Redneck Colony Of Birchmen Lies, Lies, Lies Eyes Of The Insane 30/30-150 Category 19 - Best Rock Instrumental Performance(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal. Singles or Tracks only.) Chun Li's Flying Bird Kick The Wizard Turns On... Black Hole Sun Catsellorizon Super Colossal Category 20 - Best Rock Song(A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock & Metal songs. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.) Chasing Cars Dani California Lookin' For A Leader Someday Baby When You Were Young Category 21 - Best Rock Album(Vocal or Instrumental. Includes Hard Rock and Metal.) Try! Highway Companion Broken Boy Soldiers Stadium Arcadium Living With War Field 5 - AlternativeCategory 22 - Best Alternative Music Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not At War With The Mystics St. Elsewhere Show Your Bones The Eraser Field 6 - R&BCategory 23 - Best Female R&B Vocal Performance(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) Ring The Alarm Be Without You Don't Forget About Us Day Dreaming I Am Not My Hair Category 24 - Best Male R&B Vocal Performance(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) Heaven So Sick Black Sweat I Call It Love Got You Home Category 25 - Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals(For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) Breezin' Love Changes Everyday (Family Reunion) Family Affair Beautiful, Loved And Blessed Category 26 - Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) Christmas Time Is Here God Bless The Child I Found My Everything You Are So Beautiful How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) Category 27 - Best Urban/Alternative Performance(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) Crazy That Heat Mas Que Nada Idlewild Blue (Don't Chu Worry 'Bout Me) 3121 Category 28 - Best R&B Song(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.) Be Without You Black Sweat Deja Vu Don't Forget About Us I Am Not My Hair Category 29 - Best R&B Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) The Breakthrough Unpredictable Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship 3121 Coming Home Category 30 - Best Contemporary R&B Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) B'Day Chris Brown 20 Y.O. Kelis Was Here In My Own Words Field 7 - RapCategory 31 - Best Rap Solo Performance(For a solo Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.) Touch It We Run This Kick, Push Undeniable What You Know Category 32 - Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group(For duo, group or collaborative performances of Rap only. Singles or Tracks only.) Ridin Georgia Grillz Mighty "O" Don't Feel Right Category 33 - Best Rap/Sung Collaboration(For a Rap/Sung collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.) Smack That Deja Vu Shake That Unpredictable My Love Category 34 - Best Rap Song(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.) It's Goin' Down Kick, Push Money Maker Ridin What You Know Category 35 - Best Rap Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor Release Therapy In My Mind Game Theory King Field 8 - CountryCategory 36 - Best Female Country Vocal Performance(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) Kerosene I Still Miss Someone Something's Gotta Give Jesus, Take The Wheel I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today Category 37 - Best Male Country Vocal Performance(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.) Every Mile A Memory The Reason Why The Seashores Of Old Mexico Would You Go With Me Once In A Lifetime Category 38 - Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal(For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) Not Ready To Make Nice Heaven's My Home Boondocks What Hurts The Most Leave The Pieces Category 39 - Best Country Collaboration With Vocals(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.) Who Says You Can't Go Home Tomorrow Is Forever Calling Me Midnight Angel Love Will Always Win Category 40 - Best Country Instrumental Performance(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.) Jerusalem Ridge Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag Whiskey Before Breakfast The Eleventh Reel Nature Of The Beast Category 41 - Best Country Song(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.) Every Mile A Memory I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today Jesus, Take The Wheel Like Red On A Rose What Hurts The Most Category 42 - Best Country Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Taking The Long Way Like Red On A Rose The Road To Here You Don't Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walker Your Man Category 43 - Best Bluegrass Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Long List Of Heartaches Bluegrass Instrumentals Live At The Ryman All American Bluegrass Girl Field 9 - New AgeCategory 44 - Best New Age Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) A Posteriori Amarantine Beyond Words Elements Series: Fire The Magical Journeys Of Andreas Vollenweider Field 10 - JazzCategory 45 - Best Contemporary Jazz Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.) The Hidden Land People People Music Music Rewind That Sexotica Who Let The Cats Out? Category 46 - Best Jazz Vocal Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) Footprints Easy To Love Live At Jazz Standard With Fred Hersch From This Moment On Turned To Blue Category 47 - Best Jazz Instrumental Solo(For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter's name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.) Some Skunk Funk Paq Man Freedom Jazz Dance Hippidy Hop (Drum Solo) Hope Category 48 - Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.) Sound Grammar The Ultimate Adventure Trio Beyond - Saudades Beyond The Wall Sonny, Please Category 49 - Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album(For large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.) Some Skunk Funk Spirit Music Streams Of Expression Live In Tokyo At The Blue Note Up From The Skies - Music Of Jim McNeely Category 50 - Best Latin Jazz Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Codes Cubist Music Simpático Absolute Quintet Viva Field 11 - GospelCategory 51 - Best Gospel Performance(For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.) Victory Not Forgotten The Blessing Of Abraham Made To Worship Victory Category 52 - Best Gospel Song(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.) The Blessing Of Abraham Imagine Me Mountain Of God Not Forgotten Victory Category 53 - Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) DecembeRadio Where The Past Meets Today Turn Around End Of Silence Bone-A-Fide Category 54 - Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) Sound Of Melodies Coming Up To Breathe Wherever You Are See The Morning Introducing Ayiesha Woods Category 55 - Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) Kenny Bishop Give It Away Precious Memories The Promised Land Glory Train Category 56 - Best Traditional Gospel Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) An Invitation To Worship Paved The Way Still Keeping It Real Alive In South Africa Finalé Act One Category 57 - Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.) Set Me Free Hero A Timeless Christmas This Is Me Victory Live! Field 12 - LatinCategory 58 - Best Latin Pop Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Adentro Lo Que Trajo El Barco Individual Trozos De Mi Alma 2 Limón Y Sal Category 59 - Best Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Lo Demás Es Plástico The Underdog/El Subestimado Calle 13 Superpop Venezuela Amar Es Combatir Category 60 - Best Tropical Latin Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Fuzionando Salsatón: Salsa Con Reggaetón Hoy, Mañana Y Siempre Directo Al Corazón What You've Been Waiting For - Lo Que Esperabas Category 61 - Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Historias De Mi Tierra No Es Brujería 25 Aniversario A Toda Ley Orgullo De Mujer Category 62 - Best Tejano Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Sigue El Taconazo It's...All Right Live In Session All Of Me Rebecca Valadez Category 63 - Best Norteño Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Algo De Mí Puro Pa' Arriba Historias Que Contar Piénsame Un Momento Prefiero La Soledad Category 64 - Best Banda Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) 20 Mil Heridas Mas Fuerte Que Nunca Amor Gitano A Mucha Honra Más Allá Del Sol Field 13 - BluesCategory 65 - Best Traditional Blues Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Brother To The Blues Bronx In Blue People Gonna Talk Guitar Groove-A-Rama Risin' With The Blues Category 66 - Best Contemporary Blues Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Live From Across The Pond Sippiana Hericane Suitcase Hope And Desire After The Rain Field 14 - FolkCategory 67 - Best Traditional Folk Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) I Stand Alone Gonna Let It Shine Adieu False Heart We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions A Distant Land To Roam Category 68 - Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 Black Cadillac Workbench Songs Modern Times All The Roadrunning Category 69 - Best Native American Music Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Voice Of The Drum Heart Of The Wind American Indian Story Long Winter Nights Dance With The Wind Category 70 - Best Hawaiian Music Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Generation Hawai'i Grandmaster Slack Key Guitar The Wild Hawaiian Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Legends Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Live From Maui Field 15 - ReggaeCategory 71 - Best Reggae Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Too Bad Love Is My Religion Youth Rhythm Doubles Who You Fighting For Field 16 - World MusicCategory 72 - Best Traditional World Music Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Music Of Central Asia Vol. 2: Invisible Face Of The Beloved: Classical Music Of The Tajiks And Uzbeks Endless Vision Hambo In The Snow Golden Strings Of The Sarode Blessed Category 73 - Best Contemporary World Music Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Tiki M'Bemba Wonder Wheel Long Walk To Freedom Savane Field 17 - PolkaCategory 74 - Best Polka Album(Vocal or Instrumental.) Batteries Not Included As Sweet As Candy Party Dress Good Friends Good Music Polka In Paradise Field 18 - Children'sCategory 75 - Best Musical Album For Children(Vocal or Instrumental.) Baby Einstein Meet The Orchestra Beethoven's Wig 3: Many More Sing Along Symphonies Catch That Train! My Best Day The Sunny Side Of The Street Category 76 - Best Spoken Word Album For Children(For albums consisting of predominantly spoken word vs. music or song.) Blah Blah Blah: Stories About Clams, Swamp Monsters, Pirates & Dogs Christmas In The Trenches Disney's Little Einsteins Musical Missions Peter Pan The Witches Field 19 - Spoken WordCategory 77 - Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)(Narrated/dramatized books include authors' names in parenthesis for identification.) I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! (Bob Newhart) New Rules - Polite Musings From A Timid Observer Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis (Jimmy Carter) The Truth (With Jokes) (Al Franken) With Ossie And Ruby: In This Life Together (Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee) Field 20 - ComedyCategory 78 - Best Comedy Album(For comedy recordings, spoken or musical) Blue Collar Comedy Tour - One For The Road The Carnegie Hall Performance Life Is Worth Losing Straight Outta Lynwood You Can't Fix Stupid Field 21 - Musical ShowCategory 79 - Best Musical Show Album(Award to the Album Producer(s), and to the Lyricist(s) & Composer(s) of 51% or more of a new score. (Artist, Lyricist & Composer names appear in parenthesis.)) The Color Purple The Drowsy Chaperone Jersey Boys The Pajama Game Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Field 22 - Film/TV/Visual MediaCategory 80 - Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media(Award to the Artist(s) and/or Producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album, or to the individual(s) actively responsible for the concept and musical direction and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable.) Brokeback Mountain Cars Grey's Anatomy - Volume 2 Little Miss Sunshine Walk The Line Category 81 - Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media(Award to Composer(s) for an original score created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current legitimate motion picture, television show or series or other visual media.) The Chronicles Of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe The Da Vinci Code Memoirs Of A Geisha Munich Pirates Of The Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest Category 82 - Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media(A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.) Can't Take It In (From The Chronicles Of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe) I Need To Wake Up (From An Inconvenient Truth) Our Town (From Cars) There's Nothing Like A Show On Broadway (From The Producers) Travelin' Thru (From Transamerica) Field 23 - Composing/ArrangingCategory 83 - Best Instrumental Composition(A Composer's Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.) Argument A Concerto In Swing A Prayer For Peace Sayuri's Theme And End Credits Valentine Category 84 - Best Instrumental Arrangement(An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.) Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes Three Ghouls Three Women Tom & Eddie |
