Music

Policing The Grammy Awards

1fastdog.

Posted to Music on Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 09:39:50 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Sunday night brings us the 49th installment of the Grammy Awards, and one band that's way past its glory days promises to overshadow the entire proceedings. Ladies and gents I give you the Police.

Thirty years after their beginnings, the Police are apparently reuniting and have decided to kick the deal off by headlining the Grammy Awards. After their Grammy performance, they're expected to announce that they'll be doing a world tour this year. While some seem less-than-thrilled over the news, it's likely to happen that regardless of who wins what at the awards show itself, the water cooler conversation on Monday will have most people inevitably talking about the Police instead of the winners.

Just who is up for what in the main categories?

RECORD OF THE YEAR

"Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
"You're Beautiful," James Blunt
"Not Ready to Make Nice," Dixie Chicks
"Crazy," Gnarls Barkley
"Put Your Records On," Corinne Bailey Rae

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

"Taking the Long Way," Dixie Chicks
"St. Elsewhere," Gnarls Barkley
"Continuum," John Mayer
"Stadium Arcadium," Red Hot Chili Peppers
" FutureSex/LoveSounds," Justin Timberlake

SONG OF THE YEAR

"Be Without You"
Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jason Perry, songwriters (Mary J. Blige)

"Jesus, Take The Wheel"
Brett James, Hillary Lindsey & Gordie Sampson, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)

"Not Ready To Make Nice"
Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Dixie Chicks)

"Put Your Records On"
John Beck, Steve Chrisanthou & Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriters (Corinne Bailey Rae)

"You're Beautiful"
James Blunt, Amanda Ghost & Sacha Skarbek, songwriters (James Blunt)

BEST NEW ARTIST

James Blunt
Chris Brown
Imogen Heap
Corinne Bailey Rae
Carrie Underwood

(the full list of nominees by category can be found here)

Depending on your taste, that list could seem a little weak, and although the nominees in some of the other categories such as Metal and Rap and World music are pretty interesting, nobody looks capable of pulling the spotlight away from the Police.

While some critics are weighing in with their picks, others are wondering about the Grammy's relevancy in the digital age, while others wonder if liberal-leaning Grammy voters will give the The Dixie Chicks a Grammy as a political fuck-you:

As Associated Press entertainment writer David Bauder noted in a story that ran nationally Thursday (Feb. 8), "I think Grammy voters won't resist making a political statement." In a story distributed by Newhouse News Service, writer Kevin O'Hare expanded on the theme by noting, "Grammy voters may vote conservatively when it comes to their music, but they tend to lean slightly to the left when it comes to politics. And what better way to make a statement about the war, the Bush administration and everything that's going on in the world then to give the Dixie Chicks their due?"

Any predictions?

   

< The Sermon In The Pen.

Once You Go OSS You Never Go Back >

Tags: edited by Port1080, written by 1fastdog, Grammy Awards, the Police, music, nominees (all tags)
Add this story to: newsvine reddit digg delicious

This story: 32 comments (1 from subqueue)
Post a Comment
3

Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happens

1fastdog.

Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 12:23:12 PM EST

5.00

Interesting that CMT would try and stir up the political pot by suggesting that the Chicks are gonna grab an award or two by the sole intention of Grammy voters to punish the right wing political machine. I doubt it - seeing as how the electorate already punished the GOP in last year's elections, I don't see Grammy voters rushing in to beat that already dying horse any further.
On the other hand, however, they may be inclined to vote for the Chicks as a big Fuck You to Nashville, for their continuing policy of letting a few Free Republic style astro-turf campaigns dictate to radio stations that the Chick's tunes can't be played on Country radio.

When Natalie Maines commented on President George W. Bush and the impending war on Iraq and in the days that followed, the president's popularity was high and on the rise....

....In spite of hopeful assurances from manager Simon Renshaw that the controversy would blow over in "three days, tops," a firestorm garnering international media attention erupted. The tumult was embraced by right-wing blogs and web sites, most notably Free Republic. Free Republic gained notoriety during the dustup surrounding the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, during which the site was the genesis for protests, letter-writing campaigns and other attempts to embarrass the president. An all-female country band that took on President Bush and criticized the impending war against Iraq presented Free Republic an ideal scenario to fire up their conservative base. Said Maines, "We were their wet dream."

Often referred to as Astroturf-roots politics (as in fake grass roots), the effort poured gasoline on a controversy that might otherwise have smoldered.

If the Chick are gonna win, it'll be due to the strength of the album. Considering that the Chicks clocked in with the 9th best-selling album of the year with almost no airplay should tell you that it's a pretty good album - an album that no doubt would've done better had it had any kind of marketing push from Nashville/Country radio. But they'd rather stick their collective heads in the sand and pretend the Chicks don't exist, than acknowledge they got soundly beaten in their game of "Dismiss The Dixie Chicks." The list below shows that with the exception of Country mainstays, the incredibly boring Rascal Flatts, and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood - both of whom were backed by establishment marketing blitzes - the Chicks still managed grab the 3rd best-selling Country album, though in truth Taking the Long Way is more a mix of Eagles-like Country/Rock than a straight-up Country album, but still an impressive accomplishment all things considered.

1    Soundtrack / High School Musical     3,719,071

2       Me and My Gang / Rascal Flatts       3,479,994

3       Some Hearts / Carrie Underwood      3,015,950

4       All the Right Reasons/ Nickelback     2,688,166

5       Futuresex/Love ... / Justin Timberlake 2,377,127

6      Back to Bedlam / James Blunt              2,137,142

7      B'day / Beyonce                                  2,010,311

8     Soundtrack/ Hannah Montana              1,987,681

9     Taking the Long Way/ Dixie Chicks     1,856,284

10.  Extreme Behavior/ Hinder                   1,817,3

Picks:
RECORD OF THE YEAR - "Crazy," Gnarls Barkley
ALBUM OF THE YEAR - "Stadium Arcadium," Red Hot Chili Peppers
SONG OF THE YEAR - "Not Ready To Make Nice"
Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Dixie Chicks)
BEST METAL PERFORMANCE -"Colony Of Birchmen," Mastodon
BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE - "Woman," Wolfmother
BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE - "The Wizard Turns On...," The Flaming Lips
BEST ROCK ALBUM - "Highway Companion," Tom Petty
BEST RAP ALBUM - "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor," Lupe Fiasco

Somewhere in my soul, there's always Rock -n- Roll... Joe Strummer

8

^ 3

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

Thalia.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 12:23:58 AM EST

none

Well, the Dixie Chicks swept the awards.  Sounds like a big old fuck you from here.

10

^ 8

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

rombuu.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 09:56:17 AM EST

none

Wow, the entertainment industry honoring some people critical of the right.  There is a first.

11

^ 10

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

Thalia.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 11:35:25 AM EST

5.00

Wow, someone who is locked out of the primary market as a result of astro-turf activity by the Right, and still making it big.  There is a first.  Maybe the awards had to do with the fact that the Dixie Chicks' album was one of the most popular of the year, despite the refusal of Country Radio to play them.  By the way, if media is so freaking liberal, how exactly does all of country radio coercively boycott those that speak out against this administration?

Thalia

12

^ 11

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

gerrymander.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 12:17:35 PM EST

none

By the way, if media is so freaking liberal, how exactly does all of country radio coercively boycott those that speak out against this administration?

Country music stations are not the "media" in the "media is so freaking liberal" complaint, the news media is. Country stations know damn well that their listening audience skews very pro-US, and are not willing to commit revenue suicide to support a group which goes to great lengths to prove how much at odds they are to that demographic.

18

^ 12

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

Thalia.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 10:15:51 PM EST

5.00 (astute)

If they're so at odds with that demographic, how the heck do they have sell out concerts (everywhere including in South Carolina) and huge CD sales?  It seems to me that their listeners haven't left them, only country radio has.  It certainly doesn't seem to be revenue suicide to sponsor the Dixie Chicks, with the 8th highest CD sales, and sell-out concerts every time.  It's the radio stations, not the DJs driving this.  Some DJs were suspended for playing the Dixie Chicks on request by listeners.  Sounds like a corporate boycott, not a customer boycott, from here.

Thalia

27

^ 18

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

nmiguy.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 08:50:02 AM EST

none

Thalia, you hit the nail on the head.  Country radio (radio in general) tends to be conservative.  They boycott the Dixie Chicks on their own political principles.  But teh rank and file fans have already moved on, as evidenced by cd sales and sell out concerts.  The Dixie Chicks grammy awards is the music industry showing their support and it shows a disconnect between radio and the industry and fan base.  

Bush has polarized the nation and the Dixie Chicks took sides.  Bush's unpopularity and the Dixie Chicks rise in popularity seem symbiotic.  The Dixie Chicks haev a platform to expose the basest of teh conservative movement.  Letters saying shut up and sing or we'll kill you is an example of this.  

14

^ 11

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

rombuu.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 12:46:42 PM EST

none

If they were "locked out" of their market, how did they sell so many albums?  (Possible answer:  Dixie Chicks fans are too stupid to know how to use computers to steal music properly).

By the way, if media is so freaking liberal, how exactly does all of country radio coercively boycott those that speak out against this administration?

All of them?  Come on.  Coercively?  Give me a break.  Some stupid "artists" shoot their mouths off and then get upset because they don't understand that freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences.

Plus that cover of Landslide was an abomination.

32

^ 14

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

keta.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 01:53:27 PM EST

5.00 (funny)

I hope your forehead is OK, rombuu, because that's about as big a knee-jerk post as I've ever read on the net.

21

^ 11

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

permazorch.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 10:43:24 PM EST

none

Y'know what? The artists usually skew liberal. They should. But I have to laugh when any fool (this time it's gerrymander, below) says the news media skews lefty. From one perspective,it makes sense that they would. But they don't, not really, they are locked on that money with super-glue. Money doesn't really go left or right, by itself. I mean there's that ideal free market we used to hear about being synonymous with democracy, and what-not, follow? But money doesn't operate in a vacuum. It wants to reproduce itself. The way things work right now, it necessarily bends a bit to the right. When CNN talks about bad news in Iraq, we do so not from a liberal side, but from a disaster fetish, which brings in  the money. So does Anna Nicole Brown Simpson Chevron's death. Now it also seems to me that means of production and distribution is owned by less than a handful of corporations, whose fingers are in many pots that are not directly media related, yet can be affected by media scrutiny, well, I'd say the Media skews heavily conservative.

That's how all of country radio coercively boycotts those that speak out against this administration, or the beef industry. Remember k.d. lang in the late-80's?

I'm glad those lame-ass Dixie Chicks got their Fuck You moment. Their music is pablum, but they definitely deserved better than "consequences" for speaking freely. I think this review of Shut Up and Sing pretty much sums it up for me.

----- The earth may fail, but we will quiver

23

^ 21

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

rEvolution inAction.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 01:26:38 AM EST

none

When CNN talks about bad news in Iraq, we do so not from a liberal side, but from a disaster fetish, which brings in  the money.
But come election time.. CNN clearly skews Democrat.. which of course just means less-far-right-wing.

Tipping Sacred Cows

24

^ 23

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

Thalia.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 03:18:01 AM EST

none

Their coverage of Bush was much less critical than their coverage of Gore or Kerry.  Individual reporters may skew liberal, but the media outlets do not.

28

^ 24

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

rEvolution inAction.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 12:11:34 PM EST

none

Did you watch them on election day? They looked like cheerleaders.

Tipping Sacred Cows

25

^ 23

Re: Doubting the Dixie Fuck You - hoping it happen

permazorch.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 06:17:57 AM EST

none

True.
Democrats are currently what one used to call Moderate Republicans. May they all (except those [all 2 of them?] who voted against the "Let's give the POTUS permission to really, really fuck all our shit up in Iraq resolution") be whipped by Singaporean canes, repeatedly.

----- The earth may fail, but we will quiver

26

^ 25

A reminder, in the endless fuck you moment

permazorch.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 06:41:00 AM EST

none

Remember the, "Iraq Resolution" and "Iraq War Resolution" AKA the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.

Introduced as H.J.Res. 114, it passed the House on October 10 by a vote of 296-133, and by the Senate on October 11 by a vote of 77-23. It was signed into law by President Bush on October 16, 2002.
from wkipedia

----- The earth may fail, but we will quiver

29

^ 26

Re: A reminder, in the endless fuck you moment

rEvolution inAction.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 12:14:53 PM EST

none

I can't believe anyone tried to claim that they didn't think he was going to invade. Iraq was the second war that Bush started in the same manner:

  1. Ready the troops for invasion.
  2. Issue an Ultimatum.
  3. Watch enemy agree to ultimatum.
  4. Invade.

Tipping Sacred Cows

30

^ 29

That Iraq Resolution vote must have been the

permazorch.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 12:32:32 PM EST

none

longest commercial ever, for BAD IDEA jeans.

----- The earth may fail, but we will quiver

31

^ 30

Re: That Iraq Resolution vote must have been the

rEvolution inAction.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 12:53:42 PM EST

none

Those are the jeans he wears while clearing brush, right?

Tipping Sacred Cows

1

Urkel said he was confused by the difference ...

MayorBob.

Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 10:41:01 AM EST

none

... between Song of the Year and Record of the Year.  Simply, the Grammy for Song of the Year goes to the composer(s) of that year's best song.  Record of the Year goes to the performer of that year's best song.  Whether you agree or not with the selection for either bothers the Academy which runs these awards.  The whole show is similar to the Oscars and the Emmys and the Tonys, it's an opportunity for an entire portion of the entertainment industry to engage in the thing they do best -- thank God for their being there and self promote like crazy.

Having said that, I predict Mary J. Blige will be very happy at the end of the night.

Illegitimi non carborundum.

2

^ 1

A single term can mean so much.

MayorBob.

Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 11:31:38 AM EST

none

Insert "doesn't" between either and bothers in the fourth sentence above.

Illegitimi non carborundum.

4

^ 1

confused by the difference ...

Steve Urkel.

Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 01:21:28 PM EST

none

Thanks for clearing that up. Because most performers these days insist on writing their own crappy material it makes the two lists seem redundant, even though they aren't.

5

^ 4

Bug?

Steve Urkel.

Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 01:23:21 PM EST

none

Possible bug: I was unable to reply to the above until I took Urkel out of the subject line. Strange.

7

^ 1

Re: said he was confused by the difference ...

dzetetes.

Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 03:11:40 PM EST

none

Having said that, I predict Mary J. Blige will be very happy at the end of the night.

Yes, but your speculation about her sex life aside, do you think she's going to win?

In regione caecorum, rex est luscus.

6

Re: Policing The Grammy Awards

juepucta.

Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 02:55:22 PM EST

none

I just hope that opening Police medley doesn't dissapoint. That they concentrate on their punky good stuff as opposed to their later schmaltzy stuff (that Sting would become an expert on as a solo artist).

crosses fingers

-G.

15

^ 6

The Police

nmiguy.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 12:57:04 PM EST

none

I loved ya since I knew ya,
I wouldn't talk down to ya.

I can't wait for the reunion tour.  Me and my buddy are going to get good tix to see it.

I remember being blown away by Synchronicity.  That album rocked.  The first song I ever listened to on a good walkman was "King of Pain" and "Synchronicity II".  and "Wrapped Around Your Finger."

9

Boooo!!!! Hsssssss!!!

rEvolution inAction.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 01:27:21 AM EST

none

GET OFF THE STAGE!

Tipping Sacred Cows

20

^ 9

Re: Boooo!!!! Hsssssss!!!

gerrymander.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 10:24:24 PM EST

none

Freebird! Freeeee-BIRRRRRD!

13

It took a while...

gerrymander.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 12:34:00 PM EST

none

... but the Grammys finally outdid the travesty of the 1979 awards. I eagerly anticipate the "WTF?!?" reactions of future listeners who come to realize that Neko Case in the grips of throat cancer could outperform the Dixie Chicks. Not to mention a Best Vocal award for Bob Dylan? And an award for Jimmy Carter at all? What a joke.

16

^ 13

Re: It took a while...

rombuu.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 12:59:57 PM EST

none

Not to mention a Best Vocal award for Bob Dylan?

Not that I care about the Grammys or anything, but Dylan is pretty decent crooner on his latest album.

17

^ 16

Re: It took a while...

Admit The Woods.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 02:15:42 PM EST

none

Dylan is pretty decent crooner on his latest album

I agree. That you don't like somebody's voice doesn't necessarily make them a bad singer. It's all in the timing and phrasing and texture and interpretation, etc.

19

^ 16

Re: It took a while...

gerrymander.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 10:22:31 PM EST

none

Dylan is pretty decent crooner on his latest album.

OK, maybe that was unfair. I've heard selections from his live performances over the past few years, and the guy could barely croak through them. But that's not the same as an actual release.

22

^ 19

Re: It took a while...

rombuu.

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 10:44:10 PM EST

none

I saw him a couple of years ago with Willie Nelson (great concert), and yeah, his live performance was pretty much croaked though as you put it.  (and they rushed though Maggie's Farm, then sang the 1st verse again.. I don't know if it was planned or they got confused or just had too many whatevers before hand, but it was odd).

This story: 32 comments (1 from subqueue)
Post a Comment

search »
Poll »
Who's the last "J" standing in a steel cage DEATHMATCH
Votes: 11.
Results, Other Polls
Login »
Make a new account
Related Links »
the Police
apparently reuniting
headlining
Grammy Awards
announce
seem less-than-thrilled
here
weighing in
their picks
relevancy in the digital age
making a political statement
More on Music
Also by 1fastdog
QuickLinks »
Nothing is sacred
The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade gets Rick Rolled.
- Lou
<—————+Ο————>
Yes We Can!
Obama inspires man to redistribute wealth.
- Steve Urkel
<———Ο—+—————>
Bad Candy
It's exactly what it sounds like. Or not. I dunno, I just liked the name.
- JimmyHavok
<—————Ο—————>
Farr off the flying Fiend
Cthulhuesque entity photographed by airplane passenger.
- Steve Urkel
<—————+—Ο———>
John McCain: furriner!
He's a Latin American immigrant! Why the media coverup?
- JimmyHavok
<—Ο———+—————>
Truth and love
New website stands up against hate in California.
- Steve Urkel
<—Ο———+—————>
Worst Endorsement Decision... EVAR
Rifle manufacturer rolls out its newest ad campaign: An endorsement by the Ruby Ridge sniper.
- pO157
<—————+————Ο>
No money for white man's disease
More wackiness from our neighbor to the north! Carleton University Students' Association drops cystic fibrosis charity as a fundraising beneficiary because the disease is not inclusive enough.
- Steve Urkel
<—————+———Ο—>
Submit a QuickLink:
If you'd like to submit your own QuickLink, you'll need to log in (or register) first.

Users own their contributions, all else is © 2006, 2007 Trees and Things, Incorporated.

Powered by Scoop.

Terms of Service

Privacy