Grammy’s Focus on Performances
Awards Show Salutes Past, Present and Future Stars, Shuns Canada
Feb 11, 2008
In recent years the Grammy’s have paired some interesting artists together to create spectacular performances. The theme of the 50th Annual Grammy Awards show was living in the moment but honouring the past and looking forward to the future.
This year’s duets included a reunited The Time with hot dance star Rihanna on a slowed down version of “Umbrella” and “Don’t Stop The Music”.
Grammy Performances Better as Show Progressed
Alicia Keys opened the show with a dull duet with the late Frank Sinatra. While the performance was vocally spectacular, as a show opener, especially the 50th Annual Grammy Awards Show, it was a bore.
Carrie Underwood’s performance of “Before He Cheats” featuring the cast of Stomp did nothing to boost the energy. Again a solid performance, but it lacked the X-Factor of past show stoppers such as Ricky Martin’s high energy debut in 1999 or the duet between Madonna and Gorillaz in 2006.
A young-looking Prince, who won Best R&B Male Performance for “Future Baby Mama” from his album Planet Earth, decked out in a flashy red Tuxedo, presented Alicia Keys with the first award of the evening: Best R&B Female Performance for “No One” from her album As I Am.
Luckily Keys had the chance to redeem herself on stage later in the show when she sung “No One” backed by a full orchestra, choir, John Mayer on electric guitar and some high heeled strutting from Keys herself.
Grammy Surprises
Amy Winehouse, the night’s biggest winner with 5 awards, performed live via satellite from London. The troubled star is currently in rehab and was denied a Visa to enter the United States.
A dazzling Cher introduced Beyoncé, who came on stage dressed in a pair of lime green shorts only slightly larger than dental floss. The former Destiny’s Child singer paid tribute to some of the best female soloists of all time before giving the stage over to a still sexy, yet classy, Tina Turner who belted out a funked-up version of “What’s Love Got To Do With It”.
Calling Beyoncé back on stage, 2 generations of female rockers performed a "nice and easy" version of “Proud Mary”.
One of the strangest pieces came from Keely Smith and Kid Rock who nailed a jazzy rendition of "That Ol' Black Magic," on the presenter’s stage without props or added glitz. The pair fed off each other’s energy for a brilliant performance that seemed more like fun spur-of-the-moment free jazz rather than a planned performance.
A modest looking Fergie, accompanied by John Legend on piano, belted out a rich bodied vocal on “Finally” before presenting Ringo Starr, George Martin and Gilles Martin with the Best Soundtrack award for Love featuring songs from the Beatles.
Canadian Artists, Radiohead Shunned at 50th Grammy Awards
The biggest surprise came from the near complete shut out of Canadian artists. Songstress Feist had a phenomenal year following the top-10 success of “1,2,3,4”. She was nominated for 4 awards including Best New Artist, but ended the night empty-handed.
On a brighter note, her stripped down vocal/guitar performance of the song was a well-received, intimate moment in the glitzy show.
Nelly Furtado, who also had 4 nods went home with none, as did The Arcade Fire, Nickelback and Loreena McKennitt.
Some Canadians, however, got their dues. Michael Bublé and Joni Mitchell walked away with one award each and Tom Hanks presented Canadian group, The Band, with their lifetime achievement.
Hanks then introduced the award show’s most spectacular presentation, Canada’s Cirque de Soleil, who executed an interpretative segment from the "Love" show.
One of the biggest selling and important albums of 2007, Radiohead’s In Rainbows was not qualified for an award since it was released after the eligibility date. In Rainbows will be a contender for the 51st Grammy Awards.
The Grammy Awards are presented annually by The Recording Academy and are voted on by a panel of artists and technical professionals based on artistic or technical achievement and not sales.
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