Life of Wry

Can’t remember the last time I watched the Grammys. I gave up years ago when I fell so far out of the music scene. But for some reason, I made a point to record tonight’s and just finished watching the whole thing, minus the commercials (the only way to fly!).

I loved it. So many artists and moments to love. Here are a few. (And yeah… I took pictures of my laptop screen with my iphone. Weirdo.

Cried at this: Tracy Chapman, who rarely performs in public anymore, singing Fast Car with a country music guy (whose name I forget, but he was lovely). She is such a class act. I just lost it, seeing her grey hair, hearing her voice, singing along (like the entire audience did), and gave her my own standing O.

Stevie Wonder did part of the In Memoriam tribute. He started it off with a duet of For Once In My Life with (the dead) Tony Bennett (an impressive editing feat), and really moving:

I also really loved hearing Annie Lennox sing Nothing Compares 2U in a tribute to Sinead O’Connor. Such a powerful voice.

ALSO in the In Memoriam tributes… Oprah honored Tina Turner… and then that Fantasia woman sang Proud Mary (fantastic):

I just couldn’t love this more… Brandi Carlile introducing and then singing Both Sides Now with Joni Mitchell, who’s 80 (jesus!) and has had to relearn how to walk, talk and sing after a brain aneurysm ten years ago.

I am always a Meryl Streep fan.. and loved seeing her with her daughter, who is married to a very successful music producer (I believe). Meryl and he also presented an award together, which was cute, as she is just as confused as all of us over the difference between best song, best record and best album.

Finally, I, like so many of my fellow non-pop music friends, are starting to realize Taylor Swift is a genuine phenom. I am quite ok admitting I’ve listened to some of her music and like it (mostly the acoustic, folky sounding stuff… in fact, I saw a song that she performed as an SNL host — not sure when — that I absolutely loved… Alanis Morrissette- sounding). Anyway… she won the biggest prize, which turns out is the Album of the Year award. And set a record in winning that award tonight. Good for her. On to the Super Bowl.

I also liked seeing Billy Joel, loved Trevor Noah’s hosting energy, was blown away by Billie Eilish (and her sweet brother), was sad to see what’s happened to Celine Dion (even though she’s not someone I’ve gotten to know over all these years), and learned who some of these other folks are whom I’ve sort of heard about (mostly on pop music questions at pub quiz). So, all in all, a great night of music. Yay.