The best — and worst — Grammy moments of 2007

Category Magazine, Music | Permalink | 12. February 2007

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Popular music’s so-called biggest night — the Grammy Awards — was big on surprises.

Among the biggest was the Dixie Chicks, scorned by country music fans after Natalie Maines’ anti-Bush remarks on the eve of the Iraq war. The trio made a triumphant comeback with five Grammy Awards, among them record and song of the year for “Not Ready to Make Nice.”

Here are the best — and the worst — moments of Sunday night’s televised Grammy show:

THE BEST

They’re ba-aack: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re back!” Sting shouted as The Police kicked off the telecast with a highly stylized and jazzed-up version of their classic “Roxanne.” The reunion, the rock trio’s first since its breakup in the mid-’80s, was almost anti-climactic after weeks of buildup. But the quality of the one-song performance bodes well for the group’s upcoming reunion tour. Though drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers looked somewhat nervous, singer-guitarist Sting, in short-cropped whitish-blond hair, was the embodiment of self-confidence.

Nobody’s telling them to shut up: Politically outspoken folk singer Joan Baez, noting that she had also been told in the past to “Shut up and sing,” alluding to the Dixie Chicks’ documentary about their fall from grace, introduced the feisty country-pop trio. Their powerful performance of “Not Ready to Make Nice” was a statement about freedom of speech and courageous personal stands. The trio was honored and vindicated when it collected the Grammys for all five of its nominations.

The Grammys were much o-Bliged: Mary J. Blige, this year’s most nominated artist with eight bids, was tearfully grateful when she stepped on stage to accept the best R&B album trophy for “The Breakthrough.” But Blige’s thank-you list was so long she was nearly cut off. Blige also talked about the positive turn in her career, which once was plagued by negative perceptions. After winning a second award for female R&B vocal performance for “Be Without You,” Blige talked about building bridges with her musical accomplishments. Finally performing “Be Without You,” a record of the year nominee, Blige demonstrated why the Grammys bestowed so many honors on the singer: She’s a phenomenal talent.

A triple treat: Stevie Wonder introduced one of the more unusual performances of the night, a collaboration among Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend and John Mayer. Rae, in her sweet, delicate voice, began with the tender “Like a Star,” accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. Mayer joined in on electric guitar, then Legend on piano. Legend followed Rae with an also-tender “Coming Home” and Mayer followed Legend with a gentle, blues-tinged “Gravity” played on a battered electric guitar. The collaboration was dreamed up by Grammy Awards co-executive producer Ken Ehrlich, who wanted to provide Grammy viewers with performances they couldn’t see anywhere else. Afterward, Mayer collected the award for best pop vocal album for “Continuum.”

Tasty Texas tribute: Grammy nominee Carrie Underwood, backed by fiddler Johnny Gimble and other veteran players, performed a sweet, faithful version of the Bob Wills classic “San Antonio Rose” in a segment honoring Texans Bob Wills and Don Henley of the Eagles. Rascal Flatts paid tribute to Henley with a cool, modern version of the Eagles’ “Hotel California.” Underwood returned with a tender and soulful version of the Eagles’ “Desperado,” demonstrating the young singer’s breadth of talent and firm grasp of past styles. Rascal Flatts finished off the segment with a flat-out rocking version of “Life in the Fast Lane.” Afterward, Underwood won best new artist, edging out a strong field of nominees including James Blunt, Chris Brown, Imogen Heap and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Several generations of R&B: Chris Brown, Smokey Robinson and Lionel Richie paid tribute to the R&B genre with a generation-spanning segment that began with Robinson on a sweet, tender “Tracks of My Tears.” Richie was exquisite on a delicate “Hello,” accompanying himself at the piano, and Brown (with a hoodie-wearing dance troupe behind him) showed off his ultra-modern dance moves and spirited updating of R&B traditions with a boisterous “Run It.”

Gnarly hip-hop: Hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley, featuring Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse (in quasi-military uniforms), performed their super-popular hit “Crazy,” nominated for a record of the year Grammy. Backed by a full orchestra and a huge chorus, the performance was a celebration of one of the biggest rap/R&B songs of the year.

THE WORST

The Grammys find an ‘Idol’: Trounced in the ratings when it had to go up against “American Idol” last year, this year’s telecast offered “My Grammy Moment,” a dose of reality TV that pitted three singers against one another for a chance to sing with Justin Timberlake. Frequently shown holding hands on camera while viewers were urged to call in, the segment was a silly little experiment that proved pointless.

A no-host party: This year’s telecast had no master of ceremonies to crack jokes and add commentary between performers and presenters. The quips and skits were missed, but made for a more smooth-flowing show that focused on the artists and their music rather than a comedian with a lot of punch lines.

Blunted ballad: James Blunt, playing his ubiquitous ballad “You’re Beautiful,” was the mellowest performer of the night. Thankfully, his Grammy-nominated song was passed over by Grammy voters in favor of stronger material — or more interesting performers. seattlepi.nwsource.com

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