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The 51st Grammys: Hours To Go Before We Sleep!

Posted Sun Feb 8, 2009 11:11pm PST by Billy Altman in And The Winner Is...

We have to admit that, compared to recent years, the 51st edition of the Grammy Awards ceremonies did carry a bit of suspense. For instance, Would Lil Wayne be the first rapper to win Album of the Year, and if so, would his pants stay up? If they won Song of the Year for "Viva La Vida," would Coldplay get coldcocked onstage by Joe Satriani, the guitarist whose instrumental "If I Could Fly" surely seemed to have been stolen lock, stock, and riff by Chris Martin and crew? Would ultra-pregnant M.I.A., appearing on her actual due date, become the first Grammy nominee to drop a baby right in the middle of a performance? And what on earth happened between Chris Brown and Rihanna, both of whom were no-shows on the telecast owing to a late Saturday night post-party altercation that apparently left Rihanna injured and Brown arrested on battery charges?

Well, over the course of a three-and-a-half-hour program in which a grand total of 10 (!) awards were actually given out (believe it or not, the rest of the 110 total Grammys up for grabs were all doled out, as has been the practice for some time now, in a hurried pre-telecast ceremony on the floor of L.A.'s Staples Center), we did get answers to the first three of those four questions: respectively, no, no and no.

Lil Wayne won Best Rap Album, but not Album of the Year, which, as per the Recording Academy's usual conservative bent, went to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's Americana album Raising Sand. Coldplay won Song of the Year without anyone yelling, "Thief!" And M.I.A., wearing a sort of maternity leotard thing, made it through her part on "Swagga Like Us" without going into labor--though for any of us who actually made it through the whole darned show, labor was indeed the operative word.

As for the Chris Brown/Rihanna flareup, we'll probably need to wait for the police blotter sometime tomorrow to find out about that one.

Still, the 51st Grammy Awards show did overall have its share of moments to remember. And to that end, here's our own top 10: Yahoo!'s 2009 Grammy telecast "And The Winner Is" awards:

The "Rising To The Occasion" Award goes to Jennifer Hudson, for surpassing her dramatic rendition of the national anthem at last week's Super Bowl with a riveting (and decidedly non-lip-synched) performance of her uplifting "You Pulled Me Through."

The "Stooping To The Occasion" Award goes to Thom Yorke and Radiohead, whose whiny rendition of "15 Step" was so bad-vibed that you kind of wished they'd have just left the stage and allowed the USC Trojan Marching Band accompanying them to do the song by themselves.

The "Haven't We Seen This Picture Before?" Award goes to Whitney Houston, who looked and sounded as out-of-it as a presenter in 2009 as she did as a performer in 2000, when they had to remind her that her song was over and she kind of needed to leave the stage so the show could continue.

The "I Wonder What They're Thinking Right Now?" Award goes to Dean Martin's son and daughter, who after hearing Queen Latifah salute their late dad's Lifetime Achievement nod, then heard her introduce Kanye West, T.I., Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z as the "Rap Pack." Somewhere, Frank Sinatra is spinning in his grave.

The "Best Date Placement" Award goes to Paul McCartney, for using his upfront aisle-seat pull to show off new gal pal Nancy Shevell. Oh, Heather...

The "I Went To The Grammys And A Boston Red Sox Game Broke Out" Award goes to Neil Diamond, for his pluperfectly cheesy rendition of the Fenway Park 8th-inning staple "Sweet Caroline." And how 'bout those eyebrows?

The "Works Well With Fruit" Award goes to Katy Perry, for making the kitchiest most out of her performance of "I Kissed A Girl," complete with an entrance out of a giant peeled banana (insert your favorite Freud joke here) and a trash 'n' vaudeville outfit that, were she alive today, Carmen Miranda would kill for.

The "Was This In The Script?" Award goes to presenter Samuel L. Jackson, who actually began his intro of T.I. and Justin Timberlake with the following salutation: "People of Earth!"  Somewhere, Ed Wood is smiling.

The "Was This In The Script II?" Award goes to presenter Craig Ferguson, who announced that he was up for a Best Sex Tape Award: "It's me vs. Screech." Even Paris Hilton blushed at that one.

And, finally, the "All Kidding Aside" Award goes to NARAS chief Neil Portnow, for noting the organization's commitment to improving health care, saving music education in schools, and protecting musician's intellectual rights. And yes, past Grammy Award winner Barack Obama, a cabinet position of Secretary of the Arts is a pretty good idea. Just ask Quincy Jones.

392 Comments

161. DRislegend -
where was alicia

162. Mo K -
randy how does that even make sense? I don't listen to radio head because of their flyer art, nor because thom york is hot or something. they make music so if the barrel sings with thom york's voice and sings radio head songs. then yes i may listen to. but who wouldn't at that point. its a singing barrel

163. Yahoo! Music User -
I was proud of M.I.A, I couldn't have done that I would have stayed home until the baby came.
I was really dissappointed in the last award, Best Album of the year, I really was hopeing for Ne-yo to win or atleast lil wayne or Coldplay; the people who won I've never even heard of them. Who votes for the winners anyway because I thought alot of the winners didn't deserve to win. Poor Ne-yo didn't win anything :(

164. Julien -
Worst of all. Not suprised it seems to be going downward every year. Can't believe these people actually win awards. No class and seems to be limited popularity of the acts. I grew up in the 60's and still find that seems to be the best era of music even today. You can actually hear the lyrics and tap your foot to the music. Won't watch again!

165. Yahoo! Music User -
Radiohead is far too good to be on the Grammys.

166. jeff -
partygreenlight said "Where was Springsteen? Where was one of the greatest bands in rock history? The Boss.."

Springsteen performed at the Superbowl. Besides, his new album was ineligible for the Grammy's as it was released after the Grammy nomination period. He may be eligible for next year's awards.

167. Dick -
i turned it off and went to bed. tired of watching half wasted,people trying to entertain each other

168. Randy -
Ahaaa MO!
That actually made sense to me. I'm not really a hater, just didn't like the performance-song. I kinda miss guitars, and stuff.

169. Hurley Girl -
M.I.A. looked like some cheap "chicken head" pregnant groupie on the stage with the "rap pack". What a joke. But great Radiohead performance!

170. Margaret C -
Fantastic show, MIA, thank you for the biggest laugh I have had in a long time!

171. Yahoo! Music User -
the outfit mia had on was so trashy, what the hell was she doing up their singing an dancing at 9 months pregnant POOR BABY

172. Yahoo! Music User -
I personally know of a new female artist bringing back the 80s her new cd is better than anything out there. and she beautiful and talented

173. Yahoo! Music User -
WHITTNYS A WASTOIDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.

174. Judith -
I agree completely with mat b. The few minutes of it I could stomach were a waste -- except for Adelle and Sugarland. Good stuff, good, TRUE musicians. (As a music teacher, I have some insight into what constitutes talent.)

175. DiDi -
I thought Radiohead should have left the stage and let the USC Trojan Marching Band do the song. They were amazing. Who decided that
Kate Perry should be taken serious? She looks llike a joke! For my last comment, I have great respect for Sir Paul, but why did he pick that song to perform last night. I didn't get what he was thinking....

176. Andy -
randy_seckinger clearly knows nothing about music nor about artistic expression. I'm sure he prefers the slick over-produced cookie-cutter sheen of the machine that pops out Katy perry, Lil' Wayne, and the Jonas Brothers. Get some taste, Randy.

177. Anthony -
The Rap Pack. You have to be kiddin me. Being from NJ, I think it was a joke. Frank is rolling over in his grave. How bout the Boss, Bruce Springsteen? If Paul M and Robert Plant was there why not have the BOSS there? Its a friggin joke.

178. jaz -
Em...Randy?
Did you not see/hear Johnny Greenwood playing guitar?

179. Albert -
This is the biggest crock of crap going. They get together to pat each other on the back and for some stupid reason a super colossal deal has to be made over Rhanna not being there and this Chris jerk being in trouble over assaulting a woman. None of this is earth shocking news and the entertainment media has to paint this ridiculous picture the world will stand still because of this. Rappers are noted for abusing women, get over it. And, who on God's earth cares if Rhanna wasn't there or why.

180. Erick -
You forgot to mentioned BLINK 182 are BACK!!! =P
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