Tag Archives: Adele

2023 Grammy Awards – Best and Worst

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Admittedly, I initially did not plan on making this post. Because honestly, my overall reaction to this year’s Grammy Awards was – “I mean, I guess…” Plus, at first, I honestly could not think of five moments from the night that I genuinely loved. The worst definitely outpaced the best for me. But I persevered and managed to pull together five things about this year’s Grammy Awards that I didn’t hate. Read on for the full list of best and worst.

BEST 

  1. Everyone’s a Winner – Well, almost everyone. I did appreciate that there was no sweep, like the last time Adele was nominated for example, for 25, and she won AOTY, SOTY, and ROTY, along with the pop categories. This year, Grammy voters definitely spread the wealth. Multiple people went home with at least one or two awards. 
  1. Queer Representation – Kim Petras made history as the first openly transgender woman to win a Grammy for her collaboration with Sam Smith before the duo served up one of the few memorable performances of the night. It was also sweet to have Brandi Carlile’s wife and their two adorable children introduce her performance. 
  1. 50 Years of Hip-Hop/Rap Celebration – I’ll avoid my rant about how Grammy voters obviously have little to no respect for Hip-Hop/Rap (more on that below) and appreciate this brilliantly assembled celebration of the genre. From old-school legends like Rakim and Run DMC to artists who defined the early ‘00s like Missy Elliot and Nelly, and the new talent on the rise, like Da Baby and GloRilla – it was a fitting celebration of one of the most beloved, yet misunderstood art forms. It would have been nice to see some legends like Nas and Eminem, though it was understandable why the latter was not present, considering his feelings about the Grammys. 
  1. Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican Celebration – It was certainly not my favorite opening performance at the Grammys – not even close. Admittedly I’m not the biggest or, honestly, even a mild fan of Bad Bunny’s music. However, I appreciated the high energy of the performance and its tribute to Bad Bunny’s cultural heritage. And it certainly got the audience on their feet, which is always a win. 
  1. In Memoriam – Unless it is the Academy Awards, which for some reason, cannot seem to get something as simple as an In Memoriam tribute right, the In Memoriam segments are usually one of my favorite parts of an award show. I know that may seem a bit morbid, however, it’s more an appreciation of the celebration of the talented artists who left an indelible impact on the industry. And this year’s In Memoriam segment struck the perfect chord from Kacey Musgraves’ tender cover of Loretta Lynn’s Coal Miner’s Daughter, Quavo’s emotional tribute to Takeoff and culminating in Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Mick Fleetwood’s pitch-perfect performance of Songbird, in tribute of Christine McVie. 

Honorable Mention – Taylor Swift NOT winning Song of the Year for a more than decade-plus song originally from a decade-plus old album that was already nominated for Album of the Year years ago. I don’t care that it is a re-recording that was expanded to 10 minutes, complete with an accompanying insufferable video. It is an old song that should not have been nominated. 

WORST 

  1. The Show that Wouldn’t End – Four hours! Four long hours. It was like a bad date that seemingly would not end. And for the record, by the third hour, it felt like five. Grammy producers need to do better. There is simply no reason why this show has to be so long. Especially when it is not like most of the performances were particularly interesting or memorable. 
  1. Lackluster Performances – Outside of a few that I have already referenced – Bad Bunny’s opening performance, In Memoriam segment, Hip-Hop/Rap tribute – many of the performances ranged from serviceable to unmemorable, to plain boring. And that just made an already very long night feel a lot longer. 
  1. No Adele, Beyoncé or Kendrick Performance – It probably should have been a sign that this was not going to be a great night when three of the biggest names in music, with the most nominations, all declined to perform. With Adele, one can argue that it may have been down to logistics, as she was still wrapping up her residency show. But with Kendrick and Beyoncé, the cynic in me almost wonders if it was because they knew exactly how this night would go and did not want to give Grammy producers another chance to use their appearance for ratings, all while they never win the big awards. 
  1. Is a Host Necessary – In fairness to Trevor Noah, he wasn’t awful by any means. Certainly not the worse I have seen in terms of award show hosts. However, even while serviceable, I was left with the feeling all night that the show would have lost nothing if there was no host. 
  2. Beyoncé Loses AOTY (Again) – *Sigh* Get comfortable, this one is going to be a little long. A few disclaimers before I start. One, I did not hate Harry Styles’ album. I thought it was a perfectly fine pop album. Two, I am not a Beyoncé stan or one of the Beyhive. I like and respect her as an artist, but that’s it. Three, I didn’t initially love Renaissance. It was an album that had to grow on me over several months. That said, her loss for AOTY this past Sunday night was frustrating because of the many layers and nuances of the situation. It is easy to say, “it’s just an award,” and it is. But it also represents a much larger and deeper conversation. The Grammys were first handed out in 1959. In its 63-year history, only 11 black artists have won AOTY – 11, as in the number after 10. Now stop and think about how many legendary, impactful black artists you can list in a minute. And yet, only 11 have won AOTY. And of that 11, only three were women – the last in 1999. So yes, that means it has also been 24 years since a black woman won AOTY. That’s issue number one. But this year’s ceremony also significantly piggy-backed off Beyonce ́ s popularity by regularly promoting that she could become the most-winning artist ever. And that she did. Except for the quiet part that was left unsaid – that only one of those wins was in the big categories. A SOTY win for Single Ladies. So no AOTY awards, ever. But touting this “most winning artist” narrative allowed them to pat themselves on the back and play, “see, we award black artists. She’s won a lot.” And the narrative extended to some Grammy voters, who in an anonymous voter article, declared how she “won all the time.” See how that manipulative psychology works? Play up her breaking a record so once again, many can insist how, “she always wins,” except for how that never seems to extend to the major categories. Mind you, for all the, “she wins all the time,” voters seem to have no such issue regarding Taylor Swift who currently sits at a record-breaking three Album of the Year awards and is very likely, poised to make it a fourth, come next year. That is okay. That is acceptable and deserving, even. But suddenly Beyoncé, “wins too much.” Issue number two. The bottom line is that a white artist can make a good album that is critically well-received and they will win AOTY. See Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, etc. Yet black artists almost need to be perfect and they STILL don’t win. My friend commented after this year’s show that she’s not sure what else Beyoncé can do. And I warily responded to her that the answer is nothing. Because it’s not that she needs to make an amazing album – she has, multiple times. It’s not that she needs to be culturally relevant and have a musical impact – she has. And repeatedly the voters decided it simply wasn’t good enough – issue number three. And I haven’t even touched on issues regarding the Academy’s attitude towards Hip-Hop/Rap – a genre that is continuously treated as the barely tolerated step-child. It is clear that most recording academy voters, still one, do not understand Hip-Hop/Rap and two, don’t have much respect for the genre. And until they do, we will continue to have situations where Eminem wins an Academy Award for the record-breaking Lose Yourself but loses ROTY for the same song and Kendrick Lamar will win a Pulitzer Prize for his album DAMN. and yet the award that supposedly represents the best of the music industry decides said album is not worthy of Album of the Year.

The Return of Adele – Breaking Down Chapter 30

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The queen of the charts is back. Six years after the release of her Grammy-winning 25, where she reflected on and in some cases longed for her pre-fame days; Adele is back with her fourth studio album, 30.

A lot has happened in the singer’s personal life, as many are aware, since the release of 25. Notably, the breakup of her marriage. There was also a weight loss journey that had some fans happy for her, while others felt betrayed.

Adele brilliantly addressed the latter in her CBS Special interview with Oprah Winfrey, noting that it’s not her job to validate people’s feelings about their bodies. I concur. However, her weight loss isn’t a topic on 30, which is all about the emotional journey she undertakes throughout the subsequent breakdown of her marriage.

It’s raw, guttural, painful, and honest. What it isn’t, especially sonically, is a newer version of 21 or 25. So if that’s what you expected when you started listening to the album, chances are, you may have felt a little disappointed.

However, while 30 may not boast the same sleek, ear-worm pop goodness of 21, or even 25, it still delivers the same achingly beautiful honesty, told with Adele’s ever impeccable vocals.

When I first began working on this review, I vacillated between writing a summary, versus a song by song breakdown. I decided to do a song-by-song review, but then the perfectionist in me immediately started obsessing about having the perfect words to express my feelings.

However, I realized that in the spirit of the album’s honesty, the best approach would be to not overthink and go with my first impressions. So read on for my stream of consciousness, slightly rambling, initial impressions of each song.

  • Strangers by Nature – It’s fitting that the first two lines of this track are, “I’ll be taking flowers to the cemetery of my heart/For all my lovers in the present and the dark”. There is a dirge-like quality to the song’s overall sound. It also brings to mind a bit of the 40s-50s classic sound.
  • Easy on Me – The album’s lead single and possibly, most radio-friendly. It’s a straightforward lament of someone seeking if not forgiveness, understanding, and empathy for making what may be considered a selfish choice.
  • My Little Love – Judging by social media chatter, this appears to be many fans’ favorite song on the album. Essentially a love letter and apology to her son Angelo for leaving his father and ultimately breaking up their family, what is particularly interesting about this song is that sonically it has a very chill vibe. Yet lyrically, it’s one of the saddest and darkest songs on the album.
  • Cry Your Heart Out – Haven’t we all been there? Who hasn’t needed a good cry or two or three (you get the point) once in a while? Like the above, I love that despite lyrically being emotionally heavy, sonically there is an easy, almost breezy vibe to the song.
  • Oh My God – Love everything about this number. The vibe, production, and of course, the adage that being bad is always so much more fun.
  • Can I Get It – Sonically, this gives me 90s pop/rock tees, especially the whistling interlude. The first word that comes to mind is simply fun.
  • I Drink Wine – Possibly my favorite track. I love the soulful sound, and while not a wine drinker myself (not much of a drinker at all), I connected so strongly with this number. Aren’t we all on a journey of complete self-acceptance and self-love?
  • All Night Parking (with Erroll Garner) – Love this one. It gives me early ‘00s Jill Scott and Erykah Badu vibes.
  • Woman Like Me – I like this number lyrically but not sonically. It drifts a little to the sleepy side with the one chord progression throughout.
  • Hold On – I call this one, “Adele lays her broken heart out raw and unfiltered for all the world to see.” You’re made of ice if the soaring refrain at the end to hold on, doesn’t get you right in the gut.
  • To Be Loved – And this is Adele laying out her vulnerable truth – for better or worse. There is a slightly old-school Whitney Houston-like sound to the production. That concluding breakdown, begging for understanding from her audience (theoretically her ex-husband and us, the listener), is everything.
  • Love Is a Game – Probably one of the most depressingly cynical views of love. But I guess a divorce will do that to you.

In conclusion, no, this album will not give you the radio-friendly pop sounds of 21 or 25. But it is, in many ways, Adele’s most heartbreakingly honest and mature album.

10 Essential Albums to Get Through Isolation

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“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything” (Plato) – isn’t that the truth. And as we all continue to make sense of our current reality and try to put our best foot forward, the healing power of music has never been more essential.

So if you’re looking for another playlist to add to your growing musical library, here is a suggested list of some essential albums to help get you through any mood you’re currently in. As an aside, most of these suggestions could fit multiple categories.

  1. For Having a Dance Party – 24K Magic by Bruno Mars. Thirty-three minutes of just pure unadulterated fun. An eclectic mix of Pop, Soul, R&B, and Funk, Mars channeled all his musical idols to deliver a sound that was both retro yet modern, classic yet experimental. Arguably one of the best male artists out today, Bruno Mars has a way of giving you what you didn’t even know you wanted or needed. Good luck staying seated during the singles 24K Magic, Finesse, That’s What I Like… I could go on.

 

  1. For Staying Calm and Easing Anxiety – Come Away With Me by Norah Jones. Seriously, I dare you to suggest a more calming musical voice than Norah Jones’. Subtle, yet powerful; listening to Norah Jones is like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold morning. There’s just a calm and a softness that envelopes you when listening to her music. And Come Away With Me is truly her magnum opus. Falling and being in love never sounded so good.

 

  1. For Nostalgia – Legend by Bob Marley. The title of this greatest hits compilation is pretty apt. Because there really is no other word to describe what Bob Marley meant to reggae and music in general and the legacy he left behind. And whether you were alive or not during his years of success (I wasn’t), this album is a perfect representation of his musical legacy.

 

  1. For Singing Along (Loudly) – 21 by Adele. Admit it, you probably already have, numerous times. I mean come on, who wasn’t singing along to every song on 21, back in 2011-2012. And yes, for anyone who’d ever had their heart broken, was going through a breakup, you probably dramatically sang along with tears streaming down your face as you reminisced about the one that got away or the asshole you hoped to never see again. So go on and let it rip once more, and belt out Someone Like You to your heart’s content.

 

  1. For Introspection – To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar. Against a backdrop of various musical styles that celebrates the black tradition, i.e. Funk, Jazz, Soul, R&B, and Spoken Word, Kendrick Lamar delivered a musical masterpiece that explores the themes of race, culture, discrimination, mental health, and self-identity. Jam along to I, pump your fists to Alright or contemplate your own socially conscious journey with The Blacker the Berry. From beginning to end, every song on To Pimp a Butterfly will make you feel something, make you question your own beliefs and values and those of the world around you. Not one song on this album is filler. It’s all part of a masterfully constructed dialogue between an artist and his audience.

 

  1. For An Underrated Artist – Body Talk by Robyn. Chances are you’ve probably already heard and been singing along for years, to Dancing on My Own by Robyn. It was the unofficial theme song for Girls and in 2015, Calum Scott became a worldwide sensation for his beautiful cover, which he first performed on Britain’s Got Talent. But trust me when I say, Dancing on My Own is just a tease of how incredible Robyn’s music is. Body Talk is chock-full of her signature Pop/Dance infused ballads. A mix of electro-pop, reggae-funk, you never stop moving all the while you go through a roller coaster of emotions.

 

  1. For Feeling Like a BOSS – Lemonade by Beyonce. Let’s face it, is there any other choice? From “middle fingers up” to “fucking up all his shit” to pushing and keeping on no matter what because “a winner don’t quit on themselves”, Queen Bey will have you booty popping while feeling like you have the strength and power to conquer the whole damn world.

 

  1. For a Classic – Purple Rain by Prince. All hail his majesty. Still one of the greatest albums of all time. Just a solid collection of pop perfection from beginning to end. What could the man not do? Singer, songwriter, musician – Prince did it all and did it all brilliantly. And Purple Rain is without question the seminal album of his illustrious career. So go on and get crazy and have a Prince Party.

 

  1. For a Comeback – Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple. For her first album in eight years, Apple delivers a collection of songs that continues down the whimsical and off the beaten path that’s been the cornerstone of her career. Listening to this album will leave you feeling confused (there are some very interesting sounds on there), amused, enchanted, and spellbound. Because no matter how weird it gets and it gets plenty weird, you can’t turn away from it.

 

  1. For a Great Soundtrack – 8 Mile Soundtrack by Various Artists. I swear this is not because of Eminem’s surprise performance of Lose Yourself at this year’s Oscar ceremony – at least it’s not the sole reason. Because admittedly, that appearance reminded many, in case they’d forgotten, just how brilliant said song is. But here’s a little secret, the entire 8 Mile Soundtrack is brilliant. While Lose Yourself is understandably the standout, Eminem’s masterful wordplay and delivery in Rabbit Run and 8 Mile showcases him at his absolute best. Jay-Z’s appearance on 8 Miles and Runnin is Hov doing what Hov does best. Even the non-rap songs were amazing. So if you’re looking for a great movie soundtrack to jam to and not feeling Disney at the moment, get reacquainted with this classic.

And there you have it. Just a few musical suggestions for your next private listening party. What are some of your musical picks that you’ve been jamming to?

Design of a Decade – 10 Biggest Pop Culture Trends/Moments of the 2010s (Part 1)

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The 21st Century is officially no longer a teenager. And unless you were born in 2000, right about this time, you’re probably starting to feel a little (or in some cases a lot) old. Trust me, I get it. But existential crises about getting older aside, the past decade was a pretty fascinating one for the world of pop culture.

We saw streaming services take over the world, female artists from Beyonce to Adele to Taylor Swift, dominate the musical space, the LGBTQI community had more representation than ever before, reboot was the name of the game (for a while at least. Thankfully that might be changing), two Princes officially grew up and a wave of feminist activism took over Hollywood.

Without further ado, here are some of the biggest pop culture moments and trends of the 2010s. And it should go without saying that this is obviously by no means a comprehensive list. Because as always, I’m sure there are a number of other events, individuals, etc. that one could name-check.

However, in terms of cultural impact and mainstream attention, these were some of the biggest in my opinion. And because this understandably got a little long, I’ve decided to break the article up into two separate blog posts. Here are the first five of my top ten pop culture moments/trends of the 2010s.

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  1. Streaming Takes Over Music, Television (And Well the World at This Point) – RIP Blockbuster. The end officially came in 2013, but let’s face it, the once video store giant had pretty much been on life support for a few years by that point, thanks to a little streaming service called Netflix. The rise of Netflix and the fall of Blockbuster was only a snippet of things to come. Streaming services soon took over all of our lives and changed the way we watched movies, television shows and listened to music. Apple’s recent decision to end iTunes and switch only to its streaming platform Apple Music cemented the cultural shift in how we consume entertainment today. As we head into the 2020s, entertainment streaming shows no sign of slowing down. Not with the plethora of streaming services now available.

 

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  1. Everything Old is New Again – As the saying goes; the more things change, the more things seem to stay the same. Because while streaming was taking over entertainment and pop culture, an odd trend was also taking off, i.e. the reboot/revival. The 2010s saw a number of long canceled television shows and movies of the past either remade and/or brought back for a second life. It’s hard to say what specifically sparked this trend, what one moment or specific show that lit the fuse but suffice to say, for a time, it seemed like the mantra of the 2010s was what was old is now new again. That said, there are some signs that the trend may be waning – the Murphy Brown reboot died as quickly as it came, Will & Grace is on its way out (again) and Fuller House is wrapping up its run on Netflix. If you read my previous blog post on the topic, you’d know that unsurprisingly, I can’t say I’ll be too upset if this trend remains in the 2010s. Although just I wrote and posted this blog, I found out that a Mad About You reboot has been officially greenlit. Yea…

 

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  1. The Meteoric Rise, Fall and Comeback of Lady Gaga – 2010 was the year Lady Gaga gave us the Meat Dress. Although her rise truly began in 2008, when The Fame was officially released, it was the start of the 2010s that saw this fame exulted into something almost otherworldly. The cult of Gaga was at its peak at the start of the decade and the subsequent release of Born This Way in 2011, would further cement this, giving her the biggest first-week sales of her career. However, it was not too long after that the cracks began to show. Many of the album’s subsequent singles surprisingly stalled on the charts. And then came Artpop, where things quickly took a nosedive. The album got mixed reviews, the first single Applause died as quickly as it rose and the first week sales for the album was a mere 258,000 copies, a significant decline from the first week’s numbers for Born This Way. The snark and whispers of “flash in the pan” began and meanwhile, some of Gaga’s behavior became increasingly erratic. However, by late 2017, things began to take a positive turn, starting with a Golden Globe-winning performance on American Horror Story, followed by a well-lauded Superbowl Halftime show performance. However, it was this past year that saw the complete return of Gaga to the top of the pop culture conversation, with her Oscar-nominated performance in A Star is Born. The film garnered her mass critical acclaim and numerous awards for the song Shallow. All eyes are back on her and many are waiting to see what version of Lady Gaga we will meet in the 2020s.

 

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  1. Two Princes Grow Up – Whether or not you were old enough to have seen it live, chances are you’ve probably seen the images of two young boys, 15 and 12, somberly walking in a procession, following the casket holding their mother’s body. This was one of the most indelible images of the 1990s. Those two young boys eventually grew up and the 2010s saw them fully come into their own as adults, both settling down into marriage and fatherhood. I have previously stated my mixed feelings regarding the whole idea of Royalty. That in reality, I’m not exactly in love with the idea of a monarchy still existing in the 21st Century. Especially one that we are all well aware of is rooted deeply in classicism and the ugly history of colonialism. That said, on a pure entertainment and pop culture level, it’s hard to ignore the global interest and impact there was when first Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011 and early last year, when Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. On both occasions, much of the world stopped and for a moment seemingly just appreciated the beauty and hope that most weddings seem to hold. I’d still not be particularly upset if the monarchy goes away in the next decade. Just saying…

 

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  1. 21 and 25 Never Sounded so Good – “Hello, it’s me”. And with these three words, Adele was back, with her follow-up to her global smash hit album, 21. When the 2010s started, Adele was a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, with a core niche of fans. Hardcore music fans knew who she was, especially as she’d previously won the Grammy for Best New Artist. But she was hardly blowing up airwaves and her name wasn’t one that just rolled off the average individual’s tongue. That was until 2011 when a little album titled 21 was released. And then everyone knew Adele’s name. 21 would go on to become one of the biggest selling albums of all time, selling a whopping 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. By the time 25 was released, music lovers everywhere had been waiting with bated breath for whatever magic Adele would produce next. And Ms. Adkins did not disappoint. 25 went on to sell a whopping 3.3 million copies in its first week, smashing the previous record for first-week sales, which had been held by *NSync. At the close of the decade, Adele is currently the only artist, male or female, to win the Big Three Trifecta at the Grammy Awards – Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year – twice. Speaking for myself, I cannot wait to see what Adele will bring for the 2020s.

 

Grammy Awards 2017 – Best & Worst

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The 2017 Grammy Awards are officially over and unsurprisingly, much of the post-show talk revolved around Adele’s clean sweep (she went 5 for 5, winning everything she was nominated for and more importantly, for the second time in her career, completing the trifecta of SOTY, ROTY, and AOTY) and more importantly, Beyonce’s once again coming up empty handed for AOTY.

Naturally, I have my own thoughts and opinions on the matter but first, allow me a moment to gloat at how near spot on my predictions for this year’s ceremony was. In case you forgot what they were, you can check it out here.

So on to this year’s ceremony, where hard to believe based on post-show media, more than Beyonce vs. Adele did happen. Yes, there were a couple of other performances and some people besides Adele won awards. The following are my best and worst moments of the night.

Best

Tributes – Every year, the Grammy Awards ceremony pays tribute to performers we lost the previous year and this year’s ceremony was no different, with tributes to George Michael and Prince – two brilliant singer/songwriters who left us way too soon. Much attention was paid to Adele’s stopping and re-starting her tribute to George Michael but I applaud her for doing so. It was a wise decision because the result was a spellbinding and heartbreakingly emotional farewell to an amazing talent. And while the tone of the Prince tribute was decidedly different, it too was also a fitting tribute to the man being honored. The inclusion of The Time was a wise and obvious decision and Bruno Mars proved why he is one of the most talented performers in music right now, honoring Prince in a way that surely made him proud wherever he is.

The Tribe Gets Political – Throughout history, singers and artists have often reflected their thoughts and opinions about the political age they were living in, whether good or bad. Frankly, at this point, most people expect them to do so. So naturally, considering the current climate of the country, many were expecting the Grammy Awards to have a lot of political messages. And there were certainly quite a few sprinkled throughout performances and intros. However, the performance that likely resonated and made the most impact on many was A Tribe Called Quest’s of We The People. The song title alone tells you everything you need to know. From Busta Rymes’ savage reference to the President as “President Agent Orange” to the parade of individuals of different ethnicities and Q-Tip’s final “Resist” at the end of the performance, the message was raw, bold and direct.

Chance Gets His Due – A not so hidden secret for a few years now, Chance The Rapper, an artist that has truly been doing it his way, with no major label backing, got his due in a big way at this year’s ceremony, winning Best New Artist and Best Rap Album. What makes Chance’s success so amazing is once again, the fact that it has come by not playing by the rules or doing things the way they’ve always been done. Chance is a true representation of this new age we live in, where you can get a following, build a career and become a star without a billion dollar machine behind you. He also proved that you can be a success in Hip Hop/Rap talking and rapping about God and your faith.

Bruno Does His Thing (Twice) – I have been a huge fan of Bruno’s for a few years now. Not only is he an amazing singer/songwriter and producer in my opinion but he’s also a hell of a performer and at this year’s ceremony, he proved once more why he’s arguably the best male pop performer right now. He kept things cool and slick for his performance of That’s What I Like (J-Lo was certainly loving it) and of course, came out later in full Prince get up, complete with eyeliner and nailed Let’s Go Crazy.

Adele Reigns Supreme – Okay listen, I get it. I get why some Beyonce fans are upset. I also get the arguments regarding African American performers and their lack of success at the Grammys in the past decade, particularly in the major categories and it is certainly a fair one. And trust me, I was plenty furious last year at Kendrick Lamar’s extraordinary To Pimp A Butterfly losing AOTY to Taylor Swift’s vanilla and basic 1989 (you can relive my full meltdown here). So yeah, I get it. And as my previous blog showed, I absolutely predicted Beyonce to win AOTY. However, I also said I would have been fine if Adele won and I am because despite what others believe, I think it was deserved. Yes, Lemonade was a good, solid album and quite likely Beyonce’s best. But it wasn’t perfect by any means in my opinion. I’ve expressed many times how mediocre I think Formation as a song is and ultimately I feel like the concept and visual execution of the album was more impressive than the actual quality of the songs. But more importantly, 25 is also a good, solid album. I think some have gotten so caught up in the Beyonce fervor that there is almost a dismissal of other artists and their hard work and their effort. Yes, Adele didn’t reinvent the wheel or step too far outside her comfort zone on 25. But you don’t really have to do that when your ordinary is most people’s amazing. 25 delivered on what Adele has always been about – beautiful, heartfelt and honest singing and songwriting.

Worst

Technical Problems – The Grammy producers should really be ashamed. Year after year, the show gets plagued with technical issues and this year was no different. For the second year in a row, Adele had technical issues during one of her performances, causing her to drop the F-bomb and later apologize for it. The absolute worse though was James Hetfield’s mike being completely off during Metallica’s performance with Lady Gaga. That is completely unacceptable in my opinion. It’s like watching an amateur hour, not the music industry’s biggest award show.

John Travolta Continues To Be Weird – Serious question – why do people keep inviting John Travolta to present or introduce anything at these award shows? No matter how simple his task is, he makes it weird and awkward by nature of being him. And this year’s Grammy Awards were no different when he showed up to introduce Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood’s performance. That weird dangly necklace situation he had on also didn’t help. And as an aside, love both Keith and Carrie but really hated that song and performance.

James Corden – Well, he gets points for being enthusiastic and seeming like he was genuinely happy to be there. But other than that, there wasn’t much Corden really added to this year’s ceremony. And most of what he did add was sort of awkward, to be honest, none more so than his “impromptu” carpool karaoke with some of the stars in the audience, complete with cardboard car. This would not have been so bad if any of the celebrities actually knew the words to the chosen song – Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. But they didn’t and so the whole bit fell pretty flat. The only thing that almost saved it was Blue Ivy adorably coming over to join the number in her “too cute for words” homage to Prince suit.

Fashion – Listen I don’t expect to see the same type of fashion I’ll see at The Oscars or The Golden Globes at The Grammys. This is music and I expect the fashion to be bold, wild and daring. But I didn’t see that this year. I saw a lot of plain bad or just boring and safe. About the only number that stood out was Rihanna’s Armani Prive orange crop top paired with wide tiered black skirt number. Everything else was either boring, predictable, safe or just weird.

Beyonce & Adele Underwhelm – I know this will be very unpopular but sorry, I was not in love with Beyonce’s number. Sure there is something to be said for female empowerment, celebrating women’s strength and beauty. I get all that. But honestly, I found the entire production and number overwrought and self-indulgent. It didn’t move me and instead, I found myself wondering when it was going to end. That said, I was equally underwhelmed by Adele’s performance of Hello. I love Hello and I love Adele. However, it came out in October 2015. In other words, I’ve already heard it a lot. I get that this is the single she was nominated for but after so much time, I wish she’d have done something new and interesting with the song or at least paired it up with one of the other amazing songs from the album. It just felt a bit underwhelming in my opinion, especially for the opening number.

Grammy Awards 2016

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The 58th annual Grammy Awards were held last night, and while this year’s ceremony was certainly not as boring as last year’s, that may not be saying much. The night saw its fair share of great performances, some not-so great performances, some “why is this happening” performances, sound and technical issues, deserving and some not-so deserving wins. And in keeping with the past few years, it was for the most part just a very long concert, with only 8 categories being awarded on air. So without further ado, here are my best and worst moments from the 2016 Grammy Awards.

Best

Kendrick Lamar’s Performance – There are so many adjectives and superlatives I can think of to describe this performance, many of which I’m sure other more experienced entertainment writers have used, but the words that come to mind as I think about how I felt watching it are heart-pounding intensity. This was a performance that both mesmerized and disturbed you, moved you and made you uncomfortable in the best way possible. In conclusion it was powerful, genius and brilliant.

Adele, The True Professional – It went wrong right from the start. Many viewers sitting and watching at home were wondering if something was wrong with their television sets when it was clear that for a few seconds we couldn’t hear Adele’s singing. And then there was the very loud, very awkward clanging. Basically, this was a bit of a disaster technically but being a true professional, not to mention a freaking out of this world singer, Adele persevered and powered through one of the most amazing ballads on her new album, not to mention one of the most difficult vocally. After the show, she tweeted about the situation, admitting that a mic in the piano dropped onto the keys which caused it to go off key and create the weird clanging sound we were hearing. In typical Adele fashion though she shrugged it off and stated she was going to treat herself to an In ‘N Out burger for having to deal with the situation. And that’s why we love her.

Uptown Funk Wins ROTY – Let me just say that for the most part, I was okay with most of the wins at this year’s awards, except for one obvious notable exception that I will get to later. That said, I was particularly thrilled about this win because one, I adore Bruno Mars and think he is one of the best male artists currently in music and two, I just think this song is pure genius and one of the best damn pop songs in years. Kudos to Mark Ronson, who we all already knew was a genius producer just from the late Amy Winehouse’s brilliant Back to Black album, for constructing a sound  so infectious and ear wormy that even when you didn’t want to dance and sing along, you were almost powerless not to.

Amazing Fresh Faces – This year’s Grammy ceremony saw a number of stellar performances from a few fresh faces making their Grammy debut. The standouts for me were James Bay and Tori Kelly, both nominated for Best New Artist and Andra Day and Ellie Goulding. While Goulding may not necessarily be a complete unknown to many, this was her first time performing on the Grammy stage and she held her own beautifully, especially against someone with as stellar a voice as Day. The name Andra Day may not have been instantly recognizable to many when she first took the stage but by the end, she made sure viewers were paying attention with a performance of pure and gorgeous vocals. James Bay and Tori Kelly also acquitted themselves beautifully, their voices blending perfectly as they delivered a gorgeous duet of their songs.

Musical Tributes – This year’s ceremony was a bit heavy on the musical tributes but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact I quite enjoyed many, but the standouts for me were definitely the tribute to Lionel Ritchie who was MusicCares Artist of the Year; the tribute to Glen Frey of The Eagles, who recently passed away and the tribute to B.B. King. If I have to make a few quibbles, I thought the Lionel Ritchie tribute could have done without Demi Lovato who seemed to be trying way too hard to have a “moment”. I get that this was her first time ever performing on the Grammy stage and every artist wants to have that moment that all the media will be talking about the next day, but this just wasn’t the time and place for it because the performance wasn’t about her. It was about honoring Lionel Ritchie and not trying to show off how much she can over-sing and scream a song. Also, while I loved the B.B. King tribute and thought Gary Clark Jr., Bonnie Raitt and Chris Stapleton were all incredible, I wish that Chris had gotten the chance to sing a little of one of his own songs, just because he had so many nominations and so much praise for his album and I feel like those who didn’t know who he was coming into the show, may still not truly know just how amazing his own music is. And trust me, it’s really freaking amazing.

Worst

Taylor Swift Wins AOTY – With her win last night, Taylor Swift became the first female artist to ever win two Album of the Year awards in Grammy history (a fact she was quick to point out in her “humble” speech). Seriously, I would like us to all just ponder that for a second. That in the entire history of the Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift; a decent to okay songwriter with a good ear for a catchy hook and below average vocal ability is the first woman to win two Album of the Year awards. Let me be very clear, before the accusations of being a hater are slung, that I have liked much of Taylor’s music for years. As I have written before on this blog, I’ve been aware of and listening to Taylor’s music since her first album and her first single. And as one of my close friends will attest to, I fervently defended her AOTY win for Fearless and I stand by that even today. Against the competition she had that year, I do still believe her album was critically and commercially the strongest. However, in my opinion, that was most definitely not the case this year. Don’t get me wrong – was 1989 a pretty damn good pop album, absolutely. And did it deserve to be nominated for AOTY, absolutely. But there is simply no conceivable way that this album – cohesively, lyrically, musically and artistically – was better than Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly or hell even Chris Stapleton’s Traveller. Some critics claimed that Taylor went somewhere new on this album and I disagree. All she did was complete the pop transformation she’d been on since Red. Her subject matter hasn’t truly changed or evolved and she did not revolutionize pop music in the way Michael Jackson’s Thriller, for example, did. And just to be clear, I’m not saying every AOTY has to do those things. But what I am saying is that ultimately 1989 was merely a good pop album with some decent songs and rewarding it with the music industry’s highest honor was the definition of rewarding basic and safe. There is also the fact that I cannot think of an artist who needed to have their ego stroked some more, less than Taylor Swift. Again, when truly examining the full quality and history Taylor Swift’s discography, not to mention her barely there vocals, the fact that she is now as critically rewarded and lauded as she is, is truly absurd.

Kendrick Lamar Loses AOTY – Here are a few facts to think about. No Rap/Hip Hop song has ever won Song or Record of the Year. And in terms of the Album of the Year, some point to Outkast and Lauryn Hill’s wins but Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was placed in the R&B categories the year she won and Outkast’s Speakerboxx/The Love Below feature an entire CD with just R&B songs (the album was a double disc). So in other words, it’s kind of a toss-up to say that any true Rap/Hip Hop album has won AOTY. And in my opinion, it hasn’t and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. At least not until the Grammy voters stop treating the genre as the stepchild that’s just being tolerated. The fact of the matter is, in my opinion, rap music still makes a lot of people uncomfortable and people don’t like to feel uncomfortable.  And so because of that, the music and artists will continue to get invited to the party but never be at the head of the table. And Kendrick, so raw and intense in his music really makes some people uncomfortable. Some of the comments I read online right after his performance and today have been quite telling – predictable of course but so telling. Because as moved as many, including myself, were by his brilliant performance, for some, all they saw was a “scary” black guy up there in chains rapping about how  “My hair is nappy, my dick is big, my nose is round and wide/You hate me don’t you?/You hate my people, your plan is to terminate my culture. /You’re fuckin’ evil I want you to recognize that I’m a proud monkey”….  Yeah that kind of honesty makes a lot of people squirm, including Grammy voters. So when it was all said and done, voters went with what was safe and comfortable. The world is shitty enough and most people don’t like to be reminded of the awful. I truly believe that the Grammy voters have never fully respected rap and last night just further cemented that. I’m sure many are telling themselves, “well he swept the Rap categories and hell won the most awards, so what’s the big deal…” And just to be clear, I don’t think Kendrick should have won to make some statement and just to reward a rap album simply because they haven’t before. I truly believe he should have won because he deserved it and among the nominees, had the best album of the year. It may not have light, fun pop songs that topped the Billboard charts because millions of young people could sing along to it but what it is, is an honest and gritty portrait of the African American male story. It is an album that is in parts despairing yet hopeful, angry yet joyful, lost yet finding one’s self and in a word, brilliant.

Lady Gaga’s Tribute To David Bowie – I like Lady Gaga and yes, while I will admit I thought this tribute should have been a medley of artists and was bothered that she alone was doing it, I was willing to keep an open mind and give her a chance. And I also never questioned her authenticity in what Bowie meant to her as an artist. I mean Bowie was performance art to the very core of the term, long before Gaga even existed much less emerged onto the music scene. So I went into this with no bias but sad to say, when it was all said and done, I was very disappointed. I felt like the performance very quickly veered from tribute into parody. Midway through I didn’t feel like I was watching Lady Gaga honoring David Bowie but rather doing a parody of him, right down to the fake British accent while singing, weird teeth, weird walk, etc. And Bowie deserved way better than that in my opinion. Yes, Bowie was conceptual and out there but that worked for him and for whatever era he was performing in. Lady Gaga putting on some costume and mimicking everything about a performance of Bowie’s just made the whole thing cheesy and the bad kind of camp, as opposed to the brilliant camp that defined Bowie’s career.

PitBull’s Finale Performance – I found most of the choices for the last hour of the show very questionable. From placing Alabama Shakes that late into the night, who while an amazing group is still virtually unknown to the larger public, which means it would be hard for them to grab the attention of a mostly checked out audience at this point; to the random performance of The Hollywood Vampires, the so called rock super-group that in my opinion just seems like a makeup of random aging rock singers and Johnny Depp. But nothing was more random and wtf to me than Pitbull’s being chosen to give the night’s final performance. I am not trying to be a music snob here but I could not have been the only one wondering why Pitbull aka Mr. Worldwide was closing out the music industry’s biggest night, especially as he was not nominated for any major award and doesn’t currently have some hit that is tearing up the airwaves that everyone is loving and so just had to be performed last night. It just didn’t seem fitting of the moment. And then he delivered whatever that was. First he bastardizes the classic that is Murder She Wrote by Chaka Demus and Pliers, then Sofia Vergara shows up in the most embarrassing fashion and proceeds to do whatever she was doing and then it morphed into some number with Robin Thicke that was just as bad. It truly felt like the show had morphed into The American Music Awards. The whole thing just seemed way too low brow for The Grammys.

Musical Tributes – Yes, I know I’ve mentioned this as a best and no, I promise I’m not losing my mind. The music industry lost a number of amazing talent and legends this past year and already in the first two months of the year. And of course I realize that not everyone can get a special tribute. That said, I definitely believe that Natalie Cole warranted a special tribute. This was a woman who had one of the most successful albums, with Unforgettable…With Love, where she re-recorded a number of her late father, the great Nat King Cole’s classic standards, as duets with him. The album went on to sell over 30 million copies and won Cole an Album of the Year Grammy.  That she got nothing more than a minute glance in the In Memoriam segment was shameful, especially when the show clearly had enough time to include that hot mess of a finale performance. The time that was wasted on that could have been used to help pay a proper tribute to Cole. Finally, I would prefer a tribute not be done at all, rather than what seems to be a last minute, half-assed thrown together number that seemed like a way to appease some public outcry. I am of course talking about the Stevie Wonder and Pentatonix “tribute” to Maurice White, the late member of legendary band Earth, Wind and Fire. I know the audience loved it and I’m not saying it was necessarily bad. I just feel like it felt thrown together last minute and I would have rather the producers do nothing at all than do that.

2015 Pop Culture Year-End Review

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Per the usual, it was certainly a dramatic year in pop culture and entertainment. From the amazing, to the tragic to the WTF…this year had it all. It would take forever to list all the things that wowed, amused, annoyed or just plain baffled me. And so, in the spirit of being more positive in 2016 (yeah, we’ll see how long that lasts…), I decided to focus on the 10 moments/events, etc. in entertainment, I loved the most this year.

Adele 25 – We had to wait almost four years, but it was well worth the wait. After taking some time away from the spotlight in the wake of her astonishing success with the album 21, Adele returned this year, picking up right where she left off by delivering an album of heartbreaking, soaring ballads and gut wrenching honest emotion. I have certainly made no secret of my Adele-love, so this one should come as no surprise. And just to be clear, this is not about jumping on a bandwagon. I have been a fan of Adele’s ever since I randomly stumbled on the video for her song Chasing Pavements and that love was cemented when I heard Hometown Glory and saw her perform To Feel My Love live. And I will continue to be a fan as long as she delivers such tender and heartfelt honesty in her music.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II – I know the reviews were mixed and many fans (especially non-book readers) were not too happy with this film. However, as a fan of the book series, I thought the film was a fitting end to the franchise. Could some things have been better, of course; which is often the case with any film adaptation. However, as she has done since the first film, I thought Jennifer Lawrence was perfect in her portrayal of Katniss. She was helped by a strong and impressive supporting cast. As always, Liam Hemsworth remained uneventful but at least he wasn’t “ruin the movie” awful. He was more or less just bland and uninteresting.  Donald Sutherland’s portrayal of President Snow remained absolute perfection, as was Elizabeth Banks who made Effie such a scene stealing character that they kept her around longer in the movies than she actually was in the books. And of course, Woody Harrelson and Josh Hutcherson, who while the writing may not have always been there for the latter, did great with what he was given. So a great franchise that I’m sure I’ll get the box set when it’s released.

The Affair: Season 2 – Like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, this was a little divisive. A lot of the critics have been less than thrilled with the direction the season took and to be honest, I’m not sure I am completely in love with the season finale, especially the reveal of how Scotty Lockhart really died. But that said, looking back on the season as a whole, there was a lot I did love and enjoyed about it and I found it as compelling, if not more so, than the first season. I will note that it probably helped that I have never really cared for the show’s lead characters, Alison and Noah, especially the latter. Therefore they weren’t really ruined for me this season, which is a problem many had with the season, because I already thought they were plenty awful in the first place. In my opinion, Noah continued being a selfish, self-centered jerk and Alison a whiny bore who did very well at playing the victim even when she wasn’t. The whole season felt for me like the ending of Descent (Noah’s fictional bestseller he wrote based on his affair with Alison), coming to fruition. That is, the man realizing that this woman he blew up his family and life for wasn’t who he thought she was and wasn’t worth it and in the end, in a fit of anger and bitterness, he kills her. I don’t think the killing Alison part will happen but I have a feeling the show will end on Noah’s original ending for the book – that is, the couple sitting down quietly to dinner with this big secret between them. Basically in my opinion, I see The Affair as a tragedy. It isn’t a love story but a Shakespearean or Greek tragedy of how one decision, one choice, can tragically change the course of so many lives. And that is what made the season so compelling.

Survivor: Season 31 – Survivor had a milestone season this year – the show about outwitting, outplaying and outlasting, turned 30. Unfortunately, the landmark season turned out to be VERY dull and uninspiring. The only semi-interesting aspect to the whole season was watching Mike immunity win his way to the final tribal council and ultimately the win. Especially as this REALLY annoyed and stuck in Dan’s craw. But aside from that, it was a season of jerks, little strategic play and uninspiring tribal councils. Not so for Season 31 which, for the first time in the show’s history, saw of cast of players who had played once before, voted to play again by the viewers of the show. Many of the cast members viewed the second chance as a huge gift, particularly because the fans voted them in and were determined to make the most of it. Season 31 turned out be one of the most unpredictable and exciting seasons in years – blindside after blindside, awesome immunity idol plays, you never knew who was really aligned with whom, etc. In the end, nice guy Jeremy who was completely blindsided by his alliance in his original season, took home the million in a complete sweep. I will admit that much as I liked Jeremy and was happy for his win, I was sad for Spencer who I really came to like in his original season. It wasn’t just that he lost, but that he lost because he completely missed Jeremy’s obviously being a huge threat, the jury eviscerated him and his character and he just looked so sad and disappointed at the reunion show. Still, a great season that hopefully Season 32 can live up to.

Jon Stewart’s Final Daily Show Season – After 16 years at the helm, Jon Stewart signed off from The Daily Show this year in perfect fashion. He remained consistently funny and insightful, with brilliant biting wit and sarcasm. I shared my feelings on what the show and Jon Stewart meant to me personally after his last episode and while Trevor Noah has acquitted himself well enough as Stewart’s replacement, the sting of the loss is still being felt and likely will for a little while longer. But after almost two decades, I understood Jon’s desire to leave and move on to something else. After all, as the old adage goes, “best to leave before they kick you out.”

Katy Perry’s Superbowl Half-Time Show – I am not the biggest fan of Katy Perry’s. In fact, there are really only a handful of her songs that I truly love. That said, while this was certainly not my favorite halftime show of all time (that honor still belongs to Prince), I think she did a pretty damn good job. The inclusion of Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliot, who probably both seemed random when first announced, was a stroke of genius; particularly Missy’s appearance which helped rejuvenate the hip hop star’s career and remind so many of just how awesome she is. You can check out my original review of the performance here.

Mr. Robot: Episode 6 – If you aren’t watching USA’s Mr. Robot, you need to. The show is a dark, twisted, complex and mind-bending ball of crazy that makes you feel like you’re on a never-ending acid trip. And it is freaking fantastic. At the core of the show’s success is the brilliantly understated performance by the enigmatic Rami Malek, who plays lead character Eliot Alderson. If you’ve read my most recent blog post, you probably know how thrilled I am at all the award show love he and the show have gotten. While the entire season is amazing, if I would suggest one episode that encapsulates the dark and disturbing brilliance of the show perfectly, and where Malek just absolutely shines from beginning to end, it would be Episode 6. Racing against the clock to help a very dangerous criminal, whose associates are holding his neighbor and sometimes love interest hostage, escape from prison, Malek expertly delivers a range of emotion, from fear, panic and gut-wrenching sadness with a quiet subtlety and grace that’s just mesmerizing to watch.

Bates Motel: Season 3 – If you have ever watched the classic horror film Psycho or at the least heard about the plot, you probably already know how completely bat-shit crazy Norman Bates is. Bates Motel, the criminally under-appreciated A&E drama is a prequel that tells the story of who Norman Bates was before he became completely bat-shit crazy and murdered Marion Crane, while dressed as his dead mother. In other words, we’re already spoiled as to where the show is going and essentially have just been waiting for that big moment. The moment where Norman and Mother truly start to become one. Season 3 of the show, which aired earlier this year, finally delivered that moment. Played to absolute perfection by Freddie Highmore (seriously, that he has never even been nominated for this role is beyond absurd), the season saw the continued inevitable decline of Norman’s mental state as he fell deeper and deeper into his psychosis. It all culminated in the brutal murder of the emotionally lost Bradley by the hands of Norman as “Mother.” It was one of the most disturbing, horrific and spellbinding scenes I saw on television this year.

Kendrick Lamar’s Alright – Kendrick Lamar escaped the dreaded sophomore slump in absolutely brilliant fashion. Coming on the heels of his critically acclaimed good kid, m.A.A.d city, Lamar delivered one of, if not the best album of the year, To Pimp A Butterfly. Picking up where he left off on good kid, m.A.A.d city, the album is chock full of powerful messages and truths about the plight of the young African American male, inner city youth, white supremacy, the struggle to find and identify oneself, etc. And while many songs are powerful on their own, probably the stand out moment comes from the song Alright, which became a rallying cry for the #blacklivesmatter movement. It would be naïve to not see and understand why this song is currently as important and powerful as it is, with all that’s going around the U.S., particularly in regards to police brutality against African Americans. Certainly a powerful song in general but the added weight of the current socio-political climate makes it one of the most important songs in decades and a rallying cry for so many.

Top 5 Fashion Moments – If you’ve been reading my blog often or even occasionally, you know I’m always here for fashion and some great fashion moments. So I would be remiss to not include some type of fashion list in my review of my favorite pop culture moments of the year. And here they are:

Rihanna – Met Ball Gala

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It was the dress that spawned hundreds of memes and sure, we can go on for days with the jokes about her looking like a human omelet. But as I noted in my recap about this year’s Gala, it is a costume ball for crying out loud. It is probably the one time celebrities should embrace the bold and daring and take crazy risks and just have fun. And I feel like Rihanna totally got that.

Diane Kruger – Venice International Film Festival

'Black Mass' Premiere - 72nd Venice Film Festival

Some did not love the big bow on the side but I have to say, from the moment I saw this look, I fell in love with it. There is something just so timeless and classic yet bold about it.

Cate Blanchett – Cannes Film Festival 

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This look just screams movie star and red carpet. I loved the bold print, the drama and simultaneously, the whimsical and softness of it. This is a movie star’s dress and Cate Blanchett who carries herself in such a regal and classic manner, was the perfect one to carry it off.

Lupita Nyong’o – Cannes Film Festival

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After an amazing debut season on the red carpet on her way to winning her first Academy Award, things seemed to go VERY wrong with Lupita on the fashion front. I really started to believe her previous red carpet moments had merely been a stroke of luck. So thank goodness for this gorgeous green Grecian moment. Not only was the dress stunning but it matched her skin tone beautifully and she wore it very well.

Lady Gaga – The Primetime Emmy Awards 

67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Arrivals

 

There really isn’t anything that amazing about this dress. It’s your typical classic black evening dress. What made it such a memorable red carpet moment was who was wearing it. It was truly a jaw dropping moment when the woman who’d once worn a meat dress, showed up at the Emmys looking a classic old-Hollywood star. And she wore it so well.

Pop Culture Rewind

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Adele OWNS The Music Industry

The final numbers are in – 3.38 million copies sold in one week and with that, Adele has not only broken too many records to list, but cemented her place as one of the greatest of all times. In terms of records, the one on everyone’s mind was the most obvious – most albums sold in one week, previously held by N’Sync with 2.4 million. Many believed the music industry’s days of seeing those kind of numbers were long gone and no one was ever going to break that record. I guess they were wrong.

It really should have been a surprise to no one that Adele is having amazing success with her latest release, 25. However, I’m not sure anyone could have really predicted THIS level of success. In a time when everyone uses the excuse that “no one buys music anymore…” Adele not only disproved that myth but destroyed just about every other artist in her wake, while doing so. I’ve already shared my thoughts on why I think Adele and her music connects with so many people on such a profound level. So I’ll just say “keep snatching those wigs girl – we’re not worthy….”

American Music Awards (Show)

The American Music Awards were held this past Sunday and I would love to say it was an amazing display of great music, electrifying performances and star power that kept me greatly entertained from beginning to end, but that would be a lie. Early in the show, host Jennifer Lopez, who really just seemed interested in showing how many outfit changes she could have during the three hour show, talked about what the American Music Awards meant to her and her memories of watching it as a child.

She proceeded to mention all the legends she watched perform on the show and it made me realize what’s really wrong and lacking with the show recently. There is no real star power attached to it anymore. When the biggest name in the music industry at the show is Justin Bieber, that is incredibly, incredibly sad. There were a few highlights but they were far too few and in between. Some of the moments I did enjoy include:

Jennifer Lopez’s Intro

Listen, Jennifer Lopez is a gorgeous woman who has managed to parlay some really mediocre talents to a very, very successful career and more power to her. But while she is a mediocre singer and mediocre actress, she is a pretty bad ass dancer and thankfully she is self-aware enough to know that. So after a few awkward seconds of her attempting a slowed down version of her hit Waiting For Tonight, I guess in an ill-advised attempt to prove she can maybe sing, she switched to doing what she does best and delivered an awesome dance tribute to all the hit songs of the past year. Good on you J-Lo.

One Direction Perform Perfect

Okay, I’m no Directioner or whatever their fans are called (although in a battle between them and Bieber I’d take them any day because Bieber is really, really freaking annoying) but what I liked about this is that it just was and didn’t try too hard. There weren’t any gimmicks, they didn’t try too hard and just sang the song and quite well to be honest. That said, I feel like that’s also how their last AMA performance was so maybe a little shaking up might have been a good idea. Nah, this was fine…

Meghan Trainor and Charlie Puth

This was enjoyable. Both songs were awesome and vocally they both delivered. I know most people were mostly focused on the make-out at the end of the performance and frankly I’m still sort of recovering from watching Charlie grab Meghan’s ass but for me it was a really strong performance, with or without the make-out.

Walk The Moon

I feel like this song is a little old at this point and surprised it got such a focus on the show but honestly, I love it. And that dude looked so happy and into his song and performance, it just made me enjoy it even more.

Celine Dion’s Tribute To Paris

This was frankly the best performance of night, period. Ms. Celine in full on diva mode showing them all how it’s done. And yes my French is poor to nonexistent so I didn’t understand a lot of what she was saying. However, the emotion was palpable and real and that’s all that really mattered.

American Music Awards (Winners)

Yes I’m listing different aspects of the show individually. So about the winners – well they were predictable as they always are and especially once the show went to the format of letting the public vote. At that point it was pretty much a given that the One Direction, Justin Bieber, etc. of the world would win. I know Carrie Underwood though is thrilled for this format because it’s about the only award show left that she can still get a damn win against Miranda Lambert (love my girl Carrie but it’s true. Although she did win a Grammy earlier this year for her single Something In The Water). Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was One Direction, once again defeating Taylor Swift for Artist of the Year. Guess those Directioners really know how to vote.

American Music Awards (Fashion)

In a word, the fashion was awful. It was like the battle of who could look the tackiest. Perennial fashion favorites like Gwen Stefani disappointed terribly (is this what divorce does to one’s fashion sense), others were just boring, like Selena Gomez and most just tried WAY too hard. I honestly cannot think of one look that I absolutely loved. At best, there were a few that I didn’t absolutely hate but that’s not saying much.

Dancing With the Stars Finale

The confetti rained down on the ballroom as another season of ABC’s long running hit (and one of my reality favorites) Dancing With the Stars came to a close. When it was all said and done, 17 year old Bindi Irwin, the almost unnaturally happy wonder from down under, edged out Backstreet Boy star Nick Carter, to win the mirrorball. Bindi’s win meant an unprecedented sixth mirror ball win for her Pro partner Derek Hough, thereby cementing his GOAT status on the show and angering all the ones who hate seeing him win, which of course only amuses me greatly.

I believe Bindi had it in the bag by mid-season. Not only was she clearly a fan favorite who was likely getting a vast amount of viewer votes, she was the most consistent throughout the competition. Great as Nick is, I don’t think he ever really grew as a ballroom dancer from Week 1 to the finale and he was too in his head, much like Alexa PenaVega who actually had some really good natural ability and rhythm but could never get the consistency down and nail the dances week after week. In conclusion, it was a fun season, which is usually the case for me personally.

I have watched this show since the first season and sure there are things that bug me here and there but at the end of the day it is a fun, cheesy show for a really ugly trophy and why I can never understand those who take it so seriously and become so vicious and angry about the favorites. In a world where we’re seeing so much hate and violence, I look forward to the simplicity of DWTS with its spray tan, cheesy dialogue, fun dancing and of course Tom Bergeron. And I’ll be back in March, when the show returns for Season 22. Some of my favorite performances from the season were:

Bindi/Derek – Viennese Waltz

Bindi/Derek – Foxtrot

Bindi/Derek –  Freestyle

Nick/Sharna – Viennese Waltz

Nick/Sharna – Samba (Saturday Night Fever)

Team Nightmare

Lindsay/Carlos – Quickstep

Andy/Alison – Jazz

Tamar/Val – Rumba 

Alexa/Bindi – Duet Charleston

 

 

Adele Returns With Smash “Hello”

Celebrity, Commentary, Music, Review, , ,

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past week, you’ve probably heard and likely already swooned and cried over Adele’s first single in more than three years. Teased last week in a brief 30-second television commercial during an airing of the UK’s X-Factor, the single, which was released simultaneously with the official video, is already a bona-fide smash. Early reports state that it sold a whopping 400,000 copies in its first day of release – a record for digital sales. The song’s official video has also broken a VEVO record previously held by Taylor Swift, for the most views in one day, with 25 million.

I personally do not find these numbers very surprising. Objectively, Adele was bound to smash with her first single due to the contributing factors of the massive success of 21 and the length of time she has been gone from the music scene. In other words, anticipation and curiosity was always going to be through the roof, which all but guaranteed early success for whatever she released. So the question then is this simply a result of anticipation and curiosity or is the song just that good?

I say all of the above. While the curiosity and anticipation factors can never be fully ignored, I don’t believe the numbers would be what they are if the song was not also amazing. Keep in mind we live in an age where many people do not pay for music. So the fact that almost 400,000 people in one day were willing to shell out for Hello speaks to the power of Adele yes, but also to the power of her music.  So what is that power? Why has this woman from London, England captured the world’s fascination so much and become the musical phenomenon that she has?

At the risk of sounding corny, I think a lot of Adele’s appeal lies in the fact that she comes across as a real person. In a sea of female musical artists who are often overly made up, hypersexualized and seem like they are always playing the part of what a pop star should be, Adele stands out as a real person. She comes across as relatable and seemingly attainable – like someone can you can hang out with and have a drink.

That’s the image Taylor Swift has sold since the beginning of her career and it has worked for quite awhile. However, some of the veil on that image has recently been lifted and many have started questioning the authenticity of who she purports to be. Some believe that under the so called goofy and realness, is a level of calculation, shrewdness and manipulation. Not so with Adele. Nothing seems phony or calculated with her. She’s a real person with an unreal talent.

And it is that same realness, which is reflected in her music. Adele’s songs are not the most poetic or whimsical – they don’t necessarily challenge the depth of one’s thoughts. However, they do speak to one of the most fundamentally honest and identifiable emotions of all – love. We all understand and know what it feels like to love and be loved – to have loved and lost. It truly is one of the oldest and greatest themes of art. It is what has inspired countless writers, artists, painters and more. And Adele tells it in brutal and heartbreaking honesty, in such a way that we all can relate. And that is truly her greatest power. That end of the day, she speaks to us on a most basic and human level that we all can understand and relate to.