49th time around

2/11/07 7:54 AM
This is getting more like the Super Bowl each year. For me, that is. I’ve never started my game day coverage early in the morning like this before. One thing I haven’t mentioned in previous Grammy commentary is that I don’t care, for the most part, who gets what award. The categories get more finely sliced and parsed as the years go on. There might be an award for “Best Female Guitar Solo / Scat Singing While Wearing an Evening Gown By Some Fabulous Designer” – if not this year, then not too far off. What I’ve always watched the Grammys for is the performances. There’ll be new acts that you have never seen before and people that you always enjoy seeing. And they’re performing for their peers. I’ve always thought that added a little edge to the performance.
The event does manage to build anticipation about what music will get what award, but I find it almost irrelevant to distinguish between Song of the Year and Record of the Year or Best Pop Male Performance and Best Male Rock Performance or Best Pop Performance by a Group or . . . well, you get the idea.

The friends upon whom I’ve foisted my comments for the last couple of years know that this isn’t any deep analysis of the music industry or awards ceremonies. I’m just a guy who loves music and loves to talk about it. This is a little performance of my own and I hope that it might have a couple of amusing moments. I enjoy the back-and-forth that has started to develop. Friends have replied to my commentary and some small discussions have gone on for a few days after the event. I’ve never started bugging you all twelve hours before the event, though. Good Morning! Grammy Day!