Grammy Best & Bashed

Classiest Moment: James Brown tribute. Simply elegant.

AWARDS

Record of the Year
Prediction: Put Your Records On: Corinne Bailey Rae
Winner: Not Ready To Make Nice: Dixie Chicks
(Recent winners included Alicia Keyes and Norah Jones. Given this, Dixie Chicks win was surprising.)

Album Of The Year
Prediction: Continuum: John Mayer
Winner: Taking The Long Way: Dixie Chicks
(The most unexpected of their quintet.)

Song Of The Year
Prediction: Be Without You: Mary J. Blige
Winner: Not Ready To Make Nice: Dixie Chicks
(The worst song wins. Anyone was more deserving.)

Best New Artist
Prediction: James Blunt
Winner: Carrie Underwood
(This was undeserved. During her acceptance, she thanked Nineteen Management. Their goal was pop star creation. They have failed miserably.)

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Prediction: One: Mary J. Blige & U2
Winner: For Once In My Life: Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder
(This evening’s most shocking.)

Best Pop Vocal Album
Prediction: Back To Basics: Christina Aguilera
Winner: For Once In My Life: Continuum: John Mayer
(There was no incorrect choice. One of the evening’s deepest categories.)

Best Rock Album
Prediction: Stadium Arcadium: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Winner: Stadium Arcadium: Red Hot Chili Peppers
(Completely deserved.)

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Prediction: Be Without You: Mary J. Blige
Winner: Be Without You: Mary J. Blige
(Her peaks and valleys speech was inspiring.)

Best R&B Album
Prediction: The Breakthrough: Mary J. Blige
Winner: The Breakthrough: Mary J. Blige
(Her songs and story are amazing. One must feel good for her.)

Best Rap Album
Prediction: Game Theory: The Roots
Winner: Release Therapy: Ludicrous
(Obligatorily mocks Oprah and Bill O’Reilly. Classlessness was predictable.)

Best Country Album
Prediction: Taking The Long Way: Dixie Chicks
Winner: Taking The Long Way: Dixie Chicks
(Natalie Maines quotes the Simpson’s. Despite victory, she remains immature.)

PERFORMANCES
(Rating scale between one lowest and ten highest)

Beyonce (10)
(Her spotlight performance sparkled. Her look was flawless.)

Corinne Bailey Rae\John Mayer\John Legend (10)
(Rae’s song selection was surprising. However, “Like a Star” and “Put Your Records On” are virtually equal. Mayer’s choice was inspired. The trio was magnificent. Their support singing was special.)

Justin Timberlake (10)
(Evening’s most unique. Piano showcased his musical prowess.)

Justin Timberlake\Robyn Troup (10)
(“Sunshine” was an inspired choice. Troup was sound. However, American Idol should not displace professionalism.)

Mary J. Blige (10)
(Her performance hit the appropriate notes. She was understated and classic.)

Red Hot Chili Peppers (10)
(Subdued song was perfect punctuation. The snow was dazzling.)

Smokey Robinson\Lionel Ritchie\Chris Brown\Christina Aguilera (9)
(Robinson and Ritchie were marvelous. Brown’s “Stomp the Yard” entrance was unique. His performance was terrific. Aguilera threw her body into “It’s A Man’s World.” However, her performance was excellent.)

The Police (9)
(Remarkable performance. Tour should be incredible.)

James Blunt (8)
(Simple performance complimented this stunning songwriter.)

Wyclef Jean\Shakira (8)
(Performed with soul and energy. The live combination exceeded expectations.)

Mary\Mary J. Blige (7)
(Their vocals were fantastic. The contrast between their dress and subject matter was gargantuan.)

Dixie Chicks (6)
(Performance was respectable. However, someone remind Maines white is a non-slimming color.)

Carrie Underwood & Rascal Flatts (1)
(Underwood’s “San Antonio Rose” was acceptable. Rascal Flatts “Hotel California” was exceptional. With that stated, “Desperado” failed to translate. Underwood was terrible. Their combined “Life in the Fast Lane” was horrific. The song was ruined with fiddle. “Lines on the mirror, lines on her face” was not believable from country artists.)

Gnarls Barkley (1)
(Evening’s co-worst performance. Their song was overdone and percussion drowned. The slower rhythm was an abomination.)