M.I.A. Performs Pregnant, Introducing the 'Rap Pack' and I'm spent!

M.I.A. opened for the 'Rap Pack', consisting of Jay-Z, T.I., Lil' Wayne, and Kanye, with a full belly. Today is her due date! And she was awesome. The boys were as well, though Jay-Z sort of pulled away.

Haha, but I'm afraid that concludes my Grammy coverage for the night. I somehow managed to pass out after their performance ended. Guess it wasn't that entertaining after all! Ha, no, I was pretty exhausted. Hope it was a good show XD. Though I doubt it; the Grammys usually fall off as the show progresses. And it would seem that the rumor I heard last year about the performers at the AMAs not being allowed to perform at the Grammys was true. A real shame; I would have loved to see Leona, P!nk, or Christina perform. 

Did you get through the rest? How was it??

Shoot me, it's Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus!

Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift just performed together. I thought I had the wrong channel. Taylor Swift is an abomination of a singer. Case in point: Miley Cyrus made her look like an amateur. Throw all the pen and paper you want at the girl, as she seems more than able of capturing the complex and gripping emotions of a 14-year-old girl. But, dear God please, don't give that girl a microphone.

Jennifer Hudson just performed as well. I almost needed a tissue. I think it's fair to say that Jennifer is just going to be very sad for a while. She still did great, despite it all. She held back the tears during her performance like a trooper. Hang in there, girl.

Are You Watching the Grammys?

Hey! The 51st Annual Grammys are airing right now. Are you tuning in?

For all of its flaws, I always find myself in front of my television on Grammy night. They aren't perfect, but it's the music industry's highest honor, and I'd feel almost sacrilegious not watching. U2 opened the show with an alright performance of their new single Get on Your Boots. Whitney came out next looking pretty damn good, but still looking a little...eccentric, we shall say. Jennifer Hudson scored Best R&B album; very heartening after her terrible year. And, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Boyz II Men, and the legendary Al Green all took the stage together to perform the classic Let's Stay Together. Pretty solid show so far, I have to say.

Coldplay's on now... BRB.

It's All Over

The Grammys have come to a close. I watch the Grammys every year and thought this show was relatively better than most, overall. It didn't have any great, heart-stopping moments like, say, last year's performance of It's A Man's Man's Man's World by Aguilera, but it was pretty much devoid of those dull moments that tend to plague the ceremonies each year. And, it was fun waiting to find out whether Amy Winehouse would make Grammy history. Until next year...

Wait! One more award worth mentioning, I think: Barack Obama won the Maine caucuses AND a Grammy Sunday night for his book-on-tape The Audacity of Hope.

And also, the writer's strike is finally over. Which is beyond wonderful. Now TV can once again rule my life. As it should. The strike really affected every facet of entertainment and I'm sincerely glad that they've reached an agreement and are going back to work. I've missed Gossip Girl.

Ooh, so close...

Herbie Hancock steals Amy Winehouse's dream by taking Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters. Close, but no cigar. I like Herbie Hancock. I haven't heard this album but, I don't understand how musicians like him don't win everything at the Grammys. I mean, they're the ones with undeniable talent, immune to the fickle tastes of the American people. If they make an album, you know it's fantastic. I guess that wouldn't make for a very exciting awards show. Oh, well. Congrats, Herbie. The record is not broken, but at least now Amy can share the distinction with greats Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, The Dixie Chicks, and Norah Jones. Oh, and, that other one... Beyoncé.

Josh & Andrea

I didn't get the big fuss everyone made about Josh Groban's holiday album, but I can't deny his talent; his voice is amazing. And I just love Andrea Bocelli. His voice is legendary, and unlike Stevie, he behaves the way you'd expect a blind man to behave. I think I'd be uncomfortable in Stevie Wonder's company; he's just too jittery and fresh, it's like he can see you. But anyways, great performance, boys.

Damn!

Natalie Cole looks GOOD! She is positively workin' that weave. Aww, Amy just won Record of the Year -- she looks stunned. Perhaps, a little too stunned? Haha, she doesn't exactly look all there. But, that's fine. Congrats, Amy! She's five for five, with one more to go. She's positioned to set the new record for most awards won in one night by a female artist.

Here Come's Amy!

She's just getting to the chorus of You Know I'm No Good, and she sounds great! She's having fun with it, it seems. She just gave a shot-out to that no-good husband of hers, Blake. Normally, I couldn't say she looks great but, relatively, she looks just that. Tons better than usual. Now that her Rehab lyrics are just flat-out lies, haha, her performance on the song is very tongue-in-cheek, and she knows it. Some of her movements are a little weird, but I honestly don't have anything to compare them to, having never seen her perform before. I can say that a tooth can and will make all the difference in the world. And just like that, it's over. Definitely not a train wreck.

Alicia's Back!

She's wearing a bit too much make-up, but she's singing No One, and that's always rousing. And, again my telly is quite blurry, but I think I love her outfit.

Ooh, John Mayer just came out! They've performed together quite a bit... Oh, this is great. What a sweet performance. My only complaint is it was too short -- I wanted them to rock out some more!

Oh, and here's Ringo again... sheesh.

Rihanna - Belle of the Ball

Though she hasn't come away with any Grammys tonight (yet), isn't Rihanna just the darling of the music industry? 2007 was such an awesome year for her and she hasn't squandered any of the momentum. She's still high on the charts with Don't Stop the Music, got another cute, trend-setting haircut, and just always looks amazing. She's not the greatest talent or the best performer, but it's hard not to root for her.

*Update: Rihanna just won her first Grammy! Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her mega-hit Umbrella. Her acceptance speech, like her dress, was very cute, thanks in part to Jigga.

OMG!

Why why WHY are they playing music on Kanye???!!! His speech wasn't even that long! They really just want him to flip the f*** out, don't they? I can NOT believe that just happened...

Amy's Going Strong

As I predicted, Amy's coming away with many Grammys tonight. She's already been awarded four, including Best New Artist and stealing Best Female Pop Vocal Performance from Christina *sniffle, tear*. It's OK, though. Not that Rehab was better than Candyman or anything, but it's OK.

I'm very curious about her upcoming performance; she's been said to be doing well in London these days, contradicting herself in her now Grammy award-winning song and entering rehab. Should be good.

And, no Grammys for Christina this year. :( Her duet with Tony Bennett didn't win either. Fellow fans, mourn with me.

Beyoncé and Tina

I'm sorry. So sorry. But, do my ears deceive me? Or did Beyoncé just lip-synch that intro? And look very tacky while doing so? "Inacceptable!"

I couldn't muster a single negative word regarding Tina Turner. She is old, and she is moving and looking good. And I love her smile, so full of life. Her performances are always enjoyable.

Beyoncé just came back. I will give her this: her hair is cute, good move getting rid of some of that weave. She's singing live now, so I know she wasn't before. Truly unacceptable, this is the Grammys! Have you no respect? How'd she even get away with that?!

Fergie, please...

Why are you posing as a vocalist? Please, go sit down.

Wow, Kanye...

I have to say, this is the first time I've ever enjoyed a Kanye West performance. Stronger, with Daft Punk, was very cool. And the dedication to his mother, who died in November, was pretty touching. I tend to dislike Kanye, just because he makes too much noise, but one must admit, he lays it all on the line. And in this instance, it's very endearing.

Alicia Wins Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "No One"

I loved her acceptance speech. Sometimes her music doesn't exactly do it for me, but I have great respect for Alicia as an artist and a woman. She deserves all the great things that come to her.

Oh, Carrie...

To say I have nothing against Carrie Underwood would be something of an untruth. But, her hold on Chace aside, I cannot say that I was feeling her Grammy performance. It all just sounded very flat. I previously named the song, Before He Cheats, one of my favorites of '07, and I kinda wanna stick to the studio version. Carrie has next to no range, and honestly if she were singing pop like most everyone else to come from American Idol, I believe she'd be underneath the radar with Katharine McPhee. And, she's not really a stage performer; she looked cute but, it wasn't very engaging. The runs she attempted at the end were...unsuccessful. A little embarrassing. And that hair...someone needs to be fired.

Alicia and Sinatra

What can I say? It was quite an awesome way to start the show. Marrying the old and new, very fitting to honor the Grammy's 50-year run, Alicia performed a very classy duet with the late, and yes great, Frank Sinatra. Oh, the wonders of technology. And, even on my blurry set, I could tell that Alicia looked phenomenal.

It's Grammy Time!

It's the 50th anniversary of the Grammy Awards. Are you watching? Do you care? I'll be sharing my impressions of the show throughout the night. The reception on my telly set is pretty abysmal, but I'll suffer through it. It is "music's biggest night," after all.

It's February!

New month, new banner. Out with the Upper East Siders, and make room for Janet, who's dropping her tenth studio album, Discipline, on the 26th of this month. Check out the jukebox on Janet's official website to hear two new tracks from the album. Both are really hot, but I'm especially infatuated with Luv.

Hopefully, February will also be the month when Christina comes away with another Grammy. Awards are distributed on the 10th; be on the lookout for some great performances for their 50th anniversary celebration. Christina will almost definitely not be taking the stage after giving birth last month to her first son, but Janet was recently confirmed to be performing. Which is exciting, I can't remember the last time she performed at the Grammys.

And finally, the Oscars. Actors vie for the ultimate recognition of talent in their craft on the 24th. Oh, and how could I forget *cough, cough*, the SuperBowl is this weekend. Both should be entertaining enough, and if nothing else, provide an excuse to throw parties and get together with friends.

Happy February!