GRAMMY RECAP

The moment by moment account of the Grammy Award's ... At least my view in some regards

Madonna and the Gorillaz opened the show with a rock solid performance. Extremely entertaining and, not to mention, well thought out.

Kelly Clarkson wins for best female pop vocal performance. Pretty big upset. I thought that was Mariah Carey’s all the way.

Coldplay was awesome with “Let’s Talk.” I have got to go see these guys when they come to Chicago at the end of March. Chris Martin has some good energy on the stage.

(almost burn my fish and green beans dinner)

John Legend’s “Ordinary People” is amazing song. The guy has such a smooth voice. CBS started his performance in black and white. Nice touch!

Sugarland does a little “Something More” … They talk about Meryl Haggard Grammy Lifetime achievement award – much deserved. Allison Kraus and Union Station win Grammy for Best Country. Good pick. How did Gretchen Wilson get nominated!?!

Bono comes on and says U2 is the loudest folk band. Nice touch … A snippet of “Vertigo” is the song of choice before a rendition of “One” with Mary J. Bleige that was pretty awesome. I had my doubts about the duet but it sounded great. This will be a hard performance to top. Well, maybe Mary J. got a little too excited but I am bias because I’m a diehard U2 fan.

Matt Dillon was right when you came on afterwards and said “what a tough act to follow” … Best rap album goes to Kayne West’s “Late Registration” he comes out with this thank you list with the words “Thank You List” showing for the TV on the opposite side. He’s wearing something Michael Jackson would wear in the 80’s … This guy is a trip!

A clean shaven Ben Rothlisberger introduces a video from 2001 of Kelly Clarkson before she performs “Because of You” … She has a great voice because she didn’t sound that good. (The video from five years ago didn’t look that different but yet it did, weird)

Billie Joe and Gwen Stefane award U2’s “How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb” Best Rock album. I would have been ticked had this not won. Bono and Edge say nothing real contravesial.

Ellen Degeneras “introduces” Paul McCartney. I’m not a big fan but it was a quality effort from him behind the piano then a nice job with “Helter Skelter” in his first ever Grammy performance. How did it take so long to get this guy on the show?!?

Black Eye Peas and Jennifer Hewitt (looking very nice I might add) present best Male R&B performance to John Legend’s “Ordinary People” … Once again, the guy can just flat out sing!

Mariah Carey comes on and says music is spirituality to her. It looks like she is lip-syncing “We Belong Together” … In fact, I would bet she is then she breaks into some other song. Not a fan of her …

Teri Hatcher and up and comer Michael Buble, personal favorite, present best pop vocal album. I’m rooting for Kelly Clarkson and she wins! Wow!! This had Paul McCartney written all over it. She doesn’t cry this time during the acceptance speech. She just looks like she is having fun. You gotta enjoy that!

Jenna Elfman looks amazing in something for Owen Bradley. Then she introduces Faith Hill and Keith Urban. Urban starts with “You’ll Think of Me” acoustic. Awesome, that guys mush put on a killer live show. Faith Hill comes out immediately after and performs a song I never heard before but sounds good. (looking solid as well!)

(The Jayhawks just beat Nebraska for a nice Big 12 win! Notre Dame wins too)

Carlos Santana and Chris Brown present the best Rap/Sung Collaboration (what category is this??!) and the winner is Jay-Z/Linkin Park for “Numb/Encore”

Dave Chappel says something fairly funny then a tribute to Sly Stone with John Legend, Joss Stone and some “others” (including Maroon 5, Aerosmith) that’s pretty sweet. What is Fantasia doing on the Grammy Awards?!? Get her off the stage now! Sly finally comes out in this freakin’ awesome white mo-hawk! Yes, it rocked yet by the end of the 10 minute segment Sly no where to be found?!?

(During a long commercial break, it’s a look at the MIAA standings and see what Saint Mary’s hoops needs to accomplish down the stretch)

LL Cook J is looking smooth in all white with a brown hat sends props to Robert Johnson for a lifetime award. Jay-Z and Linkin Park freakin rock out their combo song “Numb/Encore.” The Linkin Park lead singer breaks into “Yesterday” then Paul McCartney comes out. So far this might be better than U2’s effort. It’s a tough call. Solid!!

Tom Hanks, star of the Da Vinci Code coming in May, gives lifetime award to the Weavers. He introduces Bruce Springsteen he performs “Devils and Dust” by himself. Old age is getting to his voice and he starting to sound like Bob Dylan (and that’s not a compliment) but he is still freakin Bruce Spingsteen!! A small standing ovation for his efforts including Bono!!

Destiny Child announce the Song of the Year to U2’s “Sometime You Can’t Make it On Your Own” which is an absolutely amazing song! Bono says a very nice “Thank You” to his day Bob … I was quietly hoping for Spingsteen but watching Bono crack-up when talking about his dad was very cool.

Kayne West and Jamie Foxx just to a knock-out performance of “Gold Digger” with a band, dancers, “cheerleaders” and the whole works. I mean even James Taylor gave him a standing ovation! Best effort of the night by far. High-energy, highly entertaining!!

Sheryl Crow and Sting did a tribute to Cream before announcing “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” for Record of the Year … Man, Kayne West has got to be ticked.

Terrace Howard gives a lifetime achievement award to Jessye Norman before Herbie Hancock and Christina Aguilera do “A Song for You” together. It sounded absolutely stunning. Probably the best sounding performance of the evening.

Fionna Apple, Chuck D and Common announce the award for “Best New Artist” … I’m hoping for Keane but this award goes to John Legend who probably deserved it.

After a short memoriam to those who died this past year they do an extended “good bye” to Richard Pryor that was very good. “Art is the ability to tell the truth.”

Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor say a special thanks for some producer then give a lifetime award to Al Schmitt before announcing Record of the Year to U2 “How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb” … Well deserved. Bono gives a special handshake to Kayne West before taking the stage.

The Academy President announces the final performers Bono, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Castillo with some of the Crescent Cities finest and does a tribute to the New Orleans music scene. Very well deserved!

Great Show! What was Fantasia doing there and who invited her?!??!?!

(I need sleep!)