Grammapalooza

February 8th, 2009

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8:16 Rev. Al Green, Justin Timberlake and Keith Urban (wha?) perform “Let’s Stay Together.” It’s pretty good, except JT opens with a super long monologue. Also, midway though, Keith Urban explodes into a Jeff “Skunk” Baxter solo that would be worthy of a Steely Dan album. From 30 years ago.

8:24 – OK. Our family disapproves of the Sgt. Pepper fashions worn by Coldplay since the release of “Viva La Vida.” They look more like the Bee Gees in the Sgt. Pepper movie.

8:39 – These guys may be doing this better than me.

8:55 – With Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift, his just turned into my high school talent show. It’s the two prettiest girls in school singing about “freshman year.” And they sound just awful.

9:04 – Quote of the night, so far: “I can’t believe that he is a recording artist.” My wife Linda, on Kid Rock’s Grammy night performance.

9:06 – Heavenly States in a Lincoln commerical. Awesome.

9:23 – Craig Ferguson gets best joke of the night in with “vomit on your shoes and stab you” crack.

9:24 – Katy Perry in a banana. Yawn.

9:25 – The YouTube-interactive thing in Katy Perry’s performance was kind of a bust. They just rolled on the screen in the back, right? No close-ups of her fans singing along with the song?

9:37 – Morgan Freeman is a great actor, but he is not a great presenter. Did he call Kenny Chesney a “private pirate?”

9:49 – M.I.A. moment: Awesome.

9:55 – Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl. Another new-meets-old Grammy moment. Nice idea, but what is this supposed to accomplish? More pregnant ladies!

10:16 – Sugarland and Adele team up for “Chasing Pavements” (after Sugarland solos a Sugarland song that I don’t know, alas). It’s pretty great. Why don’t we hear more female duos?

10:21 – Radiohead whips out a marching band from USC for their live performance. Mmmm. I’ve seen “Hollerback Girl” before.

10:30 – All the presenters are referring to upcoming artists as “their very good friends.” Really? Was there a really sweet party last night, and everyone had a moment?

10:34 – Let’s get ready for the piracy speech! Man — this has been SO effective in the past.

10:41 – Four Tops tribute rolls, and Pitchforkmedia tweets: “and just like that, it’s pbs”

10:49 – Neil Diamond just leaned on a Coldplay member. (And then hissed: “You can’t carry my jock.”)

10:53 – Whoa! Dead-people montage is flying by! Can’t read fast enough!

10:56 – We need another award!

11:04 — Li’l Wayne and Robin Thicke. You have my attention.

11:04:39 – Might have been even more interesting had it been Alan Thicke.

11:05 – And here comes Allen Toussaint. Feet don’t fail me now. This is getting kind of manic.