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Cootie Girl: MUSIC WOES & THE GRAMMYS
1.8.2003
Hello all! My friend Michele has something to say about the Grammy nominations. I usually trust her music taste so I told her I would post her words here so take it away Michele ......
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Since I was a child, I've always wanted to work in the music industry. I longed for the day when I would laugh at my music store-buying friends, while I hysterically rolled around in endless piles of free CD's. When I no longer had to sleep with dirty roadies to get backstage, but instead, just flash my shiny laminated pass. When I could speed dial Mike D. on my cell to make lunch plans - or better yet, have my assistant do it.
Plan aborted. It's all bullshit.
I've worked in the music industry for the past four years, and all the magic I once harbored is gone. Very few concert tickets. Backstage? Yeah right! Celebrity access? Not so much! And while I do get some free CD's, I don't have nearly as much clearance as I thought I would.
And the music - the #1 reason I wanted to work in this field - isn't even relevant anymore. Case in point: The Grammy Awards. Every year, the old, out-of-touch members of the NARAS get together and pull nominations out of their asses. That's the only explanation for the crap that surfaces.
Let's take a look at some not-so-highlights for 2003:
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Dilemma - Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland
How You Remind Me - Nickelback
I'm not sure which of the above is more horrendous, but I'm gonna have to go with Nickelback. While I don't normally endorse violence, someone needs to shoot lead singer Chad Kroeger. His whining almost makes me long for Creed. I said ALMOST.
BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
Overprotected - Britney Spears
Not only did this single get no airplay, but it sucks. Hasn't she posed for Playboy yet?
BEST DANCE RECORDING
Hella Good - No Doubt
I love this song and this band. But No Doubt really needs to pick a genre and stick with it. They don't make dance music, and this is not a dance song.
BEST FEMALE ROCK PERFORMANCE
Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
I'm speechless. If this is the type of song that earns Grammy's, then I'm in the wrong business. The only type of award that this should win is Best Song To Slit Your Wrists To. Luckily, she should - SHOULD - be no competition against fellow nominees Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge and Susan Tedeschi - all Grammy darlings.
Of course, the Grammy's wouldn't be the Grammy's if they didn't snub quality artists. This year, it's The White Stripes, The Strokes, The Hives, The Vines, Wilco, Clipse and N.E.R.D. And while Justin Timberlake did earn one nod for BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION, I think he deserved at least one more. Like it or not, "Like I Love You" is one of the best produced tracks of the year, with a quality album to back it - much better than anything *NSYNC or Britney ever did.
So that's that. Despite all the ridiculousness & bureaucracy surrounding this awards show, I'll still plant myself in front of the television on February 23rd, eagerly anticipating who will win. Look out for my Grammy predictions on Cootie Girl then...
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um yeah ... to clarify I said I usually trust Michele's taste. I have no idea where her mad love for Justin Timberlake is coming from but I really wish she would just admit that Justin stole a riff from The Cure. Check it out listen to Justin's Like I Love You then dust off your Cure's - Head on the Door album and listen to "The Blood". I'm just saying!
