2008 Grammy Awards Celebrate 50 Years of Music

The buzz before this year's Grammy Awards was big and exciting. There was so much possibility. It was the 50^th anniversary of the awards. Kanye West was once again up for album of the year and was a shoe-in to win against competitors that most were predicting just couldn't stack up to West's 'Graduation'. Amy Winehouse, whose rehab stints have made her become famous even to those who live under rocks, could not attend. She was having problems getting work visa clearance. Rumors were swirling about all the big names who would be showing up setting it up to be one of the biggest nights in Grammy history.

The red carpet carried on the electric in the air with several music celebs stepping out with brand new looks. It wasn't about the dresses and fashions as much this year as it was all about the hair...or lack thereof. Beyoncé Knowles lost the super-long hair extensions and showed up with lovely shoulder-length waves with sunny blonde highlights. Rhianna who had gone from long locks sported a chin-length bob not too long ago, but she confidently modeled a new 'do: a pixie cut with long top layers that just skimmed her beautiful eyes. Nelly Furtado was also in on the short hair trend with loosely slicked-back cropped locks. She'd also gone blonde which most critics didn't think was a good look for her. Nelly seems happy with her new look, though, and told E! that since she's been blonde, she notices that she gets away with a lot more. Fantasia, formerly of American Idol fame also chimed in on the trend to the extent she even shaved half her head.

A few celebs didn't get the memo that less is more. Carrie Underwood was sporting hair that looked like it had been stolen straight off Pamela Anderson's head and Miley Cyrus kept her hyper-extended locks. Fergie also needs some help in the hair department. Her hair is still the same length with a part in the middle. Business as usual for The Duchess, but we're starting to itch for some change from Fergie Ferg.

When it came to fashion, it seemed there were more jeers than cheers this year by the critics and it wasn't that there were many appallingly bad choices, just that the styles were appallingly boring. Not only did the much-loved Fergie need help with hair, her banana-yellow gown was not winning her any favors. Beyoncé had mixed reactions to her gown with some thinking it was stunningly beautiful in the soft lavender/blue pastel that floated around her legs like a cloud. Others said she looked like a fairytale princess from hell.

The awards presentation began with Alicia Keys who sang a ghost duet (à la Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole) with Frank Sinatra in which she played piano while crooning along. She then sauntered up to the mic in a stunning green gown to present. "We honor our past we celebrate our present and we look always to the future. Ladies and gentleman, here's to the next 50 years," she beamed. Keys would later get best female R&B vocal performance for 'No One' which she would also perform later in the show with a guest guitarist, John Mayer. Carrie Underwood then performed 'Before He Cheats'. Flashing lights and street percussionists beating junkyard-style props accompanied Carrie who wore an outfit that could have been stolen from Britney's more conservative wardrobe: black hotpants, thigh-high boots and a long-sleeve top accented with patent leather. She performed it more like a pop diva than a country star, adding in lots of pop-style vocal acrobatics.

Rhianna performed the song 'Umbrella' once again. I don't think the song would be missed much if it was finally put out to pasture and if there had been an award for most over-played song, it would have won hands down.

Tom Hanks gave the most stirring presentation speech about The Beatles which he described "timeless music of grit and grace" He got the crowd going by saying, "Together these four men made music that changed the history of our planet". Cirque Du Soleil then took over the stage with something that I believe was supposed to be interpretive art tribute the the Beatles which involved a woman flying about hanging on to a few straps dangling from the ceiling and dancers below her doing contemporary dance. A Volkswagen Beetle sat passively with softly gleaming headlights until it appeared to blow apart. The dancers grabbed pieces of the car and danced with the parts while the woman hung from the straps and glided overhead. A young soloist then took the mic to sing 'Let it Be' à capella while images from Vietnam played on movie screens in the background. 'Let it be' lit up above the stage with peace signs. It was a tribute to the Beatles that was supposed to be stunning, but more aptly was confusing and odd.

The Foo Fighters performed on an outdoor stage for all the common folk outside that will probably never be inside a Grammy auditorium. A young violinist named Ann Marie Calhoun won the honor in an online contest to play with the Foo Fighters. It was set up so everyone was expecting a killer violin solo, instead, they put the poor girl in with the rest of the orchestra where she was lost in the noise playing in a whole section with other violinists in an accompanying orchestra conducted by John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, oddly enough.

Back inside, Kanye West took the stage in font of pink flames with light-up glasses and a glow-in-the-dark vest rapping about how we should "Bow to the greatness". Sure Kanye. The crowd looked pitifully unenergetic. Maybe they're sick of Kanye's attention-starved antics too. Kanye's stage set-up was a huge black pyramid framed by puffs of reddish pink smoke. The pyramid eventually opens to reveal two guys that appear to be in motorcross suits acting as DJ's.

The lights go down and fade to a single spotlight on Kanye who raps a touching ballad about his mother with lyrics, "Last night I saw you in my dreams, now I can't wait to go to sleep," while pictures of a woman dressed like an angel flashed ethereally on the screens behind him. The performance was in remembrance of his mother who passed away not long ago. Out of respect, he got a standing ovation.

Fergie and John Legend performed together. Fergie with her hand resting on a piano wore an elegant sage green dress that she should have worn on the red carpet. It was much prettier and grown-up than the ugly yellow dress she was wearing before the wardrobe change. Her hair was messy and pulled back sloppily, but Fergie actually looked more sophisticated. It's a good look for her.

Cher took the stage to introduce Beyoncé in shiny, lime green hot pants that were so short she appeared to be dancing in underwear. Beyoncé awkwardly pranced around stating the names in some bizarre spoken word/dance routine in a big lead-up to Tina Turner who did not wear shiny hot pants but a shiny silver pantsuit. She looks amazing for her age even though the outfit suggests you pop her in the oven for 30 minutes on 425°. I'm just jealous because I'm probably less than half her age and wouldn't look half as good in the outfit she wore.

Beyoncé returned to the stage in a mini-dress with attitude to sing 'Rollin' on the River' with Tina. With that lineup...Cher, Tina Turner, Beyoncé...it was a drag queen's dream. The first part of the song rocked, but they really turn up the heat halfway into the song. In true Beyoncé fashion, she was flipping her head so hard it nearly gave me a neck ache.

George Lopez came out to tell a few bad jokes and introduced Brad Paisley who sang a song revolving around a pick-up line about checking someone for ticks. It's always great when those who don't listen to much country music but for once a year when they watch the Grammys get treated to the cornier side of the country music industry.

Chris Brown, Solange, and Akon presented the award for best rap album. The award goes to Kanye who has Mama shaved in big letters on the back of his head. Kanye, instead of humbly accepting aims a few carefully-worded insults at Nas (for saying hip-hop is dead) and starts talking about how he was telling Common how to make music. He says that Amy Winehouse and the other nominees deserved the award...but he deserved it too and points heavenward telling his Mama that he knows she would want him to be the #1 artist in the world and he'll keep going. All this after snapping because they started playing the exit music over his drawn-out speech.

Kanye's usual ego trip was followed by a whole slew of gospel singers performing with Aretha Franklin and a delightful performance by Feist who brought a new type of music to the Grammy table when we're all hungry for something new. Maybe next year we'll see more music of a different variety. This year, as in past years, the show seems to have been dominated by rap music and R&B. It's time for something new.

Vince Gill won an award for Best Country Album and received his award from Ringo Starr. Vince, beaming, said into the mic, "I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet Kanye?" he quipped in a sly, tongue-in-cheek stab at Kanye's ego. Kanye either didn't get the slam or has a good sense of humor. The camera showed him laughing in the audience along with everyone else.

Amy Winehouse performed via satellite from London in a dynamic performance that was sure to cause some yearning from Grammy attendees to wish they had been able to see her performance live. A short time later, it was announced that she won Record of the Year. Her reaction was truly touching as tears poured down her face and she hugged her band and family. It was probably the best moment of the entire show. Here's to hoping this is more inspiration for her to clean up and get sober. If a Grammy can't do it, what can?

The final performances were not bad, but after sitting and watching three hours, they were the worst possible choices for what would keep viewers interested. Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban sang an operatic duet, an orchestra performed 'Rhapsody In Blue', and several other performers including Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard on dueling pianos rounded out the final sets. Will.I.Am of the Black-Eyed Peas got up and performed a little rap about the Grammy's that was completely out of place and forgettable. By this time, most of the viewers had probably fallen asleep in front of the television.

Kanye, who has had his eye on what he views as the big prize - album of the year probably thought he had the award in the bag. Most of the critics were convinced he had it in the bag, but instead Herbie Hancock's tribute album to the work of Joni Mitchell took the award. Quincy Jones and Usher presented the final award of the evening. Before opening the envelope, Usher looked at Kanye and said, "There are no losers in this category, Kanye." His reaction for losing the award wasn't shown.

At the end of the night, Amy Winehouse took home four of the big awards and Herbie Hancock walked away with the much-coveted album of the year, setting Kanye up to be the less-humble Susan Lucci of the Grammys. All in all, it is clear why the show's ratings have gone down. Over three hours is just too long for anyone to sit through performances that might translate as exciting to those in attendance but just don't come across the screen the same way to viewers at home.

The general theme of the evening was about the passing of the baton from the older generations of music to the new. If all we have to look forward to in future generations is rap music, then we're in big trouble.