2011 Grammy Wrap Up and Commentary - a Good Night for New Music

I must admit, going into the Grammy Awards this year, I was more than a bit skeptical. Sure, some great acts outside of the mainstream were nominated, with outstanding performances by established musicians.

But of course, that was the case last year too, when the often off-key and very over-hyped Taylor Swift was the big winner. When she won out over the much more superior nominees Beyonce and especially Lady Gaga, Kanye West wasn't the only person left wondering just what was going on.

With the memory of Kanye West grabbing the microphone at the VMAs last year to criticize those who voted for Taylor Swift still fresh in mind, I didn't have much hope the Grammy Awards this year wouldn't award pop-slop, and Kanye could stay seated.

For the most part, the Grammy Award ceremony of 2011 honored real music and artists. It was a good night for musicians over studio enhanced slush. A surprisingly fresh and rewarding awards show.

Canadians have many reasons to be proud, as one of the greatest icons of music finally won a Grammy when Neil Young won best rock song for "Angry World." Canadian band Arcade Fire pulled off perhaps the surprise of the night, winning Album of the Year for "The Suburbs." The category included entries from Eminem, Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum, and Lady Gaga.

Although she didn't win that category, Lady Gaga finally got some respect at the Grammy Awards, taking home Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.

The other source of Canadian pride came in the Best New Artist category. Not because a Canadian won, but because one didn't. The Grammy Awards shunned Canadian Justin Bieber, giving hope to real music fans the world over. The Bebes will probably do just fine at VMA shows for years, but isn't really what the Grammy Awards should be honoring.

The surprise winner in Best New Artist was Portland Oregon girl Esperanza Spalding. Not only did she beat out Bebes and Drake, she also triumphed over outstanding bands Mumford & Sons and Florence & the Machine.

Mumford & Sons began one of the best musical segments of the show, leading into an Avett Brothers tune, after which both bands joined legend Bob Dylan. Other great live performances included Lady Gaga, Eminem with Dr Dre and Rhianna, an eternal Mick Jagger, Katy Perry, as well as a nod to legend Aretha Franklin.

Muse rocked the joint with "Uprising," wish I would have seen them live when they hit Portland last year. Another rocking performance came with the medley featuring Bruno Mars, BoB, and Janelle Monae. The medley ended with her song "Cold War," and it flat-out rocked.

See videos from many of the performances here. Janelle Monae isn't there, so catch her tune "Cold War" here.