Madd Mad Eminem, Antegagum and Other 2011 Grammy Highlights

We all look at the Grammys in different ways, but here are some of the things about the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards show on February 13, 2011 that either surprised me, shocked me and even made me laugh.

The Aretha Franklin tribute began with Jennifer Hudson giving us all a good reason to hope that she is chosen to play the Queen of Soul in Aretha's biopic. Man, that Jennifer has got some awesome pipes. All the ladies did well, although I must say I would really much prefer Christina Aguilera to knock off the theatrics. It's like she's trying to be the second coming of Janis Joplin.

In Lady Gaga's performance, those pointy shoulders threw me for a minute. She's such a Skinny Minnie, I thought it was her real bones sticking out at first. Then Tinsel Trousers (the Twitter nickname given to Ricky Martin for his shiny pants) introduces Lady Gaga when she wins Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Bad Romance," and she's got on a black get-up with butt pads sticking out in the back. I'm telling ya -- you can't make this stuff up.

In her acceptance speech, Lady Gaga astonishingly credited Whitney Houston with inspiring her to write "Born This Way." Is this her response to all the claims that "Born This Way" is a poor Madonna imitation and, oh, by the way, what about the long blonde ponytail during the performance? Either Lady Gaga thinks we're stupid or she's intentionally thumbing her nose at Madonna.

I also got a chuckle out of David Letterman's Top 10 Grammy Surprise List, and his joke that Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga were joining forces to become a supergroup called "Lady Antegagum," but No. 7 was really my favorite.

10. Lindsay Lohan seen leaving the Staples Center with a Grammy-shaped bulge.
9. New music laws prohibit rhyming ladies with Mercedes.
8. Willie Nelson provided the Grammy show snacks.
7. Jay-Z revealed "Empire State of Mind" was really about Trenton, New Jersey.
6: The new category: best male or female traditional R&B urban alternative non classic latin performance by a duo or group with vocals.
5. In a touching ceremony, will.i.am added a comma.
4. The Academy president finally explains the difference between record of the year and song of the year.
3. Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga form supergroup Lady Antegagum.
2. John Mayer caught in a passionate embrace with Susan Boyle.
1. Justin Bieber? Hair piece.

Best New Artist of the Year! When they played the song clips for the nominees for Best Artist of the Year, I was thinking that Esperanza Spalding should win, but she won't. So it was really cool when she did win.

Unhappiest Artist of the Year! Ok, they didn't really have that category or an award for it, but if they did, I would absolutely give it to Eminem. Does this guy ever crack a smile? He had the most serious, almost scowling, look on his mug the whole time, and I was quite surprised at his regular acceptance speech when he won for Best Rap Album ("Recovery"), thanking all the people who helped him and his fans, because up till then, he looked like he was going to blow a gasket to me.

Justin Bieber seemed to be the second most serious face in the crowd. No. 1 on Letterman's list was "Justin Bieber? Hairpiece," but when the camera panned to Usher and the Biebs sitting together, Bieber didn't even so much as smile while Usher was laughing out loud. But maybe that's only when the joke is on him. When Seth Rogen made a joke about getting high with Miley Cyrus backstage, the camera again panned to Usher and Biebs and they were both laughing.

How about that Teddy Pendergrass Tribute? Lady Antebellum starting off with a tribute to Teddy then, it somehow turned into a tribute to Lady Antebellum. That was so wrong!

Barbra Streisand's awesome performance of Evergreen was no surprise. It's Streisand.

I was happy to see Mitch Miller included in the In Memoriam for me. I'll always love Mitch and always think of Mitch as my early mentor in a life of loving all kinds of music, plus I thank him for teaching me one of my favorite songs: "Be Kind to Your Web-Footed Friends" (for a duck may be somebody's mother).

I was shocked to see Gladys Horton named. I didn't even know she passed away. Gladys' songs ("Playboy," "Beechwood 4-5789" and "Too Many Fish in the Sea") as the lead singer of the Marvelettes will always be big big favorites of mine. So sorry to see that. Rest in peace, Gladys.

Source:
CBS: 2011 Grammy Awards (February 13, 2011)