The U.S. economy may be $750 billion hurt (at least) but there is a new African-American President who dreams almost as big as John Lennon and at the Grammy’s that means, people will even believe Neil Diamond when he says good times never seemed so good.
He can talk because he just scored his first number 1 album.
Neil Diamond’s timely Grammy appearance have coincided with the newly heralded era of Democratic dreaming (even though someone did say they heard it at McCain rally) or maybe even signifies a flamboyant return of the descendants from the original dreamers. Remember Caroline Kennedy?
And the Grammy’s last year showed us that music can even draw punk rock bands like Green Day into award-winning interpretations of politics.
But this year’s biggest political statement wasn’t from a musician – in fact Will.i.am only said congratulations to Obama, Chris Martin seemed to say they aren’t a real rock band (he seemed to be embarrassed about upstaging metal heads Metallica for Rock Album of the Year) and Kanye only rapped about the charm of a hip hop bling king’s swagger.
Rather, this year’s biggest political statement at the Grammy’s came from the President of the foundation itself. He awarded Obama two Grammy’s in an analogy of attempted wit and irony and seemed to pipe in an anachronistic contribution to the yes-we-can campaign. Did no one tell him, Obama has already won the Presidential race?
More importantly, he recommended the creation of a cabinet posting to promote U.S. arts internationally – never mind that Rock Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist were all awarded to British artists this year. Or maybe he said to promote in the US the international arts?
This year’s Grammy’s however, didn’t fail to thrill music lovers the world over. Once again, the goose bumps would rise with every ovation and the true music lover would feel their passion being reignited inside, as we see and hear how many amazing sounds and amazing moments and amazing messages music can create in just one night.
Whether it’s the drum-laden musical genius of 15 steps by Radiohead; or generation-bridging tribute from Jamie Foxx to the Four Tops; whether it’s M.I.A. putting her due date on hold, to bounce her very pregnant belly with Kanye, Jay-Z and others to a collaboration of Paper Planes and Swagger Like Us; or Sir Paul McCartney teaming up with Dave Groel for a cracking version of I Saw Her Standing There; or Lil Wayne’s not-so-little tribute to the Big Easy; in one night, music could bridge any difference in time, country, age or belief.
It could make the young believe that youth can be as powerful as Adele’s voice. And old can be as unifying as a Neil Diamond classic.
In times when the world struggles with the definitions of terror, and benchmarks for economic stability, all we can hope for is that people do dare to dream as big as John Lennon once did. So, in the words of Lil Wayne, beat don’t fail me now.
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Rich Woman," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Best Rock Album: "Viva La Vida" Coldplay
Best New Artist: Adele
Record of the Year: "Please Read The Letter," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Best Pop Vocal Performance: "Say," John Mayer; track from "Continuum" (Columbia)
Album of the Year: "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Rap Album of the Year: "Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne