Adele

Grammy’s For Your Granny

Posted on by nrmurph

Maybe music the past year just wasn’t as stellar as previous years. Maybe the artists chosen to perform just weren’t engaging enough. Or maybe, the Grammy’s were just boring.

There was more hoopla leading up to the show than the actual show itself. First, there was the talk about how the Grammy’s were inviting artists like Justin Timberlake, who was not nominated, to perform in order to create excitement and draw more viewers. Justin got to perform two songs while the nominated Frank Ocean, The Black Keys, and even Taylor Swift only got to perform one.

Then there was the “memo” that guests should dress appropriately in order to have a PG show. I guess CBS really isn’t over the Super Bowl Nipplegate of 2004. (Holy crap, Batman! That was 9 years ago. Where does the time go?)

grammysJ-Lo and Katy Perry did a good job of defying those rules though. Part of J-Lo’s dress must have got caught up on the block and Katy just really wanted to keep John Mayer’s wandering eye on her California Girls. She really needs better taste in men. Sure, it was sweet that she brought Allison Williams with her as her date but that playboy boyfriend of hers was still there, probably cursing CBS for making the ladies cover up their assets.

If the fashion can’t be exciting, at least let the show be so! Last year Adele swept the boards and the show still had momentum! This year it was boring. So boring that at 9:00 I switched over to watch Girls only to tune back in to see Lena Dunham with fun. boyfriend Jack Antonoff. It was unfortunate that fun. won Best New Artist. “We Are Young” is a decent song, but as an album, Some Nights pales in comparison to Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange. It would have been nice to see Frank win more than just Best Urban Contemporary Album and Collaboration on “No Church In the Wild.” Maybe one day the Grammy’s will stop being so narrow-minded.

And speaking of disappointments, let’s not forget Rihanna. Four years ago before the Grammy’s, Chris Brown beat her. Last night, she cuddled up next to him acting like a couple “in love.” It’s unfortunate that my natural ChrisRiRifeeling is to slap some sense into her, because violence is wrong, but seriously RiRi- what are you thinking!?  Clearly you don’t aspire to be a role model with songs like “S&M” but you are an embarrassment to women everywhere. Shame on you forever.

Maybe next year I just won’t watch the Grammy’s, then I won’t be bored or disappointed. Unless Beyonce or Gaga are performing. Then you know the show will be worth watching.

Rolling in the Grammys

Posted on by nrmurph

Turns out Adele can have it all. The acclaimed British songstress swept the 54th annual Grammy Awards, adding 6 statues to her previous 2 from 2009. She truly was the star of the night, especially with her much-anticipated first live performance since her throat surgery in November. She deserved every second of screen time and every standing ovation.

But the same can’t be said for others. Mainly Chris Brown. Who invited him? Why is he still relevant in pop culture? Why didn’t Lady Gaga knock him out with her sceptre last night? After he lip-synched his way through his performance (this is the Grammys, not So You Think You Can Dance) then he actually won an award! The screeching cat outside my window deserved that award more. Then, surprise! He performed again with David Guetta and Deadmau5 in a tasteless transition from Jennifer Hudson’s beautiful rendition of “I Will Always Love You” for Whitney Houston. I’m sure most people went from tears to jeers. I know I did.

Adele represents everything that’s right in the world- embracing your natural beauty, turning pain into success, overcoming obstacles. Brown is everything that’s wrong- lack of remorse, abuse, arrogance. It’s a sad reminder that we live in a twisted society when you see girls tweeting that they want Brown to beat them. Um….

The only karma was that Rihanna gave one of the more enjoyable performances of the night with Coldplay. Although my favorite, Adele aside, was probably Katy Perry’s dig to Russell Brand with her new song “Part of Me.” Plus, I really like her ice blue hair.

Nicki Minaj’s “Roman’s Revenge” on the other hand was almost a bigger question mark than the excessive Brown. Almost. Every time I think I might kind of like Minaj, she does something too outrageous and I take a step back. What on heaven and hell was that performance?! There is no way to ever make an exorcism, West Side Story, and the Catholic Church ever blend together on stage. Not even Gaga or Madonna could pull that off.

What were your favorite Grammy moments? Bon Iver as Best New Artist? Beach Boys reunion? Alicia Keys and Bonnie Rait’s Etta James tribute?

Best of 2011

Posted on by nrmurph

Best Song:

Lady Gaga – Born This Way

This song is on the right track to be the anthem of the year.

Best Album:

Adele – 21

If she doesn’t sweep the Grammy Awards in February, I will lose my faith in the music industry completely.

Best Music Video:

Katy Perry – Last Friday Night

Can’t help but love the homage to 80’s movies and the random celebrity appearances.

Best TV Show:

Glee

Okay, so I may get frustrated with storylines and the writers’ general lack of knowledge about their own show, but it’s still the best show on TV with a ridiculously talented cast. It doesn’t hurt that basically everyone is so attractive it hurts.

Best Movie:

Bridesmaids

Thank you Kristin Wiig for showing the world just how funny women can be funny. And Melissa McCarthy, you are a scene stealer. Please go to the bathroom in sinks more often

Best Book:

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Dear Tina: Do you know how much I love you? Let me count the ways… oh wait, there aren’t enough numbers to express that

Best Actor/Actress:

Ryan Gosling

Even though I still haven’t seen Crazy Stupid Love, Ides of March, or Drive (I know, I suck), I can tell that Ryan Gosling is clearly the biggest actor of the year. His face (/”Photoshopped” body) and name seem to be everywhere. There’s even a Tumblr page of a collection of Gosling Tumblr pages. That’s when you know you’ve made it.

Biggest Break-up

Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries

I’m still crying over Kim and Kris’ breakup. I’ve lost all faith in love now! NOT! Their breakup was big because it was disgusting. Who divorces after 72 days? Oh right, spoiled rotten brats like Kim Kardashian who abuse the right to marry while pocketing millions of dollars and ratings in the progress. It’s really sad that people are afraid that gay marriage will ruin the sanctity of marriage, yet being allowed to do this is okay. What a world we live in.

Biggest Loser:

Ashton Kutcher

Sure, he got a record-breaking contract on a highly publicized show, but he’s a loser. Who cheats on Demi Moore?! Also, what’s happened to his adorable face? All that scruff just makes him look even more like, well, the Biggest Loser of 2011

Person of the Year:

Steve Jobs

There’s really not much left to say about the late genius. He has changed the way we listen to music, talk to our friends, and how we interact on a daily basis. His contributions to technology will be remembered forever and we thank him for sharing his creativity with the world. May he Rest In Peace

Who to Watch in 2012

Lana Del Rey

She became an internet sensation recently and sold out shows without even having released an album, trust me, I was one of those who wasn’t able to get tickets but don’t take my word for it, have a listen to her brilliance.