If you’re not following me @Mjlamp on Twitter, you should really reconsider. I’m live-tweeting my thoughts on all the ridiculousness going down at this year’s Grammys…
I hope you enjoyed Dave’s favorite albums. And I hope you enjoyed Googling them because you’d never heard of them. Now it’s time to talk about the songs on the big bad radio! I’m such a sheep. Bah with me, won’t you?
Here’s a look at tonight’s four biggest categories and my thoughts on who I think should - and who I think will - win each one. Let’s see how right, or wrong, I am…
Record of the Year
Halo – Beyoncé
I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
Use Somebody – Kings Of Leon
Poker Face – Lady Gaga
You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Poker Face – Lady Gaga
I don’t know how voters will be able to deny the year’s biggest hit. If the night turns into a Taylor Swift parade, Swifty could certainly roll to victory here, but I’m stickin’ to my guns and predicting Gaga. I just hope Beyonce doesn’t win for the song that sounds like, but is less awesome than, this song.
Album of the Year
I Am… Sasha Fierce – Beyoncé
The E.N.D. – The Black Eyed Peas
The Fame – Lady Gaga
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King – Dave Matthews Band
Fearless – Taylor Swift
SHOULD WIN: The Fame – Lady Gaga; WILL WIN: Fearless – Taylor Swift
I think The Fame is the best album of the year. But I don’t think the Grammy voters will agree with me. I think they’ll play it safe and go with T. Swifty and her love stories instead of the Gaga and her love of disco sticks. I hope I’m wrong. Dave Matthews would be my third choice here, but I think a lady will take it. It’s been all about the chicas this year.
Song of the Year
Poker Face – Lady Gaga & RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
Pretty Wings – Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) – Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
Use Somebody – Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
You Belong With Me – Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
SHOULD WIN: Use Somebody - Kings Of Leon; WILL WIN: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)- Beyoncé
Beyonce has to win one of these big ones. I just can’t imagine them sending her home with only genre Grammys (i.e. Best Contemporary R&B Album), and this seems like an easy place to reward her for a song – and video – that became a major pop culture moment in 2009.
Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings
SHOULD WIN: The Ting Tings; WILL WIN: Zac Brown Band
This is a major toughie. Lady GaGa was royally screwed over by a technicality, and thus missed out on a nomination here. I love me some Ting Tings, but I don’t think they have much of a shot. I think it’s between Keri Hilson and the Zac Brown Band. I am not a Keri Hilson fan. In fact, I think she’s highly overrated. I’ll knock her ass down. I think the old school country vibe of the Zac Brown Band is likely to appeal more to Grammy voters. I hope so anyway.
The Grammy Awards will air LIVE on CBS tonight at 8PM (EST). During the three hour-long program, you can expect to see about 10-12 actual awards handed out. (You’ll have to tune into the pre-telecast to see the rest most of the awards. Click here to watch.) The majority of the live show’s three hours will consist of performances, tributes, more tributes and a tribute in 3D. Did you get your 3D glasses from Target?
In preparation for tonight’s festivities, I’m publishing a two-part Grammy preview. Later in the day, I’ll post my official predictions for the Top 4 categories (Album, Record & Song of the Year, Best New Artist), but first is my very favorite thing: a Top 11 list! It’s been too long, right?
Something a little different this time, though. Instead of another list conceived by yours truly, I thought I’d give you a different perspective. I asked my friend (and The Lamp Post’s resident web developer) Dave Casagrande to share a list of his favorite albums of the year. Since Dave runs his own indie record label, I figured a music list would be in capable hands with him.
A warning to frequent readers of The Lamp Post: This is not a Michael J. Lamp list. Regrettably, Dave doesn’t ooze Top 40 in the same way I do. So put on your hipster hat, broaden your horizons a bit and enjoy Dave’s list of his favorite 11 albums of the year. (At least he adhered to my rule of 11!)
Air Waves
EP
Catbird Records
One of my personal favorites from Brooklyn. Great little beachy pop songs with a Neil Young vibe. Just fantastic!
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Animal Collective
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Domino
What can I say about this record that hasn’t already been said. Simply, otherworldy.
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The Avett Brothers
I And Love And You
Columbia
I’ve only ever been a casual listener to The Avett Brothers, but I And Love And You changed all that. The production from Rick Rubin is incredible and the songs (with the exception of “Kickdrum Heart” & “Slight Figure Of Speech”) shape the record so perfectly.
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Bat For Lashes
Two Suns
Astralwerks
Completely blew me away… the voice, the arrangements, the power. I still get chills when I listen to “Daniel” or “Siren Song.”
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Crocodiles
Summer Of Hate
Fat Possum
Jesus And Mary Chain bites aside this album is fuzz-filled bliss. I can listen to this start to finish every time I come back to it AND it has one of my favorite singles of the year, “I Wanna Kill.”
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Dirty Projectors
Bitte Orca
Domino
Probably one of the best albums of the decade. Who knows what I’ll think in a year though.
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The Fox Hunt
The Fox Hunt
BigHouse Records
Is it so wrong to have an album you put out yourself on your year-end Top 11 list? I think not. Especially when the band is a good as The Fox Hunt.
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Kanye West
808’s & Heartbreak
Roc-A-Fella
Kanye didn’t make it easy to love him this year, but I think 808’s & Heartbreak will stand the test of time as of the most personal hip-hop pop albums of all time.
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Wild Beasts
Two Dancers
Domino
This album took a few listens, but I really love these dudes voices and they write such catchy songs.
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The xx
XX
Young Turks/XL
English youngsters make an amazing album of dark, sexy pop that transcends their age. WOW, what a debut!
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Yeah Yeah Yeah’s
It’s Blitz
Interscope
I listened to this album more than any other new record in 2009.
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Here’s hoping Dallas brings more to the table than LA, which was the pit stain of reality television last night. Here we go…
There she is. The one and only Kelly Clarkson. I love her more than words can describe. I also know that no one tonight is likely to bring as much joy to my life as the one and only Clarkson. It’s a long shot, you might say. (Click that link! Click that link!) My expectations are low, way low after last night…
Neil Patrick Harris joins the judges for Day 1 in Dallas. I think Doogie Howser, M.D. will be a great judge. He’s a triple threat himself and I’m sure he’ll bring plenty of Barney Stinson sass…
Julie Kevelighan
This hottie with the body auditioned eight years ago and is back to torture us all over again. This time, we’re treated to a particularly stirring renditon of Black Velvet. I will say that she’s aged rather gracefully, though. She looks mostly the same. I just wish that ’same look’ didn’t boast so much glitter and rouge.
On our way back from commercial we get a peek at some golden ticket recipients. Sadly, we get no such peek at their singing voices, as per usual.
Lloyd “Big Successxy” Thomas
That name alone is destined for super stardom. This is an interesting case. Our first look at this guy had all the trappings of a big ol’ mess, but then we get a look at his wife and little one, all walking down the street looking rather pensive. You know what that means! He’s singing Overjoyed and doing a pretty nice job at it, actually. Simon is a surprisingly huge fan. Randy once again displays his remedial math skills as he casts his vote of a “million percent” yes.
Next we get a montage of Simon and NPH disagreeing on seemingly every single audition. Apparently this is the week of the ‘guest judge spat,’ complete this time with old western sound effects. Not kidding.
Kimberly Carver
Oh Lord, another original song. The song is predictably trite, but her voice is really cool. Super jazzy, great range. Simon doesn’t think she’s ‘current.’ We know that just means he doesn’t think she’s purdy. And maybe she’s not at this moment in time. Let those over-the-top Idol stylists get a hold of her and she’ll be the next Lil Rounds yet. That might not be the best thing, actually. Despite Simon’s eighth grade bullying, she’s through to Hollywood.
Some shots of local news stories covering the Idol auditions, including a .5 second glance at Alexis Grace. We hardly knew ya.
Dexter Ward
After a disturbing amount of camera winking, Dexter meets the judges. Wow. Literally tone deaf. Michael C. Hall’s Dexter kills serial killers, but this Dexter is killing my love of a capella singing, one sharp note at a time. Actually, I think he has the unique skill of singing both sharp and flat at the same time.
We take a look at some crying losers and listen to Taylor Swift telling them all to Breathe.
Ryan checks in with NPH while the rest of the judges take one of their ‘breaks.’
Erica Rhodes
A former Barney cast member! That’s enough for me, frankly. I watched that show for a much longer amount of time than what is acceptable. I was such a cool 4th grader. She’s trying to be edgier in this dominatrix get-up. Erica makes it to Hollywood with a sexy version of Free Your Mind, but I preferred her x-rated version of the Barney theme.
No, you aren’t in the middle of a bad trip. Barney just appeared in the lower right hand corner of your screen. That really just happened.
Look, lots of people with golden tickets!
Dave Pittman
Dave’s walking down the street. Yes! Back story, back story, back story! Dave has Tourette’s Syndrome (sad), which conveniently fades away when he opens his mouth to sing. Dave calls that a miracle, but apparently NPH does not believe in miracles. He sort of embarrassingly calls Dave out. Simon says people will like Dave, but I get the sense he thinks they’ll only like him because of his handicap. Simon will soon turn on you, Dave. Be warned. See also: Scott McIntyre.
It’s Miley! We get a look at all the folks who made it that we didn’t hear or see, resulting in a mini tantrum from yours truly. At least we get to hear Miley sing about stilettos and memos!
Day 2 begins and Joe Jonas joins the judges in NPH’s absence.
Todrick Hall
Finally, an original song that’s worth a listen. Hilarious lyrics. Bonus points for calling Simon a bump on a log, invoking the dead pan single clap from the Cowellster. He’s through to Hollywood.
We get a quick glimpse at a few more golden ticket winners. No full audition clips, but at this point I’ll take the few seconds of each person and be thrilled with it. Ah the wonder of severely lowered expectations.
Megan Wright
Hear those ivories being tickled? That tender introduction means Megan either has a debilitating disease, someone in her family has a debilitating disease or there’s something tragic about her yet to be determined. According to Kara, the tragedy is her outfit. Rudey Poo! She’s got a great voice, very vulnerable quality to it.
Remember when Paula used to tell them all how ‘vulnerable’ they sounded? Oh, Paula. You are missed. You and all your semi-lucid ways.
With 8 minutes remaining in tonight’s episode, I feel strongly that Joe Jonas has contributed little to nothing. He looks pretty scared, actually.
Vanessa Johnston
From her screen saver tube top to her hot pink gym shorts, Vanessa is a hard lookin’ thing. At least her screechingly out of tune voice fits in nicely with her overall demeanor of…whatever that is. Joe’s feedback? “Wow.” Thanks, for that, Joe. You’re really earning your keep tonight.
We get a little montage chronicling the ‘difficult’ life of Simon Cowell, complete with some more Idol clip-art.
Christian Spear
Christian was diagnosed with Leukemia as a child. Don’t you think Idol shows us only the most tragic stories to make the lives of people like me more difficult? How am I supposed to make fun of someone with such a hard life? I guess I usually find a way. Luckily, this girl’s voice is very pretty – not the most memorable – but very pretty.
We get a look at the other folks that got golden tickets, a look at next week’s Denver auditions and we’re out. Tonight may not have moved any mountains, but it was a big step up from the last two or three episodes. Three, let’s be real, the last three have all been pretty completely lackluster.
Looks like Posh is back next week, which means we can look forward to her commenting solely on people’s “looks” and their “faces.”
Happy Hump Day!
Head over to Reality Wanted to read my recap of last night’s episode of Millionaire Matchmaker.
And check back here after Idol tonight for my thoughts on the Dallas auditions. Let’s hope Dallas trumps the snooze fest that was L.A.
I also have some exciting news on the Idol front, which I’ll be announcing soon…
