Well, it’s Grammy time again. Each year it rolls around, and in some Pavlovian way, it makes me feel lousy. My knee jerk response is, that I don’t want to watch, and that I hope nobody discusses it when they see me on the streets the next day. Now the Oscar’s I love. There seems to be more dignity. Don’t get me wrong, I know it too is heavily influenced by promotion, advertizing, and money. But I see variety there. I see a wide spread of tone, mood, and expression. AND, I don’t see undignified behavior like that expressed by my fellow musicians where some wear their awards like a rooster wears their main. I don’t see one artist interrupt another to espouse to the crowd that they really didn’t deserve the award.
Perhaps another reason I feel so bad about the Grammys is that certain categories of music – one’s that I think are artistically important such as Jazz, classical, Instrumental, Indigenous, etc are not even televised. I love Rock and Roll. I was raised on Rock and Roll, but I not proud of some of it’s progeny such as MTV and VH1. It seems that shallow is deep, and inane is important.
Well, I have to admit that now and then I flip the channel to take a quick peek at what is going on. Some I can’t believe, some I am embarrassed by (The aforementioned Kanye West example). But, now and then I am blown away and I think, “there is hope for this art form.” For example Herbie Hancock winning album of the year, or Nora Jones being recognized for musical expression not currently in vogue. Neal Young has never won a Grammy but tonight is being recognized for his contribution. Also, I thank U2, Sarah Mclaughlin, and many others who continue to shine a bright light in the popular musical world.
I am a musician. How much of this is sour grapes? What if I were nominated for a Grammy? Would I accept, or like Marlon Brando refuse his Oscar. After all, is art a sport? Can we say one form of expression is superior to another? This isn’t football or track where there is an obvious winner. This is expression. This is the vision of the artist and the way he interprets the world – OR IS IT?
Music is an art form closely related to commerce. Generally speaking, musical decisions are made by a team as well as the musician or composer. Very important to this team is how to make music that produces money for the “industry”. This is not bad. But, there is another way of making music. One where a musician, or musicians sit and create a painting based upon their whim or vision. They are the ones that make the decisions of what to paint on their canvas – not a corporate board. I have met unheard of musicians on Myspace, Pandora, and Facebook that impress me far more than those I see on the Grammys ( See Vladiswar Nadishana or Elizabeth Geyer)
So, would I accept a Grammy? Sure. It’s a way to reach a broader audience, and pay bills. And being recognized by my peers is an honor. Plus my own artistic snobbery (Can you tell I may be a bit of an artistic snob?), shouldn’t necessarily be forced upon others (Except of coarse in the way I am doing this right now).
Generally much of what we get for the Grammys is the best music manufactured. Not the best music created. For those interested in an alternative try Myspace, Pandora, Last FM, eMusic, and many many other sites that offer something a bit more than what we get of the regular radio or the Grammys. Try the Satellites such as Sirius, XM, Music Choice, Muzak, for specialty channels that offer a much broader pallet of musical expression. And, lets hope that The Grammys make some awards to a few wonderful artists, with the further hope that someday, Ishak Perlman, Pat Metheny, James Levine, Peter Kater and others will be noticed.
