I watched the Grammy Awards, and "don't get it".

[wintremute]

It's a simple generational thing.

Bruno Mars is this generation's Smokey Robinson (or whatever favorite classic soul artist comes to mind).

Adele is their Barbara Streisand.

Beyonce is their Diana Ross.

(You can make better equivalents if you like, but you get the point.)

You don't "get it" because this isn't your generation's music. Heck, my parents didn't "get" Hall and Oats, Michael Jackson, Prince or Whitesnake (and don't even get them started on Run DMC). Guess what. The 80s wasn't their generation. Those acts seem pretty tame by today's standards.

I don't find it offensive that I don't get all of today's music. It would be an oddball 20 year old that would "get" Smoky Robinson or Crosby Stills and Nash. We're all mostly right where we need to be.

All of that being said, Adele, Gaga, Bruno and Beyonce bring a metric ton of talent to the table.....even if I don't "get" every single song they do.

Yeah, a lot of this thread seems to be the normal "Music these days isn't music. Back in my day...".

 

[bassliner50]

I waited until after the show was over, googled to see if Bowie won anything, was pleased to see that he did, closed the tab and went about my business.

Yes, Black Star won. Good for Mr. Bowie, Well deserved.

 

[quilanthegreat]

It may be a waste of your time considering you don't care for her music - but I'd suggest taking 4 minutes out of your day to listen to the tune "One and Only" from her album "21". It's a song that evidences how much feel and soul she has, she relates and identifies with her music on an emotional level, which is a trademark of a true artist (a word that is so grossly overused these days). She really is incredible and I think a breath of fresh air in the industry.

I believe Pino is playing bass on that track as well, which may be the real reason why I love that tune.

 

[jasmangan]

The music listening consumer as a whole has very untrained ears. Not bashing the Grammy artists or the people who buy the music, but most people will never understand anything that's not in 4/4 and 1 4 5. Accept it and take solace that YOUR art is far superior.

 

[And I]

I watched the grammies

See there's your problem right there.

 

[Crash 56]

I love Adele, but also wish she would do some happy stuff... I was embarrassed for Metallica, they would have been better off singing with Pee Wee Herman......

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Did anyone notice they were playing a Metallica song when Dave Mustaine came to get his award?
It wasn't even a song Dave co-wrote.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The music listening consumer as a whole has very untrained ears. Not bashing the Grammy artists or the people who buy the music, but most people will never understand anything that's not in 4/4 and 1 4 5. Accept it and take solace that YOUR art is far superior.

Got ego?

Of COURSE you aren't bashing them ...

 

[Luke19Boarder]

... I only watched the awards because my lovely (though mostly non musical) wife tunes into it when ever it's aired. ...

I think you resolved your issue right here. There are many more people like your lovely in the world than there are people like you (or us, as the case may be). The Grammy's are aimed at her demographic, and as long as people are tuning in, they aren't going to change.

 

[Clark Dark]

I liked Jamereo Artis with the 60's J bass, smooth as ever
I did not know Bruno could play like that and I learned something.
Ed Sheerin was also good, helluva pedal board there.

 

[bassliner50]

I think you resolved your issue right here. There are many more people like your lovely in the world than there are people like you (or us, as the case may be). The Grammy's are aimed at her demographic, and as long as people are tuning in, they aren't going to change.

Thank you for that rational over view. As a side comment, and a similar thing, my wife (lovely as she is) watches police dramas on TV often. I find them silly, formula following dribble. (Must turn away.)

 

[Funky Ghost]

The music listening consumer as a whole has very untrained ears. Not bashing the Grammy artists or the people who buy the music, but most people will never understand anything that's not in 4/4 and 1 4 5. Accept it and take solace that YOUR art is far superior.

That smacks of musician snobbery to me. The bottom line is those "untrained ears" pay the bills. If it sounds good to them, you're solid. If they interpret your entirely enlightened and massively trained ears as whale bile. You're gonna have a hard time in the industry.

 

[nzscott]

I Just love Adele ,she sings ,writes and plays bass also and she is successful too. I bet you are a Adam Clayton hater too OP ?
As for the Grammy's ,thank God that jumped up little Kanye wasn't there or if he was he didn't get the chance to get up and rant about S@#t as he has in the past , I don't watch any of the award shows that are produced in the USA anymore, they are IMO to political and always bagging Trump or anyone who disagrees with their liberal points of view, californication and the Hollywood elite have too much to say , I say shut up and sing and who cares what you think Meryl Streep .

 

[stringthrough]

I stopped watching music award shows years ago. Tired of low-brow, uninspired, self-aggrandizing, digitally-corrected, overproduced fluff being awarded as the best music products of the year.

 

[smeet]

That smacks of musician snobbery to me. The bottom line is those "untrained ears" pay the bills. If it sounds good to them, you're solid. If they interpret your entirely enlightened and massively trained ears as whale bile. You're gonna have a hard time in the industry.

For much of history (and in some cultures, it still applies), the general public was expected to learn about and learn to appreciate relatively sophisticated musical styles. Mozart and Bach were pretty popular in their lifetimes. Our current consumer culture has been created to make money as quickly and forcefully as possible, so the time and effort required to appreciate a subtle art is no longer possible for most people. Sad but that's the way it goes. I like atonal odd-time classical metal/polka/gamelan as much as anybody, but a good disco or classic rock tune is good too.

 

[the explode man]

For starts, I just don't "get" Adele.

You don't have to "get" Adele to realize that she is an unreal talent.

 

[HolmeBass]

Yes, I understand the profit motive. What about the quality music motive? There are singers who enjoy both. Michael Buble comes to mind.

Wrong example!! Buble is just as bubbly and empty as Adele to me.

 

[buldog5151bass]

For much of history (and in some cultures, it still applies), the general public was expected to learn about and learn to appreciate relatively sophisticated musical styles. Mozart and Bach were pretty popular in their lifetimes. Our current consumer culture has been created to make money as quickly and forcefully as possible, so the time and effort required to appreciate a subtle art is no longer possible for most people. Sad but that's the way it goes. I like atonal odd-time classical metal/polka/gamelan as much as anybody, but a good disco or classic rock tune is good too.

Mozart and Bach were pop music back in the day. Not everything they wrote was considered "serious" in the day. Just like Shakespeare - he was a popular writer, and wrote in the vernacular of the day. We no longer speak that way (nor do we listen to classical music as much), so to us is it "art". Players like Paginini were the rock stars of the day - dressing in tight black clothes, showing up to concerts in black coaches, getting the female fans, considered in league with Satan ... sound familiar???

 

[BassLover668]

For starts, I just don't "get" Adele. I try, but all I hear her sing are crap tunes which are over produced and over dramatized. Her voice is admittedly a strong instrument. Why does she insist on this pompous fluff all the time? People actually prefer this stuff? This is the best we can do? Gaga is a musically versatile and talented individual. Watching and listening to her last night was like putting my head in a meat grinder.
In contrast to the Grammy show, the other night I saw the Gershwin award given to Smokey Robinson. Every singer was brilliant. Every tune consisted of real music content. It seemed the goal was a higher art. Not the Grammy line up. Although the Grammy visuals and sets were outstanding and mildly entertaining, the material was all overly sugar coated, mega over produced fluff. Standing ovation from the audience. I would be (metaphorically) throwing tomatoes. Am I alone with this consistent negative reaction to this popular presentation?

Girls and lot people like crap **** lirycs, no music.
Grammy is like mtv

Note:**** was censured lol

 

[Ekulati]

Yup, the Grammy's are nothing but a popularity contest, although that's for the televised portion. Lots of good stuff, and stuff that we as musicians can relate go, goes on earlier in the day. Back in the day, I used to play in the band of a woman who was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album this year. (She didn't win.) But that segment and many others like it were on earlier in the day. Of course, they save the "reality show" kind of stuff for prime time.

Didn't used to be that way. One example, back in c. 84, 85 maybe, Ry Cooder put a band together and sort of was the "house band" for Grammy night. There were other styles, of course, but that particular year had a heavy blues focus too.