So did you catch the Grammy Awards last night?
Us neither.
I am just not that into awards shows, you know? The one exception is the Oscars and even then, I take considerable flack from my husband for watching.
Pop music, especially, is not a market I keep track of. Beyonce. Pink. Lady GaGa. These are names that have been on the outer-edge of my radar without my really knowing who or what these women are about…
…and for good reason, evidently.
This morning’s paper was full of photos. Miley Cyrus in a really short dress—shorter than her weave! the reporter said. The lady known as Lady Gaga looked remarkably like an extra on Star Trek. My girls took one look and renamed her Lady Yuck Yuck.
(No offense to Lady Gaga.)
(Okay, perhaps a little.)
It was the above photo that really got to me—a barely concealed, beribboned Pink, whose “show-stopping” performance earned a standing ovation. For crying out loud, I thought to myself, is this the best that American pop culture has to offer?
The televised indecency is nothing new, of course. I just find it really sad (and telling) that these women need to sell themselves in order to sell their music.
Even worse than that, we buy it.
- See Also: The Lady Gaga and Madonna Parade
Gosh, I thought I was the ONLY one who thought like this! Thankyou, I donot feel so alone now. I think I will go and listen to John Denver, The Priests, on my IPOD as I walk my dog.
signed
Theresa in ALberta
p.s. The saddest picture I saw from last night so called awards show, was the joyless, somber faces of Michael Jacksons children.
That last sentence hit it out of the park.
I think what is truly sad is that burried under all of the hype over her outfit and her hanging and twirling was the fact that she is a very good singer. At the grammy's i always thought one could get by with using the gift of music they have been given from God. It makes me sad for women, as a mom of daughters, it breaks my heart 🙁
Holly, I agree. She is a good singer and I lament that she makes it impossible for me to like her.
I'm with you, Margaret. I am completely 'out of it' in the world of pop culture… and glad to be also. – But, really, who is the person who is singing in the photo… should I know who that is? I don't… do tell please.
I caught the last 35 minutes of the show. Dave Matthews was good 😉
I agree with your thoughts … especially the thought that women THINK they need to sell themselves in order to sell their music. It's very sad.
Just tonight i was chatting with my 14 year old and asked if the Grammy's were the talk of the day at school. Apparently they weren't … she had no idea. I briefly touched on the topic. The music that I saw was all for show and very little talent. There are a lot of talented musicians in this world, but often they are not recognized to the extent that some of the "artists" on the Grammy's get. VERY SAD 🙁
I was a little surprised (went back on YouTube) by PINK. Now I know she is a bit of a wilder one, but I do think she has a lot of soul in her voice. I sometimes listen to her on my running playlist. From some of the songs she has sung in the past, it seemed like she was a bit of a rebel … not wanting to BE LIKE THE OTHERS (Britney, etc). Her performance was all about shock and getting noticed. Rather disappointing 🙁
I think it's all very sad. How did we *get* here?
I caught 10 minutes of the show after "Emma" was over, and saw a rap performance where fully 50% of the lyrics were bleeped out!
They were men, and they only showed the back side of their underwear.
They also sold out on their femininity to sell their music. Lady GaGa is not a lady and Pink is hardly representative of the color for pretty girls.
Pretty is as pretty does.
I admit that I really like Lady Gaga's songs. I don't know if it's the beat, or the tune or that they are easy to belt out in the car. But I find them fascinating. She reminds me of when Madonna hit the airwaves way back then. As for a little trivia, she is a local Italian-American NYC girl who graduated from the very prestigious Academy of the Sacred Heart.
The garbage on those shows bore me, but ditto for most of pop culture.
We listen to Dean, Frank, old Showtunes, irish music and when its time for a movie a good ole black & white on TCM. I don't feel like we're missing a thing.
JMB-
She may have went to a great Catholic school but she is no longer practicing. She is also a full supporter of homosexual relationships and needs a lot of prayer.
I know that. I like her music. There are many similarities between her and Madonna. That's all.
I am a classics person too. I couldn't tell you one new artist and I am quite proud of that. My kids know every Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney song out there. Nothing like sitting down during a long MN winter and watching GiGi, An Affair to Remember, To Catch a Thief, The Bishops Wife or The Quiet Man. Your kids will love them and you will even more.
I Can't understand it, but i like it, because I come from VietNamese
'Pop' music is… what's marketable to the masses. The goal is to sell us something and I don't like commercials! I did read an interesting article comparing Lady GaGa and Madonna, by The Anchoress.
Bands make more from ticket sales at live shows than they make from cd sales, so find stuff you like (Pandora is good for that) and then find fairs, festivals and concerts to see them perform live. Support the kind of music and musicians you really like… and take your family with you!
This is such a funny post! I actually was flipping channels back and forth between the Grammy's and BBC's Emma when I saw Pink spinning and dripping all over the place. I kept thinking to myself, "Did they have to ask people if they wanted to sit in the splash zone?" I just kept thinking of the Sparky show at Como Zoo!:) She's an incredibly talented singer, but that performance was over the top and well deserved to be kept to Brittney Spears last tour. Thanks for posting what was on a lot of our minds.:)