Performance Reviews
Aretha Franklin Tribute: Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Yolanda Adams and Martina McBride performed a tribute to the great Aretha Franklin. Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson can do no wrong in my eyes - both have absolutely amazing voices. I'm pretty sure that Jennifer Hudson is making a name for herself as the Aretha of our generation. I liked the harmonies between all five of the women. Martina McBride was not bad, but I've had a hard time with her ever since she made that "oldies but goodies" album... something with her just doesn't click with me anymore. Apparently Florence Welch didn't get the memo that everyone else on stage was wearing black... I'm not gonna lie, I had to look up Yolanda Adams, but the woman can SING!Lady Gaga: I've been very slow to get on the Lady Gaga bandwagon. Not because I can't stand her music but because sometimes I just plain don't get it. I actually think she has a great voice, but she's just a little too abstract for me... I really liked this performance of "I Was Born This Way"... she can definitely dance and put on quite a spectacle. I think I might want to see her live to see what I think. That said, her costume was totally see through... like the top part. Was it plastic?
Miranda Lambert: I absolutely love "The House That Built Me". I wish Miranda Lambert got a little more publicity... she has a really cool old time country voice. There has to be something said for standing in the middle of the stage and singing your heart out. I loved that she dedicated it to the people before her and then showed video of the greats.
Muse: They have always sounded very 80's band to me and this performance of "Uprising" was really no different. It was an ok performance... nothing to spectacular. It was very Depeche Mode meets the Queen guitar riff.
Bruno Mars, B.o.B. and Janelle Monae: I really liked the string version of "Nothin' on You". I loved the black and white doo wop feel to "Grenade". I haven't heard of Janelle Monae before but I wasn't really digging the whole cape thing. She sang "Cold War" and while it was a good performance, it wasn't as catchy as the first two songs. Seriously, what was up the weird crowd surfing?
Justin Beiber, Jayden Smith and Usher: Am I the only person on this planet who doesn't think Justin Beiber is all that and a bag of chips? I'll give it to him, he can dance. But his voice is a little annoying to me. Maybe I'm getting old? That said, I loved the drum stuff. Very Polynesian! Jayden Smith needs to do some more work with his dad on the rapping stuff. Usher's dancing was awesome, as always.
Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons and the Avett Brothers: I sort of liked Mumford and Sons... they did a very cool little performance.The banjo player cracked me up... he was really rocking out! I also liked the Avett Brothers - maybe more folk music is making a comeback? And then came Bob Dylan... *sigh* I just have such a hard time with him. I'm sorry people, but he's not a singer. One of the best songwriters of our time? Absolutely. Singer? Not even a little. His performance was terrible. He sounds like he swallowed soap. More banjo, less Bob.
Lady Antebellum: Excellent harmonies on "If You Don't Know Me By Now". I can't get enough of this group! I also liked the acoustic version of "American Honey". "Need You Now" is one of my favorite songs... I love Charles Kelley's voice. Again, I love when they just stand and sing... to me that's a true sign of an amazing performance. I'm so glad they won Best Country Album right after singing!
Cee Lo Green and Gweneth Paltrow: Puppets? Seriously? It's like the Muppets barfed on stage. And that was a lot of feathers. About two days ago, I did an album review saying how much I loved his new album... this weird performance knocked it down a little bit. I saw Gweneth sing this on Glee and she did a pretty good job... I liked it live too!
Katy Perry: I was actually pleasantly surprised by Katy Perry's performance of "Not Like the Movies". She's like the sparkly version of Lady Gaga. I thought it was a really cool touch to play her wedding footage in the background. Of course, she had to sing "Teenage Dream", which wasn't all that bad!
John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban: I LOVED their version of "Jolene". First of all, you have two of the most talented guitarists out there right now... and it was a cool folksy twist on a country classic. Norah Jones still has such a cool voice... I wish she got some more recognition!
Rihanna, Dr. Dre, Skylar Grey and Eminem: I really like the song "Love the Way You Lie". I liked the opening with just her and the piano. Eminem was awesome, as always... I don't think he puts on a bad show ever. When they transitioned into the new song "I Need a Doctor", they introduced Skylar Grey, who has a beautiful voice. And of course, Dr. Dre. I think it's been forever since he's performed live... this was awesome! Probably my favorite performance so far!
Mick Jagger: I love that man. He's so quirky and weird and it just works. The man is 67 years old and prancing around on stage like he's 20. Absolutely amazing. He sang "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" as a tribute to Solomon Burke, who died last year and the song went on forever, but in a good way. Totally felt like a live show.
Barbra Streisand: You either love or hate her, but you can't deny that she has a fantastic voice. Again, another just standing and singing performance (with an orchestra!). She still has amazing control over her voice!
Rihanna and Drake: Wow, Rihanna really teamed up with a lot of people this year! And apparently wanted to stay with the fire theme. She and Drake sang "What's My Name". I liked the dancing around the fire... kind of a different idea!
Arcade Fire: Not gonna lie, I hadn't heard of them.... but it was a very rock star performance with a twist of classical instruments and megaphones. Pretty neat... I'm going to have to look up their album! Joe Walsh so already beat them with the whole camera on stage thing, but the bikes were kind of fun.
Clothing Reviews
Ricky Martin: I actually said wow to his pants. Skin tight silver? Wow...Bruno Mars, B.o.B. and Janelle Monae: I loved the throw back outfits, complete with retro hairstyles and spats!
Hayley Williams: (from Paramore) What the heck was up with that pink/black dress?! Pink and puffy at the bottom, black and see through in the middle... I was not digging it!
Lea Michele: I liked her dress... black but with a pretty bit of lace.
Miley Cyrus: Her dress was pretty, but she always looks like a little girl playing dress up to me... I think she needs to switch up her wardrobe a little bit!
Gweneth Paltrow: I was so worried for her boobies during the whole performance... it takes guts to wear something that plunges down to your belly. She definitely rocked it!
Seth Rogan: I really liked his suit! It was grey, but had some nifty texture to it!
Kris Kristofferson: He looks great and his all black outfit was really nice!
Jennifer Lopez: She looked HOT in her sparkly silver dress!
Who Got Screwed
Jay-Z: He really should have won for record of the year but because "Need You Now" and "Love the Way You Lie" were played so much more at the end of the year, I think he got overlooked.
EVERYONE in the Album of the Year category. Really? Arcade Fire over Eminem, Lady A and Gaga?
Quote of the night: "Country music is three chords and the truth". I love it!
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