Blinded by the Hype
Watch Adam Lambert's New Video
He's the 'Idol' you love to hate or hate to love. Watch his new video, 'For Your Entertainment!'…
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:17:54 GMT | JT_Ramsay
Grammys Snub Lady Gaga?
When is a snub not a snub?Various sites are reporting today that Lady Gaga will be ineligible for the Grammy for Best New Artist, despite her meteoric rise on the strength of 'The Fame.' Those sites are calling it a snub. Newsflash: it's not.
Lady Gaga hasn't been snubbed; rather, she's fallen victim to the byzantine rules regarding artist eligibility. Gaga was disqualified from being Best New Artist this year because she won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording at last year's Grammy ceremony for her hit single, 'Just Dance.'
So it's not a snub, it's just that the rigidity of the Grammys makes it impossible for that awards show to seem like it's on the pulse of anything remotely hip. Remember when jazz legend Herbie Hancock won Album of the Year, beating both Kanye West and Amy Winehouse? It's not unprecedented by any means.
The real crime is that press like this makes it seem like the Grammys are a barometer for anything cool.
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Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:52:30 GMT | JT_Ramsay
Too Much Too Soon for Taylor?
Wynonna Judd has beef with Taylor Swift over her Entertainer of the Year win, OMG reports [via USA Today.] Judd feels that Swift needed to pay her dues before taking home top honors at the CMAs.She told USA Today, "You want my honest comment? Its too much too soon. Time is Gods way of keeping everything from happening at once. Its just too much of a good thing too soon."
There are a couple of points worth making in Swift's defense. First, 'Fearless' wasn't her debut album. She had modest success with her eponymous debut before really jumping to primetime with her sophomore success. Secondly, would it really be smart for country to deny that Swift is the new face of country? Kenny Chesney still makes bank on tour, but his albums haven't reached beyond his Buffett-lite fanbase. Finally, and most importantly, Entertainer of the Year isn't some kind of lifetime achievement award. It was for 2009, which she completely dominated. She wasn't inducted into the Country Hall of Fame with Barbara Mandrell last night.
Judd tried to put things in perspective. 'My thing is, being a home-school mom, I want kids to earn it, and I think some time ... 'cause mom and I rode in a car for the first year of our career to visit radio stations. There was a making of the star, there was a rising up, and the fans went with us.'
Yes, some artists haven't had it as easy as Swift has. But the times have changed. The music industry needs to act quickly to capitalize on artists today and A&R is more or less a thing of the past. If a singer doesn't have a hit immediately, chances are he or she won't get an opportunity to develop. Think about Carrie Underwood for a moment. She was on top of the country world a few years ago, and now she seems like yesterday's news. It can happen that quickly.
Judd complained about the breakneck pace at which the industry moves today. 'Now its over coffee breaks, the success, almost," she added. "You have to play catch up ... It's like the girl who wins an Oscar and she's under 20. What do you do from here?'
It's a good question, but in today's music business, there may not be a tomorrow. It's just on to the 'next big thing.' No one can guarantee that even a dynamic, charming performer like Taylor Swift could replicate the run she's had.
What do you think the future holds for Taylor Swift?
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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:08:52 GMT | JT_Ramsay
Joe Perry Takes on Tyler
Are the Toxic Twins living up to their name once again?No, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry aren't up to their old habits, they're just taking potshots at each other in the press!
Last Thursday the Aerosmith frontman was talking like he was breaking off from Aerosmith to do his own thing, and now it seems Joe Perry's ready to find his replacement! Perry told the Las Vegas Sun, 'Steven quit as far as I can tell,' sounding very much in the dark of Tyler's future in the band.
When Perry first started making noises about Aerosmith's uncertain future back in September, it sounded like he was trying to turn his frustration over their failed tour into publicity for his solo album. Now it's obvious that Perry has serious doubts about the future of the rock institution he founded almost 40 years ago.
He told the Sun, 'Aerosmith is such a powerful band, I mean it's like a steam locomotive. You just can't disregard 40 years of four guys who play together as well as they do. We're just trying to -- at least I am -- trying to figure out what direction the band should take.'
Perry seems to be shopping around for his ideal frontman, too, saying that Aerosmith may be improved with a new singer. Them's fightin' words!
Does it even need to be said that Velvet Revolver have probably found their new lead singer?
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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:52:36 GMT | JT_Ramsay
Sharon versus Susan Showdown?
Leave it to Sharon Osbourne to take the high road.Popeater reports that Osbourne went on a tirade about 'Britain's Got Talent' contestant Susan Boyle, who wowed the world with her amazing voice earlier this year. She told 'Opie and Anthony' that Boyle 'is a lovely lady. You just want to say 'God bless' and here's a Gillette razor.'
She didn't stop there.
In a move befitting a guest of 'Opie and Anthony,' she took the low road and said, '[God] gave her the talent. But he hit her with a [expletive] ugly stick.' It gets worse from there, trust me.
Maybe Sharon's missing the point about what made Boyle one of the most interesting stories in music and television in 2009.
We'll see who laughs last when Susan Boyle's debut album hits stores November 23rd.
Message Edited by JT_Ramsay on 11-06-2009 01:44 PM…
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:43:11 GMT | JT_Ramsay
