2010 Kennedy Center Honors

Aw, yeah!  Last week, CBS aired the Kennedy Center Honors that featured two of my all time favorite musical artists — Sir Paul McCartney and the fantabulous Merle Haggard.

Broadway composer Jerry Herman and dancer-choreographer Bill T. Jones were also honored, in addition to Oprah Winfrey. 

Side rant:  Can I just say that I am SO sick of Oprah?  When will we be freed from her excessive exposure and self-promotion?  I find her so insincere and disengenuous.  She sucks people in like she’s the “every woman” and “just like you” when she’s a kabillionaire who certainly doesn’t have to worry about college tuition or paying the mortgage.  Besides, anyone who needs a TV show, radio network, magazine and now a TV network, has got to be filling some kind of hole in self-agrandizement.  And people just continue to fawn all over her….blech!

For the Kennedy Honors, you’d swear that it was the Oprah Honors and “the others” were just there to bask in her glory.  She cannot help but to usurp everyone else’s attention….but I digress.

I’ve chronicled my Beatles love many times on this blog (see Beatles tags), but don’t know if I’ve ever delved into my Merle-adoration.  Merle Haggard is one of the legends of music — not just Country music — and is one of the good guys who has made things better for those around him.  And, his music is just, well…good.

Vince Gill gives a great retrospective of Merle’s career at the Kennedy Honors ceremony:

and performances of Merle tunes by Kris Kristoffersen, Sherly Crow, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill and pal, Willie Nelson.  Note:  it’s a little long, but well worth it.  Also, notice Oprah trying to sing along.  Really?!?  You think she’s got a bunch of Merle CDs at home?

It’s no coincidence that Merle Haggard is such a friend of new artists and is so loved by his fellow performers since he decided to pursue music after hearing Johnny Cash at San Quentin when Cash was trying to bring a little joy to those less fortunate.  Just goes to show that paying it forward has ever-implacating rewards.  Personally, I’m torn between these two as my favorite Merle tunes:

That’s The Way Love Goes

My Favorite Memory

….Merle.  A TRUEadour.

Finally, I can’t overlook Sir Paul.  Perhaps the greatest tribute to Paul is this medley featuring Apple Records recording artist, James Taylor, the irrepresible Mavis Staples and rock legend, Steven Tyler.

Note:  Check out Oprah (AGAIN) trying to hog the limelight.  GAH!

I couldn’t help but think that Paul was thinking about John Lennon with this program being so close to the 30th anniversary of John’s death.  Must have been surreal….and lonely.

 

Music Maven’s Grammy Rundown

Admittedly, The Grammys do not thrill me.  Unfortunately, moguls like Clive Davis’ seeming influence into the awards over the last few years leaves me very skeptical as to the nominations and the winners.

I mean, WHERE is Amos Lee?  Ray LaMontagne? 

However, in the spirit of Music comraderie, I made my own Grammy picks.  Personally, I think that they could cut out 2/3 of the categories and cut this puppy down to a half-hour show….but, whatever.  Here are the 2009 Music Maven Grammy picks.

Record of the year

  Please Read the Letter, Alison Krauss & Robert Plant

Mainly because Coldplay’s Viva La Vida is so over-played.

Album of the Year

Because of their revolutionary, “name your price” sales strategy….

  In Rainbows, Radiohead — Videotape track

Song of the Year

Only one choice for me…loved her from the start.  Remember, she debuted her 12-song DC (rather than CD) for $6.99 on iTunes.

  Love Song, Sara Bareilles

Best New Artist

For her ’60s vibe….

  Mercy, Duffy

If Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl wins anythings, I will never turn on a radio again.

In the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance category, I’m seriously torn between James Taylor’s Witchita Lineman and John Mayer’s thoroughly emotional Say, from The Bucket List.   However, I’m going to have to go with Sweet Baby James on this one.  The Glen Campbell kun-NECK-shun is just too strong.  The best song lyric of all time:

…and I want you more than need you, and I want you for all time.

‘Nuff said.

  Witchita Lineman, James Taylor

(Besides, Say wins a MM Grammy in another category — see below.)

Which, given the choices, leads me to Best Pop Album — JT’s Covers.  I was convinced by Seminole Wind and Not Fade Away.

I was intrigued by the nominations within the Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance (who comes up with these categories?) pitting Sir Paul McCartney’s Amoeba Record performance I Saw Her Standing There against John Mayer’s Gravity performance from Where the Light Is.  While I have great affinity for McCartney, the Where the Light Is video is superb and Gravity is one of my all-time favorite songs.  Therefore, the award goes to….

  Gravity, John Mayer

The only performance in the R&B categories that I feel is worry of any award is Wayne Brady’s Change is Gonna Come.  Yes, Wayne Brady of Who’s Line is it, Anyway? fame.

  A Change Gonna Come, Wayne Brady

However, I’d like to see Jennifer Hudson win a Grammy, just because she is that good and she deserves it.  Note:  she is the only American Idol alum nominated this year.

In the Country categories, only two nominations piqued my interest.  Brad Paisley’s nomination for Letter to Me in the Best Country Song category and The Del McCoury Band’s nomination for Best Bluegrass Album — Live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.  Love me some Del…

  Nashville Cats, Del McCoury Band

John Mayer’s Say is a lock for the Best Song Written for a Motion Picture.  I love this song, music & lyrics.

  Say, from The Bucket List, John Mayer

Miscellaneous Other favorites:

Best Traditional Gospel Album, Down in New Orleans, The Blind Boys of Alabama

Best Traditional Blues Album, Pinetop Perkins & Friends, 95 year old Pinetop Perkins, with a line-up of Blues royalty.

Best Contemporary Blues Album — THREE New Orleans acts; Dr. John, Irma Thomas and Marcia Ball.  Can they simply split a Grammy?

And, finally the BIG category….Best Zydeco or Cajun Album….drum roll please……

Music Maven picks……

  Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys

 

 

 

Twangalicious Brad

I’m on a mission to convince my friend, Shrew, that there is some listenable Country music. She hates “twang”, so it’s very difficult to find Country music sans ANY twang. So, I thought I’d over-compensate with humor and hawtness. Therefore, I give you….

Brad Paisley.

Brad is multi-faceted. He’s an accomplished guitar player, a great singer and has quite a sense of humor. Brad is a modern-day Jim Stafford. Many of his songs poke good-natured fun at everyday life and love. He’s married to Kimberly Williams who plays Jim Belushi’s sarcastic sister-in-law on According to Jim. She also played the daughter in the Father of the Bride movies with Steve Martin. Brad and Kim recently became parents of William Huckleberry. (Now, you gotta give props to somebody who names their kid Huckleberry.)

Brad talks a little about being a father in this interview:

One of my favorite Paisley tunes of late is Alcohol. While the lyrics are hilarious, the video is hysterical. Note: Brad has a certain fascination and friendship with Little Jimmy Dickens. (Brad doesn’t allow embedding of his YouTube videos, so please click on the song titles for the link to the video.)

Alcohol

I can make anybody pretty.
I can make you believe any lie.
I can make you pick a fight with somebody twice your size.
Well, I�ve been known to cause a few break-ups,
An’ I�ve been known to cause a few births.
Well, I can make you new friends, or get you fired from work.

And since the day I left Milwaukee,
Lynchburg an’ Bordeaux, France,
Been making the bars lots of big money,
An’ helpin’ white people dance.
I got you in trouble in High School,
But College, now that was a ball.
You had some of the best times you�ll never remember with me:
Alcohol; Alcohol.

I got blamed at your wedding reception,
For your best man�s embarrassing speech.
And also for those naked pictures of you at the beach.
I�ve influenced Kings and world leaders,
I helped Hemingway write like he did.
And I�ll bet you a drink or two, that I can make you put that lampshade on your head.

Cause since the day I left Milwaukee,
Lynchburg and Bordeaux, France,
I been making a fool out of folks just like you,
An’ helping white people dance.
I am medicine and I am poison,
I can help you up or make you fall.
You had some of the best times you’ll never remember with me:
Alcohol.

Yeah, since the day I left Milwaukee,
Lynchburg an’ Bordeaux, France,
Been making the bars lots of big money,
(Helpin’ white people dance.)
Yeah, I got you in trouble in High School,
But College, now that was a ball.
You had some of the best times you�ll never remember with me:
Alcohol; Alcohol.

Brad actually met Kimberly while filming the video for the immensely popular I’m Gonna Miss Her, which is an ode to fishing:

I’m Gonna Miss Her

I just really love his humor….and he’s certainly not sore on the eyes. Brad hit the scene with this first hit…

Wrapped Around

He followed that up with Mud on the Tires...Welcome to Mudstock!

Mud on the Tires

Brad spoofs off of American Idol a bit in Celebrity, which features a great interaction with William Shatner…I love this ending.

Celebrity

One of his most recent hit is Online. Brad actually had a contest on YouTube for the best video idea. He judged the entries, picked a winning concept, then used the idea. Kewl. Jason Alexander is a frequent guest if you hadn’t noticed him in Celebrity.

Hopefully, this is not reminiscent of anyone here…

Online

While Brad has a most excellent sense of humor, he’s not a one-trick pony. He has other songs that are sincerely heart felt and meaningful. I seriously love this video….Kimberly has a great scene in this one — at the end. Genuine.

Little Moments

Another recent tribute to his lovely wife is She’s Everything. I love these lyrics, as well.

She’s Everything

She’s a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in anything
She’s I want a piece of chocolate
Take me to a movie
She’s I can’t find a thing to wear
Now and then she’s moody

She’s a Saturn with a sunroof
With her brown hair a-blowing
She’s a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
She’s a warm conversation
That I wouldn’t miss for nothing
She’s a fighter when she’s mad
And she’s a lover when she’s loving

And she’s everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
‘Cause she’s everything to me

She’s a Saturday out on the town
And a church girl on Sunday
She’s a cross around her neck
And a cuss word ’cause its Monday
She’s a bubble bath and candles
Baby come and kiss me
She’s a one glass of wine
And she’s feeling kinda tipsy

She’s the giver I wish I could be
And the stealer of the covers
She’s a picture in my wallet
Of my unborn children’s mother
She’s the hand that I’m holding
When I’m on my knees and praying
She’s the answer to my prayer
And she’s the song that I’m playing

[Repeat chorus]

She’s the voice I love to hear
Someday when I’m ninety
She’s that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes
I only love her more
Yeah, she’s the one
That I’d lay down my own life for

And she’s everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She’s everything to me
Yeah she’s everything to me

Everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She’s everything to me

There are many other great Brad Paisley songs that I encourage you to seek out and listen to. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the two songs that I think are the best of Brad’s repertoire. Both are duets. The first one, with Dolly Parton, packs a strong message is one of my top ten favorite songs.

When I Get Where I’m Going

Finally, Brad delivers a haunting performance with Allison Krause that rivals George Jones’ He Stopped Loving Her Today, with the superb Whiskey Lullaby.

Whiskey Lullaby

Brad is a smart, conscientious entertainer who has a great sense of humor and appears to be very well grounded. He’s a family guy who’s obviously in love with his wife and his life. I really like this attitude and his humor…the fact that he’s as cute as a button doesn’t come into play whatsoever.

Pinky swear.