Heaven + Earth

This is one of those posts that can definitely be filed under the “Earth” side of “Heaven + Earth”. There is no spiritual insight or reflection here. Just the mild indignation of a real music lover (AKA me).

Last night Neil Young was awarded his first grammy EVER. In a 40 year career that includes seminal albums like Harvest, After the Goldrush, and Harvest Moon, and songs like “Heart of Gold”, “Old Man” and “Cinnamon Girl”, not to mention all of the amazing work he did with CSNY, one of the most influential artists and songwriters of all time has NEVER won a grammy - until last night.

Last night alone Beyoncé won 6 grammies. Her grand total is 16.

Leonard Cohen was victim to a similar fate. He won his first ever grammy last night for lifetime achievement, having never won a grammy for any of his recordings or songwriting.

Rapper L’il Wayne won 4 Grammy awards last year, in a single night.

The Beatles, largely acclaimed as the greatest and most influential band in the history of music, won 8 Grammy awards over the course of their career. Which, incidentally, is the same number of Grammies won by Britney Spears to date.

Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Bob Marley do not have a single Grammy win to their credit. Led Zeppelin was the biggest band in the world from 1970 to 1980.

Pink has won 2 Grammy awards.

Lady Gaga has won a Grammy.

Kanye West has won 14 Grammies.

What does all of this mean? To me, simply that the Grammies have proven over the years that they’re more interested in using their awards to promote what is trendy rather than exalt what is truly excellent. “Music’s Biggest Night” has become just another long, protracted advertisement to bolster the sales of bands and artists who are already among the year’s top sellers. In an era when record labels are folding left and right and the machinations of corporate America that once told people what to listen to and what to buy have been politely told to “eff off” by consumers who can listen to anything they want on MySpace, YouTube and iTunes, the Grammies are now the music industry’s equivalent of Custer’s last stand.

I hope I don’t come across as a cynic here. I’m not bitter. To me it’s just the simple truth. They do get it right sometimes, I suppose. U2 has won their share of Grammies, ditto Frank Sinatra, Alison Krauss, Michael Jackson and so on. I even like Beyoncé and Kanye, though I think their Grammy total is disproportionate to their talent and contribution. I guess I’m just saddened that Neil has gone so long without one. That Zeppelin NEVER won one. That Britney has won as many as The Beatles. These are musical giants. Britney is a musical punchline. The Grammies are irrelevant. I’m gonna go surf Pitchfork for something truly worth listening to.