I’ve had a crazier week than normal, so I have been a bit more forgetful than usual. For example, I was on NPR’s News and Notes blogger’s roundtable on Monday, and I completely forgot to post it and let you all know. Mea culpa. Please click here if you’d like to hear my two cents about the latest Jena 6 drama, Cynthia McKinney’s indie campaign, black history month, and the Grammys.
And I must admit, I didn’t answer that last Grammy question well because I hadn’t yet seen Kanye’s performance. To be really real with you, when Farai asked me the last question I was thinking … huh? Whaa? Instead of watching the Grammy Awards all the way through. I was flipping channels. I did catch the Foos, but all I really wanted to see was Amy Winehouse, Tina Turner (who looked so fabulous! More on that later), and Aretha Franklin, who Fresh called out proper. I mean no disrespect intended to the Queen of Soul here, but… does Aretha have a stylist in her current employ? Cause it might be time to put an ad out on Craigslist. First new rule — just say NO to spaghetti straps. Aretha, call me. I’ll get you a flattering dress with soft, ruffly short kimono-type sleeves and a v-neck that doesn’t plunge down to THERE. Especially for a gospel medley. Good googly moogly.
Back to Kanye. Now that I’ve seen his Grammy performance, I definitely think Kanye was better than the Foo Fighters. It was touching and heartfelt in a way that the Foos bombastic, orchestral performance couldn’t be. Kanye’s that artist who has laid himself so open to the world, you feel like you know him. He annoys the bejesus out of me sometimes with his cocky attitude and constant self aggrandizement — I was literally cringing during the first moments of his awkward acceptance speech. But he pulled it together, finished on a strong and touching note, and delivered a phenomenal performance IMO.
I mean, damn. If that doesn’t make the backs of your eyes prickle with tears, I don’t know what will. So in retrospect, I give it up. You killed it, Kanye. You made your fans, and your mama very, very proud.
