The Grammy Awards show, the biggest night in music, comes on tomorrow (Feb 11th) on CBS. I already have my DVR set to record just in case I forget because I don’t want to miss the reunion of the Police. I am so excited by this; I am listening to their Message in a Box set of CDs as I write this. At least the Grammys are lucky this year – they are on Sunday night, so they don’t have to go up against that television juggernaut American Idol. Last year, they were on the same night and the Grammys lost, 17 million to 29 million.
Who are the favorites to win this year? The Album of the Year category features the Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Justin Timberlake. Chuck Arnold of People Magazine is picking Justin to win for his album FutureSex/LoveSounds. Personally, I’d like to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers win, but it’s doubtful that will happen. Chuck picks Gnarls Barkley to win Record of the Year over Mary J. Blige, James Blount, Dixie Chicks, and Corinne Bailey Rae. He believes that James Blount will score a win in Best Male Pop Vocal and Corinne Bailey Rae for Best New Artist.
Here are some highlights and lowlights of the Grammys over the years:
2001 – Steely Dan, not favorite Eminem wins Album of the Year
2002 – The unlikely soundtrack from “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Wins Album of the Year
2000 – Guitar genius Carlos Santana needs help to take home his record tying eight Grammys
Bono and company (U2) have won more Grammys (22) than any other band
There’s only been one artist to win the Big Four – Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist – that was Christopher Cross in 1981
The Best New Artist award has often been called the Kiss of Death. Just ask Starland Vocal Band, Debbie Boone, A Taste of Honey, or Men at Work.
Milli Vanilli suffered the shame of having to return their Best New Artist award in 1990 after it was learned they were lip-synching.