Time Magazine grades Grammy performances

[alejolo]

Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Yolanda Adams and Martina McBride; Aretha Franklin Tribute

It's not easy to sing Aretha Franklin songs. Few people can really belt it out as well as the grandmother of soul, and no one can do it better. But these vocal sirens gave a great performance. Sure, it felt a little bit like a VH1 Divas special, with each performer introduced before her song segment. But Christina, Jennifer, Florence, Yolanda and Martina put on a good show. Christina even remembered the words!

Grade: B

Lady Gaga, 'Born This Way

The egg and shoulder horns were weird. The dancing was good. And her ponytail whipping might even beat out Willow Smith's for Best Performance by an Artist's Hair. But Gaga's new song, "Born This Way," sounds like a cross between Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" and Madonna's "Vogue." It would be perfect for a clothes-changing montage in a remake of The Birdcage. But as a pop song? She can do better.

Grade: B

Miranda Lambert, 'The House That Built Me'

Miranda Lambert's touching ode to her childhood home was artfully sung, but I can't help feeling as if I've heard this song before. Nothing went wrong here. But nothing really went right either. And by the way, why are country singers always so nostalgic?

Grade: C

 

Muse, 'Uprising'

It seems strange to perform a song about a revolution — complete with toppling images, fire and destroyed icons — so soon after people elsewhere in the world have undergone a real uprising. But art is supposed to imitate life, and "Uprising" is loud, violent and raw. Just as it's supposed to be.

Grade: A-

Bruno Mars, B.o.B. and Janelle Monáe; 'Nothin' on You,' 'Grenade,' 'Cold War' (Medley)

Bruno Mars, B.o.B and Janelle Monáe had 14 Grammy nominations between them this year. You'd think that such highly acclaimed musicians would create mind-blowing music together, but I'm not feeling it. I like the 1960s throwback thing that Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe have going on, with the James Brown pompadours, wing tips and black-and-white film stock. Mars leans a little too heavily into lounge-singer territory, and Monáe keeps it clean, fresh and exciting. But amid all this B.o.B.'s raps seemed out of place, causing the whole thing to fall

Janelle Monáe: A+ ( ) Everyone else: B-

Usher and Justin Bieber (Featuring Jaden Smith); 'Never Say Never,' 'OMG' (Medley)

Bieber isn't a great dancer, but he's getting there. With Usher's help, he'll have the popping and locking down in no time. The Beebs is growing up, but slowly. He's a little bit taller, a little bit bolder, and he's wearing slightly more leather. But he smiles when he dances and it's still O.K. for teenage girls to like him. And Jaden Smith, 12, raps as well as any 15-year-old. (Sidenote: How are Will and Jada Pinkett Smith producing such precocious children? Did they read that Tiger Mother book or something?) Meanwhile, Usher makes one of the worst songs of 2010 almost listenable. When I watched him glide across the stage, I almost forgot that "OMG" is primarily a ringtone disguised as a club anthem.

Grade: A-

 

Mumford and Sons, Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan; 'The Cave,' 'Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise,' 'Maggie's Farm' (Medley)

In a world of see-through dresses, shoulder horns and Justin Bieber, it's easy to forget that the Grammys are supposed to celebrate good music. Marcus Mumford sings with more passion than all of the performers before him put together. Then come the Avett Brothers, who at first seem as if they weren't ready to play "Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise" in front of such a large audience. But after a few chords the Avetts find their rhythm, leading smoothly into an appearance by none other than Bob Dylan. Dylan, however, looks old — older than his 69 years, 10 Grammy awards or lifetime achievement honor should account for. The Mumfords and Avetts might never write a song as good as "Maggie's Farm." But the folk hero's energy just isn't there.

Mumford & Sons: A Avett Brothers: A- Bob Dylan: B-

Lady Antebellum, 'Need You Now

Didn't Lady Antebellum perform "Need You Now" at the ceremony last year? Yes. Yes, they did. But this year the mediocre country ballad won them five Grammys.

That still doesn't make them interesting. One thought did cross my mind while watching them: Whatever happened to Shania Twain?

Grade: D

Cee Lo and Gwyneth Paltrow, 'Forget You'

I was all ready to hate this performance — Gwyneth Paltrow? Muppets? "F___ You" changed to "Forget You?" — but Cee Lo proved to be a surprising treat. "F___ You" is still catchy even without the f bombs, s bombs and racial epithets, and Gwyneth Paltrow wisely didn't try to compete with the backup-singer puppets or the man in the peacock costume. They made me want to get up and dance.

Grade: A

Katy Perry; 'Not Like the Movies,' 'Teenage Dream' (Medley)

Katy Perry's swing looked like a high school–yearbook photo backdrop, but her cupcake-esque minidress and the video of her actual wedding, to British comedian Russell Brand last October, made up for it. Perry is the pop-music equivalent of a basket of puppies. This Valentine's Day–themed performance makes me want to believe that she and Brand will stay married forever, despite the statistical improbability of that happening. Good luck, you crazy kids.

Grade: B+

Norah Jones, John Mayer and Keith Urban; 'Jolene

 

Norah Jones, John Mayer and Keith Urban paid tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton with one of her classic songs. They are three separate artists with three separate styles, but they came together for a seamless performance. This rendition of "Jolene" was simple, beautiful and clean.

Grade: A

Rihanna, Dr. Dre, Skylar Grey and Eminem; 'Love the Way You Lie,' 'I Need a Doctor' (medley)

Rihanna rarely sings alone. She's almost always accompanied by another singer, drowned out by synthesizers or Auto-Tuned by an overzealous producer. But tonight, at least briefly, it's just Rihanna and the microphone. Then Eminem appears and does the unthinkable: he makes the performance even better. When the duo performed "Love the Way You Lie" at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this year, they seemed disjointed and unrehearsed. Here, they've have found their element. And Dr. Dre, whose cameo could have been an unnecessary addition, only added to the fire.

Grade: A

Mick Jagger, 'Everybody Needs Somebody to Love'

Everyone's favorite prancing grandpa gave an energetic, heartfelt tribute to singer Solomon Burke, who died last year. Jagger has an act that simply doesn't get old. He struts and swaggers like someone half — no, a third — his age. It's hard to believe that the man is 67.

Grade: A+

Barbra Streisand, 'Evergreen'

"Love, soft as an easy chair/ Love, fresh as the morning air." What is this, a Hallmark card? Barbra Streisand sings "Evergreen," her 1976 Oscar-winning theme to A Star Is Born. Yes, she's talented. Yes, she's a legend. But that doesn't mean everything Streisand touches turns to gold. This performance is more of a pewter one.

Grade: C

Rihanna and Drake, 'What's My Name?'

It's official: the 2011 Grammys should just be renamed The Rihanna Show. For her second appearance onstage tonight, the pop star ditched the ball gown, shortened her skirt and nailed this duet with Drake. I'm not even sure why Drake was there. Apparently he wan't either; he wandered off halfway through the song.

Grade: A-

Arcade Fire, 'Month of May

Arcade Fire are perhaps the last big rock band out there. But for their inaugural Grammy performance, they selected their second best song and complicated it with bike riders and seizure-inducing strobe lights. Too much is happening here. I can't focus on the music.

Grade: B-

Arcade Fire, 'Ready to Start

Oh, so that is why Arcade Fire played "Month of May" first. They saved the best for last. There's a reason why the Montreal-based band won the 2011 Grammy for Album of the Year: The Suburbs combines big, orchestral sounds and subtle, hushed nuances to explore the painful comfort that comes with living in the suburbs. This performance of "Ready to Start" translates that feeling to the stage. At least, I think it did. The CBS telecast cut to commercial halfway through.

Grade: A

Happy about Cee loo and Gwyneth performance + muse .

[Megalomania]

I actually agreed with a lot of what this person said.

 

Especially about Arcade Fire- loved the music, but I couldn't even see them with all the strobes! :lol:

[the_gloaming09]

I don't see how Bob Dylan's performance could've got a B-... it was terrible

[alejolo]

I don't see how Bob Dylan's performance could've got a B-... it was terrible

 

I dont even know how Justin bieber got an A. I guess it wasnt that bad :thinking: ?

 

Mike jagger performances , bob dylan's and barbara were my bathroom breaks. I mean , boring as hell :D

[Megalomania]

Yeah I thought Bob Dylan was pretty bad. :lol:

 

And Bieber just isn't my style. :|

 

And I completely muted Eminem's whole performance. :wacky:

[alejolo]

Yeah I thought Bob Dylan was pretty bad. :lol:

 

And Bieber just isn't my style. :|

 

And I completely muted Eminem's whole performance. :wacky:

 

Eminem's performance i muted it too :lol: . Rihanna sounded dreadful . The aretha tribute although it was good , it was way to long and idk , i muted it too :lol:

[Megalomania]

I actually really liked the Aretha tribute. :P

And I like Rihanna's voice, although I just didn't like that song so I muted it too. :ninja:

[Juanma]

go paltrow :dance:

[Lore]

Good article

 

Gwyneth did a great show there with Cee Lo , and I'm not talking like the people who only likes gwyneth because of Chris.

 

 

Also, Month of May would have been way better without those lights and the bikers. Ready to start was so good they played in such a happy mood, too bad our chanel cut the end of the song.

[mc_squared]

I dont even know how Justin bieber got an A.

 

Because those ratings are all fixed?:rolleyes:

[alejolo]

Because those ratings are all fixed?:rolleyes:

 

lol , but this has nothing to do with the ratings. Though i guess it was good in his genere and with what he does :) . Though his voice sounded strained while singing Baby acustil :lol:

[Megalomania]

Because those ratings are all fixed?:rolleyes:

 

Totally agree, Bieber's agents must contact every magazine and bribe them so that they give him a good rating.

 

IT'S A CONSPIRACY, I TELL YOU!

[Lore]

here we go again

[ivet]

A+ article

hahaha, I love Bobby D but c'mon ;____;

that was like ermmm take the mic away from him pls!

[ivet]

Stop hating on bieber!

He is a sweet, talented kid.

Get over it!

[Megalomania]

here we go again

 

Sorry, I couldn't help it. :disappointed:

[alejolo]

Totally agree, Bieber's agents must contact every magazine and bribe them so that they give him a good rating.

 

IT'S A CONSPIRACY, I TELL YOU!

 

lol , okey but its an article , i dont really think he needs that. Having every magazine talk good about him isnt gonna make people buy his music , and if they did horrible reviews , her fans ( insane 15 year old teenagers ) wouldnt even care .

 

Plus , the fact that you didnt like the performance/songs/bieber does not make a performance bad and means that they paid to get that review :). There are different opinions in this world , different points of view , and diferent tastes :) . deal with it.

[Megalomania]

lol , okey but its an article , i dont really think he needs that. Having every magazine talk good about him isnt gonna make people buy his music , and if they did horrible reviews , her fans ( insane 15 year old teenagers ) wouldnt even care .

 

Plus , the fact that you didnt like the performance/songs/bieber does not make a performance bad and means that they paid to get that review :). There are different opinions in this world , different points of view , and diferent tastes :) . deal with it.

 

I was being sarcastic. :|

 

I have no problem whatsoever with Bieber. I think he has talent, he's just not my style of music.

[alejolo]

I was being sarcastic. :|

 

I have no problem whatsoever with Bieber. I think he has talent, he's just not my style of music.

 

:lol: sorry , i didnt notice :P

 

Im kinda used to people insulting pop music , coldplay , or other generes that they dont like , and i get kinda defenssive :D

[Lore]

Sorry, I couldn't help it. :disappointed:

 

I wasn't talking about you :lol:

 

:kiss:

[Megalomania]

:lol: sorry , i didnt notice :P

 

Im kinda used to people insulting pop music , coldplay , or other generes that they dont like , and i get kinda defenssive :D

 

S'okay, I kind of freak out when people do that too. :uhoh: :P

 

I wasn't talking about you :lol:

 

:kiss:

 

Okay. :lips:

[Violet]

I didn't get to watch the Grammy's, so I missed out on all this. I will say this, however:

 

1. I did YouTube Muse's performance this morning, and it was fantastic.

2. I don't like Bob Dylan, so I probably wouldn't have given him that high of a rating even in his prime.

3. If Mick Jagger sounded anything like he did when The Rolling Stones performed at halftime in the Super Bowl a few years ago, there's no way he should've ever gotten an A.

[Megalomania]

I didn't get to watch the Grammy's, so I missed out on all this. I will say this, however:

 

1. I did YouTube Muse's performance this morning, and it was fantastic.

2. I don't like Bob Dylan, so I probably wouldn't have given him that high of a rating even in his prime.

3. If Mick Jagger sounded anything like he did when The Rolling Stones performed at halftime in the Super Bowl a few years ago, there's no way he should've ever gotten an A.

 

I agree with all of that except #3.

Okay, his voice isn't really that amazing anymore. . . but he put a huge amount of energy into his performance, so it made it really fun. :wacko:

 

I'm not much of a Stones fan, but I enjoyed it. :wacky:

[ivet]

UGH! Jagger made me feel like freaking throwing a party!

[Lore]

I loved his performance, he's like 70 years old and still can dance like a young guy. When I watched the Shine a Light thing I was so impressed :o