Okay, I’ll admit that I’m not incredibly familiar with most of Ray Charles’s catalog. “Georgia on my Mind” is about the only song of his I know off the top of my head (unless you count the diet Pepsi jingles he worked on in the early nineties). It’s a great song, and I’m sure there are other great songs he’s composed.
But I’m getting so sick of all the publicity and awards now that he’s dead. I’m pretty sure Jamie Foxx is going to win an Oscar for his portrayal of Charles. I haven’t seen the movie, and while I’m sure he does a fine job, if Ray Charles hadn’t died this year, do you think his chances would be quite so good.
But the kicker was the Grammys last night. I should know to have low expectations–it’s the Grammys for Og’s sake. But it was like they were determined to throw in as many Ray Charles references as possible. They had Jamie Fox duet with Alicia Keyes, and he was wearing fricking sunglasses. It annoys me when Bono does it, but at least he’s a rock star. Jamie Foxx is not, nor is he blind. But he kinda looked like Ray Charles, and they sang “Georgia on my Mind” in a somewhat crappy way, so it must be good!
Then his album won a bunch of Grammys. Once again, I feel rather hypocritical here, as I haven’t listened to it. But it just felt like they were piling on the awards because he was dead.
The thing that really annoyed me was during the obituary section. They played music and showed photos of many musicians/composers/producers. That’s all fine and dandy. It’s even okay that they saved Ray Charles for the end. But instead of singer or performer, what did they list?
Make no mistake, the man was a music legend. It’s quite possible he invented soul music all by his own self.
That said, all the fawning at the Grammys must have been disgusting. Jamie Foxx, you are a turd, wearing sunglasses and such. Who do you think you are, Rich Little?
And here I sit with the “Duets” CD sitting on the counter with gift reciept taped to it, waiting to take it to town to exchange it for something I might actually give a shit about.
I’m thinking Jeff Buckley’s “Grace- Legacy Edition” if they even have it. And I’d even pay the difference.
Don’t get me wrong- I love Ray. And the music he did 20 years ago.
Stand “Genius Loves Company,” next to most anything Ray Charles did in his career and, yes, it pales. But this isn’t the first time that an award show has posthumously honored someone with an award for a performance that doesn’t quiet cut it.
Blame the sentimentality of those who were voting, not Charles.
Regardless, Charles was a legend and deserves praise for a body of work that few other artists will ever approach.
Regarding Jamie Foxx: I have seen the movie, and whether Charles had lived or died, his chances at an Oscar would have been the same. It’s that good.
Your basic point is true (though the Grammy jerks are to blame), but Foxx’s Oscar chances would be undiminished. He was very, very good. If Ray Charles was alive, they’d be celebrating a living legend instead of paying tribute to a dead one because the movie would still have brought him a lot of publicity. Maybe that’d mean fewer Grammys, I don’t know.
“The whole Ray Charles thing - disgusting. Ray Charles was not a genius, not a legend, not the originator or progenitor of anything at all in the history of music. Yes, he was a cute and amusing novelty who will be best remembered for doing the Diet Coke commercials, but in sheer importance and impact, Ray Charles belongs somewhere between the keyboardist who replaced Pigpen in the Grateful Dead and the second backup touring guitarist for the Allman Brothers. I can’t state this enough - Ray Charles was in no way a “genius” and was in absolutely no way “important,” and it’s disgusting to see this insta-fabricated legend spring up. Even more ridiculous was the clean sweep of awards going to his collaboration record, which featured modern artists singing over pre-existing recordings of Ray’s mediocre catalogue. Absolutely disgusting.”
Of course, that’s hyperbole, but I just felt that I had to counteract some of this “corpse fellating.”
Ray Charles’s music will be remembered after you and I are long dead. Most of today’s musicians were influenced by Ray. If you don’t understand that, you could benefit from some research. If you don’t care to do that, then go dribble your vitriol down a storm drain.
On the other hand, here’s a man so undeniably talented people are still riding his jock when he’s dead, and some are set to receive major awards for impersonating the real thing. An Elvis without Graceland, a Lennon without an Ono. Legendary. Exemplary. Relevant until the day he died, which is more than I can say for Stevie Wonder these days.
When I hear of someone being lauded the way Ray Charles has, I look to those in the know for the real answer. According to Quincy Jones, one of the most respected men ever to inhabit the music business and possibly a genius himself, Ray Charles was not only a genius, but a rare and precious type of genius at that. Although not much older than Jones, Charles was already established when Jones was starting out. He taught Jones how to read music and gave him key insights into the music. They’ve been lifelong friends, and Charles brought Jones to tears the night Jones received his award at the Kennedy Center by singing My Buddy to him. It was very moving.
Of course, that doesn’t prove he was a genius, but it highlights his humanity. And if Quincy Jones says he was a genius, that’s good enough for me.
