# The Grammys are Bunk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540 "2003-02-21T15:44:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/1 "2003-02-21T15:44:38Z")
I’ve phrased the title as a question; but I’m leaning towards making it a statement. Much of my ire stems from the pathetic treatment of **Nickel Creek** ’s _This Side_ album. The disc, which I [reviewed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=158494&highlight=Nickel+Creek) a few weeks ago, was nominated for only two awards. In my review, I mentioned that the entire album would be challenging for Bluegrass Traditionalists. Predictably, I guess, the Grammy nomination committees overlooked this album in the Best Bluegrass Album category. I can only assume they knew they were wrong, so they nominated the album for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Contemporary Folk Album? Wha …? Looking over the other nominees for this category, I can see two things: 1. They’re in very good company along with **Johnny Cash** , **The Chieftains** , **Steve Earle** and \*\*Patty Griffin. 2. This category seems to be for artists whose music is too challenging for the ossified rules of their genre. You mean to tell me that country music can’t accept Johnny Cash _(The Man in Black for God’s sake!)_ anymore? And it never really embraced Steve Earle. Like Bluegrass Traditionalism’s rejection of Nickel Creek; these genres will become more irrelevant if they can’t learn to grow. Ironically, individual tracks from Cash’s album show up in the Best Country Collaboration With Vocals and Best Male Country Vocal Performance categories. So which is it, Contemporary Folk or Country? As noted previously, _The Smoothie Song_ is the only instrumental on _This Side_. As an instrumental, featuring the trio’s stellar fiddle, mandolin and guitar playing, it is comfortable for the Bluegrass genre. Hence, comes the album’s other nomination for Best Country Instrumental. I’m not sure why there’s no Bluegrass Instrumental category. It seems the County Instrumental category lumps both Bluegrass and Country together. So this seems the appropriate category, where it has respectable competition from **Béla Fleck** , **The Chieftains with Earl Scruggs** and **The Dixie Chicks**. Bluegrass is not the only category with stupendous mistakes. Can someone explain to me how **Queens of the Stone Age** , while nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance, are not in the running for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song (for _No One Knows_, _First it Giveth_, _Hangin’ Tree_ or _Another Love Song_), Album of the Year or Record of the Year? And now for some glaring stupidity: _Sk8er Boi_ is nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. I don’t want to get into a general bashing of **Avril Lavigne** , which would be just too easy. But this has to be the most asinine, treacley piece of garbage inflicted on the public since _Billy Don’t Be a Hero_. I understand she has been lauded by critics and the public for bringing “punk” sensibilities to Pop. So the nominating committee wanted to recognize that “accomplishment” by giving her 5 Grammy nominations. But couldn’t they have at least picked one of the less annoying songs like _I’m With You_? I could go on about the injustice of **Kenny G** being nominated for _any_thing, but there are just too many of you who’d probably like to contribute with your own Grammy outrages. So I’ll cede the floor. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/2 "2003-02-21T16:01:35Z")
Ah to be 20 again and rail against the stupidities of the Grammy ignoring Bob Dylan (they hadn’t, BTW, – he picked one up in 1972). Or about A Taste of Honey being named Best New Artist over Elvis Costello. It isn’t just the old farts who rant about how bad things are. You usually stop taking the Grammies seriously when you reach age 21 and realize that the never come particularly close to naming the best. The Grammies have probably the worst track record of any major award show, and it’s hardly a big revelation to notice what people have been noticing for decades. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/3 "2003-02-21T16:02:58Z")
Oh, and Taste of Honey beat out Chris Rea and Toto, too. All together now: “Toto, too.” ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/4 "2003-02-21T16:25:34Z")
I’m 33. Ranting against the Grammys knows no age limit. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/5 "2003-02-21T16:26:30Z")
\ bellboy:Wow! somebody dropped an award! bellboy:Oh wait, it’s just a (another?) Grammy \ Brian ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/6 "2003-02-21T16:36:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*I’m 33. Ranting against the Grammys knows no age limit. \*\* So what took you so long? 🙂 I was ranting about the Grammies before you were born. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/7 "2003-02-21T17:46:50Z")
How about “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal”? Nominees are Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews, No Doubt, 'NSYNC and **Bowling For Soup**. Bowling For Soup??? I’ve heard of them before, but what the hell are they doing up for Grammy? They have one video on MTV. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/8 "2003-02-21T17:49:15Z")
Me too, Chuck. 🙂 I can’t find a complete list of winners at the Grammy site. You can search for specific categories or names, but there is no comprehensive listing. You’d think they were ashamed of the winners or something. Anyway, I managed to find a full listing (through 1999) [here](http://members.tripod.com/~ItascaSW/grammys/). ## How about this hip and up to the minute set of winners from 1966 (for recordings made in 1965)? Record of the Year Herb Alpert A Taste of Honey * * * Album of the Year Frank Sinatra September of My Years * * * Song of the Year Paul Francis Webber, Johnny Mandel (songwriter) For: The Shadow of Your Smile (Theme from The Sandpiper) * * * Best New Artist Tom Jones * * * Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male Frank Sinatra For: It Was a Very Good Year * * * Best Solo Vocal Performance, Female Barbra Streisand For: My Name is Barbra * * * Best Performance by a Vocal Group Anita Kerr Quartet For: We Dig Mancini * * * Best Contemporary Rock & Roll Single ## Roger Miller For: King of the Road Best Contemporary Rock & Roll Vocal Performance, Male Roger Miller For: King of the Road * * * Best Contemporary Rock & Roll Performance, Female Petula Clark For: I Know a Place * * * Best Contemporary Rock & Roll Performance by a Group Statler Brothers For: Flowers on the Wall ---
**Author:** ![Hepcat421](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/34f0e0/32.png) [@Hepcat421](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hepcat421)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/9 "2003-02-21T18:34:55Z")
Every year there are grammy nominations that make me shake my head and wonder why and this year is no exeption. The two nominations this year are Nelly for It’s Getting Hot In Here (I’m pretty sure he was nominated but I could be wrong and hope I am.). Has any one actually listened to the lyrics in this song? Here’s a little part from the song. It’s getting hot in hear so take off all your clothes. I am getting so hot I wanna take my clothes off. I mean seriously, that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard and it was nominated?!?!?! Second is Avril. She is not punk. She may think she dresses like she is, but she isn’t. She is very much bubble gum pop and I can’t figure out why people think otherwise. In referance to the simpsons quote, you forgot one major part from it that really made it funy to me. I don’t remember exactly, but some one said in respons to the grammy being thrown out the window, “Don’t throw your trash out here!” It was so funy. Anyway, that’s just my 2 cents on the grammys. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/10 "2003-02-21T18:36:09Z")
My answer to anyone who actually believes that the Grammys mean _anything_ consists of two words: Nelly Furtado. That’s all that needs to be said. If the music industry wants to have a bunch of huge parties every year, why don’t they just do that? I say can the awards ceremony once and for all. Get them all together for one big fancy-dress group fuck and be done with it. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/11 "2003-02-21T20:33:33Z")
See, this is the thing about the Grammys. You take a look at previous years’ winners and shake your head. Lots of winners you never hear from again, lots of winners you get sick and tired of, etc. etc. And then there’s the whole confusion of what the hell category things get nominated in. Seems every year there’s something that’s out of place. I’m not sure how much of an honor it really is to be a Grammy winner anymore. I mean, it certainly does get you some publicity, but IMHO it doesn’t give you any credibility as an artist. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/12 "2003-02-21T21:03:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*Bluegrass is not the only category with stupendous mistakes. Can someone explain to me how **Queens of the Stone Age** , while nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance, are not in the running for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song (for _No One Knows_, _First it Giveth_, _Hangin’ Tree_ or _Another Love Song_), Album of the Year or Record of the Year? > \*\* Cosign. I think Songs for the Deaf is the best album of the year. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/13 "2003-02-21T21:21:06Z")
I can’t wait to see who wins Best Polka Album this year. Definition of optimist: An accordion player with a beeper. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/14 "2003-02-21T22:00:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMark \* > **I can’t wait to see who wins Best Polka Album this year.** Without **Brave Combo** in the running, I can’t seem to care about the Polka category. I’m still bitter about them not winning last year. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/15 "2003-02-21T22:11:01Z")
Hijackity jack: I just read a really (unintentionally) funny interview with Avril Levigne where she said that she’s not punk and has never said she was punk. I can’t believe I’m defending her, so back to your regularly scheduled grammy bashing. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/16 "2003-02-21T22:45:55Z")
Jethro Tull beats out Metallica for Best Metal Album. Worst Grammy Moment Ever. This was when the grammies were truely shown for what they are: out of touch old foggies who make their picks straight out of the pages of rolling stone. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/17 "2003-02-21T22:55:06Z")
I’ll say it again–neither Wilco’s _Yankee Hotel Foxtrot_ nor Beck’s _Sea Change_ were nominated for Album of the Year. One or the other being left off could have been chalked up to taste, but both? To quote Kevin Smith–music industry, this is your finger. This is the pulse. This is your finger, far from the pulse, jammed straight up your ass. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/18 "2003-02-21T22:57:30Z")
Oh, and it chaps my ass when Johnny Cash and Steve Earle are consider “alternative country”. As I’ve said for a long time, alt-country is defined as country music too good to be played on country radio. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/19 "2003-02-21T22:58:19Z")
Milli Vanilli ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540/20 "2003-02-21T23:05:09Z")
‘Hot in Here’? Isn’t that song a little too straightforward and obvious even for hip-hop? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammys-are-bunk/156540.md?page=2)