The Cynical Side Speaks

[sun_set_bravely]

I was just scanning through the channels and came upon something that sounded like "Across the Universe" being cranked through an elephant's lower intestines. Turns out it was Bono, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Slash, Velvet Revolver, Tim McGraw, Brian Wilson, Alison Krauss, Stevie Wonder and others performing the song on the Grammys to benefit the Red Cross tsunami relief fund.

Now, I'm all for charity fundraising, but the performance was like watching a train wreck. I couldn't avert my eyes (or my ears) from the TV. There was nothing okay about those voices singing "Jai Guru Deva Om" together. NOTHING.

Also, I'm a pacifist, but I'd like to punch John Mayer in the face.

I'm just sayin'.

Comments

[chaptal.livejournal.com]

you missed eve and gwen stephani. now there's a trainwreck :)

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

If this is what that show has to offer me, I can watch no longer! I must look away! Look away!

[poetbear.livejournal.com]

i did not watch a moment, and now i'm not sorry!~paul

[echoboom.livejournal.com]

"Also, I'm a pacifist, but I'd like to punch John Mayer in the face"

nice.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

i know who john mayer is, but may i ask why you find him so objectionable? does he simper (coz he's cute)?

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

My punch-happy reaction is inexplicable. Maybe it's his mushy face and the weird velvet jacket he was wearing last night with the initials "JM" embroidered on the pocket. Maybe it's his singing voice, which drives me crazy.

I'm sure he's a very nice guy, but still! The punching!!

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

wow, i wish now i'd seen it! :D

[waitsfortherain.livejournal.com]

The truth is that events like the one you saw on TV almost never fail to come out a total mess. It has always been that way. I don't even know why people insist on putting them on.

Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes

[gmoneyjonesiii.livejournal.com]

Hey, if you punch John Mayer in the face, maybe you can straighten out that lazy eyelid of his. Last year (was it just last year?), when he won Best New Artist and performed that damn song about running nekkit through the halls of his high school or whatever (for which I've wanted to kick his ass ever since), there were all these closeups of his contorting, unnecessarily "quirky" performing face, which featured, on the few times he had his eyes open, an oddly crimped eyelid. "Someone's pulled the shade halfway down," I remarked. I noted that the camera strictly stuck to medium shots this time around. He still acted like Ashton Kutcher crossed with a Muppet, and that Dave-Matthews-with-emphysema gasp of a singing voice never fails to make me reach for the remote.

That being said, his guitar technique has definitely shown some improvement. And "Daughters" is kinda cute. I don't know how overplayed it is cuz I didn't listen to the radio for the second half of '04, so perhaps I have that factor going for me. But as Best Song over "Jesus Walks"? Caucasian, please.

Then there's that tribute effort. *Sigh.* Actually, you should punch Brian Wilson in the face and straighten out that tilted mouth he's got. It'd be like Donald O'Connor at the end of "Make 'Em Laugh" in Singin' In The Rain. Oh, I'm so mean today!...

I don't know. I feel like they felt they were obligated to do something charitable at an awards show, this being the 20th anniversary of "We Are The World" (watch this channel for future updates regarding Matt's Live Aid Party, coming soon!) But this tiny gathering was a bit on the sad side, to put it mildly. Certainly in comparison with Band Aid and USA For Africa. Tsunami relief demands greater gestures, I feel. Or at least greater harmonies.

Maybe greater songs? I gotta be honest with you, "Across The Universe" (itself a "benefit song") has never been my favorite Beatle tune, nor even one I particularly like. Too...spacey. But forget about my personal preferences--I think the bigger problem was in choosing a cover of any stripe. If they wanted to make a stab at something significant, something to inspire people to download and contribute to the fundraising...would it have killed those involved to at least attempt something original? At least then we wouldn't be comparing this current rendition to the past and having droves of people say, "ugh, that's not worth my time" and not opting to donate funds to an important cause. Which is the point, after all.

Great anthems are still written all the time. Check out "American Prayer" from 2003's 46664 Benefit Concert for African HIV relief, with Bono, Dave Stewart, and Beyoncé. Now there's an inspiring song.

These are the Grammys we're talking about; you know I could go on. Let's leave it at this for now and mention that despite this and other things, these Grammys were a bit better than those I've seen in the past few years. Why do I still watch this shit? Because I feel it's my semi-official job? Mutter mutter mutter.

Re: Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes

[freak1c.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd gotten to see them - instead I was working my ass off as you know.

But - I would join in at the Punch John Mayer in the face parade. I don't like Daughters either - it's too in that "Little Girl, Little Girl" vein for my taste. In "Wonderland" I was pretty sure that he wanted to touch me in the bad places. But In that one, sounds like he wants to touch the female members of my family in the bad places.

Bad John, Bad!

Nothhin's gonna change my world

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I like Bowie's version so well that I'd use that for charity work.