It isn’t that the Grammy Awards have been without controversy in the past. It’s just that each new one appears to override memories of those of the past.
This year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) has the artist who deems himself “The Real Slim Shady” to thank for that. Taken to task by numerous organizations for lyrics that seem to promote intolerance and target women (as well as other music stars), Eminem is arguably the most incendiary nominee in the recording industry’s 43rd annual ceremony, which CBS will broadcast Wednesday (7p.m.) from Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
As usual, though, the list of those in the running for honors indicates the wide range of musical accomplishments during the past year. So does the roster of performers scheduled to perform on the three-hour show. They include Madonna, U2, Destiny’s Child, Christina Aguilera, Faith Hill, ‘N Sync, Dolly Parton and rising country-music star Brad Paisley, all of them Grammy contenders.
“It’s not that different from the year when nuns protested outside the ceremony when Joan Osborne was nominated for her song ‘One of Us’ (which invoked the name of God),” says NARAS chief Michael Greene of the furor over Eminem’s Album of the Year bid for “The Marshall Mathers LP.” Greene agrees that category “has probably generated a lot of conversation, but otherwise, it’s been a pretty normal year for us. There are always issues surrounding who’s nominated, who’s performing (at the Grammy event) and so forth, but Album of the Year has been the only really big deal.
“We knew if ‘Marshall Mathers’ made its way into (that contest), there would be outcries for sure,” Greene adds. “That’s the job of women’s organizations and gay and lesbian organizations. We’ve met with a lot of those groups and talked to them about the issues that (Eminem’s Grammy inclusion) raises, and their points of view are valid. I haven’t heard anyone say that the recording should be banned, which would probably be the only thing I’d have taken exception to.”
At press time, it was uncertain whether Eminem would perform at the Grammys. If he did, it could open CBS to criticism for giving him a national television showcase, something that sister network MTV has experienced. Greene maintains, “As we go through the process of deciding who will be on, what they’re going to do and what the context will be, there’s any number of bumps in the road that could throw (a possible performance) out. We’re not going to present any kind of hate-mongering on the show. There’s no reason for us to.”
Grammy voters have sometimes been accused of being out of touch with broad musical tastes, but Greene feels nominations such as those for Eminem and Radiohead address that. “I defy anyone to hum a Radiohead tune,” he muses. “(Recording Academy) membership is continuing to grow, as well as the outreach into the hard-rock and ethnic (music) communities. More people are joining, and that is making the Grammy process a lot less predictable.”
Here is a list of nominees in selected categories in the 43rd annual Grammy Awards:
Record of the Year: “Beautiful Day,” U2; “Bye Bye Bye,” ‘N Sync; “I Try,” Macy Gray; “Music,” Madonna; “Say My Name,” Destiny’s Child.
Album of the Year: “Kid A,” Radiohead; “The Marshall Mathers LP,” Eminem; “Midnite Vultures,” Beck; “Two Against Nature,” Steely Dan; “You’re the One,” Paul Simon.
Song of the Year: “Beautiful Day”; “Breathe” (performed by Faith Hill); “I Hope You Dance” (Lee Ann Womack); “I Try”; “Say My Name.”
Best New Artist: Shelby Lynne; Brad Paisley; Papa Roach; Jill Scott; Sisqo.
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: “Both Sides Now,” Joni Mitchell; “I Try,” Macy Gray; “Music,” Madonna; “Oops! … I Did It Again,” Britney Spears; “Save Me,” Aimee Mann; “What a Girl Wants,” Christina Aguilera.
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: “She Bangs,” Ricky Martin; “She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa),” Sting; “6, 8, 12,” Brian McKnight; “Taking You Home,” Don Henley; “You Sang to Me,” Marc Anthony.
Best Rock Song: “Again” (performed by Lenny Kravitz); “Bent” (matchbox twenty); “Californication” (Red Hot Chili Peppers); “Kryptonite” (3 Doors Down); “With Arms Wide Open” (Creed).
Best R&B Song: “Bag Lady” (performed by Erykah Badu); “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” (Toni Braxton); “Say My Name”; “Thong Song” (Sisqo); “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” (D’Angelo).
