FireAid Meets Grammys

I’ll just get right to it — my complimentary and snarky highlights:

It’s hard to go first. Green Day shoulda said they didn’t want to open. Get the sound sorted first. But someone has to go first. Right? It was fun to see Billy with Billie.

Alanis. I was never a huge fan. But she was 150%. Comfortable in her more mature skin and voice. Strutting the stage with pride. I thought she’d be my favorite performance. How could it get any better?

Pink. That’s how. OMG. What’s going with her and Justin Derrico, her guitar player? Gotta be something. Their cover of Zeppelin's “Babe I'm Gonna Leave You”?  I mean …

I realize I’ve been conflating (I do this a lot) The Black Keys with The Black Crowes. I dig Jack White so I was wondering why I was underwhelmed with Chris Robinson — following Pink with another Zeppelin song kinda paled. Thankfully, Adam reminded me that Jack and Chris are from different bands. 😳😳😳

But after he read this. Adam corrected me even further:

I was nervous when Stephen Stills emerged. Last time I saw him perform it was a train wreck. This time his fingers were nimble, his pitch was right on. And then — with Graham and their vintage paring.

Joni. There are no words. Well, there are some: I’ve heard her sing this more somber arrangement of “Both Sides Now” twice at the Hollywood Bowl. It is paralyzing. It’s like nothing else is going on in the room or in the world. It’s just that gold.   

Jelly Roll. On message. We’re not Ok but it’s gonna be alright. The fires. The loss. The grief. Personally, this is the message I’ve been carrying with me in my daily life and my house didn’t even burn down.

Chili Peppers. I never got them. I’m in the minority. My daughter is friends with Flea’s niece. And once, when they were small, they were playing hide and seek in Flea’s Malibu residence. Layla hid in Flea’s closet and later told me that his yellow Lakers uniform was dangling in her face while she waited for Lily to find her. But I digress.

Earth Wind and Fire. A joyous reunion of “September.” I’m sure our friend Allee Willis (writer) was smiling in heaven.

Rod Stewart. You gotta love him. That’s all I can say.

Katy. Gorgeous. Present. Rallying the Gurls.

Gwen … Looks EXACTLY the same as she did when “I’m Just A Gurl — I mean Girl” was a hit. How can that be? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Gracie. Lovely but Basic. Let’s see if she’s still here in 5 years. I used to say that about Billie. But I was wrong.

John Mayer. A quadruple threat. Writer, Singer, Player, Looker. He’s a monster. A master. Shows the kids how it’s done. A man and a guitar. Period.

Stevie Nicks. She shows ‘em too. 76 and still killing us with “Landslide.” “But time makes you bolder, Even children get older, And I'm gettin' older, too…” Ain’t that the truth. We all are.

My list is glaringly incomplete. I’m going to be honest — I never finished the Fire Aid Concert. It was a long show. I kept falling asleep. This is what happens. I’m gonna try to finish later later tonight. I couldn’t yesterday because it was on to the GRAMMYs.

I was afraid for the Grammys. I thought Fire Aid, or as much of it as I saw — would be hard to follow.

But I was wrong again.

The show was super gorgeous to watch on screen. Elaborate productions and sets. Gymnastics from Benson Boone and choreography from Sabrina, Doechii and Janelle that raised the bar for what will help get you signed. Shakira always moved. It was part of her thing. Now it’s kinda expected. I miss Adele.

What Best New Artist Chappell Roan had to say about labels disrespecting Artists whose backs they ride on in order to exist as multi-billion dollar businesses was truth. So many kudos. (I wonder how long it takes for her to remove her make-up. I use at least 5 cotton pads just for mascara!)

Yay for the Stones. I voted for Hackneyed Diamonds. Have you heard it? Do.

I thought that Beyonce was better suited for Album Of The Year ( an award for an artist who dares to evolve) than best Country Album. That said, her acceptance speech(es) were understated and full of grace.

As was Sabrina Carpenter’s. No announcements of albums in the works.

Stevie and Herbie … does it get any better?

But there were some disappointing moments too.

“Die With A Smile” (Pop Duo Award) is this tender sentiment of a lyric produced and delivered with the ‘bombacity’ that wows a crowd. And it obviously works. I know Lady Gaga can sAng (not a typo) but she doesn’t move me and so can Bruno (he often moves me) but I much prefer the John Mayer approach. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.

And I totally missed Kendrick winning Best Record and song. I’m just gonna say it. Seriously? I get there’s been a lot of viral drama behind this record. But Best “Song”? Perhaps the number of female pop stars in that category (Billie, Taylor, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Sabrina) cancelled each other out. I don’t know. But 😡

All snarkiness aside at the end of the day (2 nights) it really seemed like all the performers were focused on something other than themselves — the unfathomable wildfires that ravaged communities and uprooted thousands of lives.

Many recent parties and celebrations were understandably cancelled out of respect for the grief of the people effected by the devastation. But the showing up of all these iconic stars for Fire Aid which raised 60 million dollars was a godsend.

And the choice to move forward with a Grammy night that never lost sight of LA strong was hopeful, uplifting and healing. I’m glad they did it.

No matter how tragic the tragedy, life oddly always seems to continue. And so it goes…

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