Thank tha Lawd for DVR

I was able, through the magic of DVR, to watch the entire Grammy telecast in about an hour. The show itself was 3 hours and 33 minutes (so my DVR told me), so without the miracle of technology there was no way I would have sat through that commercial ridden, self-congratulatory awards fest. Although this year seemed different. It was more a show of concert performances with a few awards scattered in, which made it seem more relevant than it has been in many years.

Like most Grammy shows, it's all about the performances. Even though the voters seem hopelessly out of touch (Hey, I'm hip! I voted for Robert Plant! He's the lead singer from that hair band!), they usually do a bang up job on booking exciting musical guests. This year was no exception, although the sound seemed off for most of the show (this could be ATT&T's fault since I've been having issues with the sound on my recorded shows).

My favorite performance of the evening? Had to be the "Rap Pack" of T.I., Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne and Kanye West with M.I.A. Girl had the most balls of all of them, getting up on that stage ready to burst with child and still KILLING IT. I know she got a lot of flack for what she wore, but f**k that. She had the stones to give an awesome performance with her kid crowning, for christ's sake. Swagga like us, indeed.

I also have to appreciate the pairing of the young-ens, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. I can't believe I'm paying a compliment, let alone a musical one, to Cyrus. But wonders never cease. She sounded decent (if trying a bit too hard) and the duet sounded generally lovely. Maybe there's hope for the future yet.

Kanye West and Estelle killed it with American Boy. That was one of my favorite songs of 2008, and I'm glad Estelle is getting some mainstream love in the U.S. I had to search the internet high and low to download her album about a year ago, so it's nice to see her all over. Give that single a listen. I dare you not to shake your butt and get your groove on. Impossible to sit still.

I have to admit, I'm just not hip enough for Radiohead. I know, I know. They are such critical darlings, but I haven't purchased their music since Pablo Honey. No wait, I did get that album with Fake Plastic Trees on it. So there, I'm a bit hip. But if a band's music is too dense for me, it's damn dense. Don't get me wrong, I don't consider myself a Mensa music member, but I do have a couple of I.Q. points to my name. And I like to unwrap lyrics like a present, and I like when they aren't easy to get (hello Indigo Girls, holla out to you!), but In Rainbows gets a pass from me.

Even though I don't want to admit it, I did enjoy Justin Timberlake with T.I. as well. It doesn't hurt that the song they performed is one of my favorites off of the album Paper Trail, "Dead and Gone". This album was close to my favorite of 2008, pretty much in a tie with Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak. Sorry, Kanye, I know you like to win but I'm pretty sure you could give a crap about COG's opinion anyway. Though you should...you should my friend...

That counts my Grammy highlights...what were yours?

-COG