Hancock's upset part of tradition at Grammys for weird winners
By JAKE COYLE
To the list of Jethro ‘‘Say What?’’ Tull and Steely ‘‘Freaking’’ Dan, we may now add Herbie ‘‘Huh?’’ Hancock.
With his surprise win for best album Sunday night, Hancock joined a rich tradition of infamous Grammy winners that immediately caused audience members to contort their faces in curiosity and disbelief.
The 67-year-old jazz pianist wasn’t only the surprise winner, he was a surprise nominee. When the Grammy nominations were announced in December, a blogger for Spin Magazine wrote: ‘‘This award is meant to expand beyond the reach of pop and rock, but Herbie Hancock? Really?’’
Amy Winehouse, Herbie Hancock and Kanye West didn’t provide quite enough drama to enthrall television viewers. Preliminary estimates indicate the Grammy Awards telecast was watched by 17.5 million people.
Nielsen Media Research said today that would make it the third least-watched Grammy Awards ever if later estimates confirm those numbers.
The Grammy after-parties, like Kanye's, full of stars and booze
By SOLVEJ SCHOU
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Two years ago, Kanye West’s Grammy after-party was a booze-filled, late-night affair with 3,000 screaming guests, bikini-clad women — and his mother, Donda, was in the house.
He was more subdued at this year’s party, celebrating four Grammy wins Sunday night in tribute to Donda West, who died last year, and he even left earlier than most — but it was still a boozy, celeb-filled event.
The rapper has never hidden his lust for awards or his pleasure in the shine of a ceremonial spotlight. At the 50th annual Grammys on Sunday night, West, as usual, made his presence felt.
Accepting one of his four awards, West went so far as to say: "It feels good to be home here at the Grammys."
West had a leading eight nominations going into the ceremony and took home four: best rap album for "Graduation," best solo performance for "Stronger," best rap song for "Good Life" and best rap performance by duo or group for his collaboration with Common on "Southside."
Even Herbie Hancock was shocked, says 'Kanye and I are cool'
Herbie Hancock shocked Kanye West, best-album presenters Usher and Quincy Jones, and just about anyone who was watching the Grammys when the jazz veteran won the night's big prize for "River: The Joni Letters."
But perhaps no one was more shocked than Herbie Hancock.
"It's immeasurable how surprised I am," Hancock said Sunday night after the show.
An ebullient Herbie Hancock was thrilled for his album of the year win for ‘‘River: The Joni Letters,’’ marking the first time an African-American jazz artist has won the award and the second a jazz instrumentalist has triumphed.
‘‘It’s immeasurable how surprised I am,’’ he said. ‘‘I didn’t even hear my name at first, and I was waiting to hear my name, and they said it, and I didn’t hear it. Then I heard the word ’River,’ and I said ’Is this true? Is this happening?’’’
Hancock said he hadn’t had a chance to talk to Joni Mitchell yet. ‘‘I have no idea what she may be going through,’’ he said. And don’t expect any sort of battle to be waged between Hancock and Kanye West, who many thought was the favorite in the category. ‘‘Kanye and I are cool,’’ he said. ‘‘I saw him earlier, and I said ’Good luck!’ and he said ’I’d love to wish you good luck ... but I don’t want you to get album of the year.’’
When asked if he was thought of as a conservative choice in comparison to other nominees like West and Amy Winehouse, Hancock laughed, ‘‘This is the first time I’ve been thought of as a conservative choice! What’s conservative about me, maybe the way I dress?’’
More news and notes from backstage at the Grammys ...
We're hardly surprised this didn't materialize, though we'd love to see if Jacko can even attempt a moonwalk these days without some body part caving in.
Amy Winehouse went ahead and sang ‘‘Rehab.’’ From the looks of things, she still isn’t crazy about being there.
While the retro-soul singer never addressed her problems during a two-song Grammy performance via satellite tonight, some knowing smiles crept across her face during her signature hit. And as it wound to a close, she sang, ‘‘They’re trying to make me go to rehab, but I ... ‘‘ and gave a dismissive gesture with her arms as she backed away from the microphone.
Proud as we are to have another Chicago-bred musician win album of the year — and, yes, we know, jazz never wins top Grammys, so boo-yah — we're shocked, shocked I say, that Herbie Hancock came out of nowhere to win the top award at tonight's Grammys.
Poor Kanye was nervous, his head bowed, no doubt contemplating how he'd react either way — a glorious win or an even crazier wig-out if he lost. And Amy Winhouse sat on the edge of the stage in London, biting her lip, looking a bit spacey, as usual. Who would win? Who would win?
Neither. Kanye and Wino must have split the vote and in came Herbie @#$%! Hancock. This is almost as unjust as Steely Dan winning it the year Eminem deserved it. We keep getting our hopes up, and we keep getting painful reminders of this: This is all about old people. Sigh.
Music’s heavy hitters turned out for the Grammy Awards’ 50th anniversary ceremony tonight in celebratory and respectful outfits. The fringe outfits were left to up-and-comers or those looking for some paparazzi shots.
Kanye wins best rap album — and holds his ground at the mike
Chicago rapper Kanye West just won best rap album at the Grammys for his CD "Graduation." And when he got to the microphone, he had a few things to say. Big surprise.
The Time have come for a new album. Morris Day and The Time recorded an fresh CD, their first in 18 years, and expect to tour again soon, band members said backstage at the Grammy Awards tonight.
‘‘We plan on going into the studio and getting out on the road,’’ Morris Day, wearing a gold suit, said after the group performed a set with Rihanna.
In the early awards ceremony, before the telecast, host Patti Austin remarked about Chicago's Kanye West: ‘‘I’m so glad Kanye won everything because you know how cranky he gets when he loses.’’
Some other quips and comments from Music's Biggest night ...
They've got a lot of performances booked for tonight's Grammys show. That means fewer awards actually given out on the telecast — which, depending on what you watch for, is a good or bad thing.
Here's a list of the Grammys already awarded before tonight's show began:
So we open the show with Alicia Keys duetting with Frank Sinatra on "Learning the Blues," an odd choice for an opening number. And then Carrie Underwood does her best Nancy Sinatra strut down some stairs in some boots definitely made for walkin' while dancers did their best "Stomp!" impression. Two guys here just asked, "I thought she was country artist...?"
Here we go.: The 50th annual Grammy Awards are about to begin. Will Amy Winehouse actually perform from rehab? Will Michael Jackson show up? Will the Foo Fighters sound ridiculous with an orchestra? Follow the details, reactions, lists and news on suntimes.com, on Jim DeRogatis' blog and right here at The Gold Rush!
Early Grammy winners inclue Kanye West, Barack Obama
The 50th anniversary Grammy Awards actually started in the middle of the day today, with 100 awards handed out in the pre-telecast portion of the event.
Kanye West, who leads the field with eight nominations, took home three during the pre-telecast, including best rap solo performance for "Stronger," best rap performance for "Southside," by Common featuring West and best rap/sung collaboration for "Good Life" by West and featuring T-Pain.
