GRAMMY NOTES: I had a whole list of notes from tonight's Grammy broadcast that I accidentally deleted; but I'll see what I can remember:
- Prince and Beyonce dueting on "Purple Rain"- how old was she when that song came out? Two, three?
- When George Harrison's wife appeared, I was about to swear that if Yoko appeared I would turn off the broadcast and never return. Then, two minutes later, Yoko. Why wasn't she booed off the stage?
- Justin Timberlake's acceptance speech was one of the more bizarre things I've ever seen- he says thank you, he apologizes, he says "it's been a rough week for everybody" (?), and then five seconds later went back to celebrating. What, was he channeling all five members of 'N Sync at once?
- I think the Janet nipple incident was to this year's Grammys as the war in Iraq was to last year's Oscars- the sort of all-consuming world event that shadowed every moment of the proceedings. So what if the music industry and media can't grasp that the momentary flashing of a breast isn't even close to on par with global military conflict.
- That said, I for one didn't miss the presence of Janet Jackson for a second. Or Michael, for that matter.
- Celine Dion's microphone cut out during her performance, once again providing us with proof that there is indeed a God.
- Was I dreaming, or did Richard Marx really win a Grammy for Song of the Year? I guess Luther Vandross is a Marxist of the Richard variety.
- As for winners, it helped to be either young (Beyonce, Timberlake, Outkast), or dead (Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon, Celia Cruz, George Harrison).
- And what was up with 50 Cent rushing the stage when Evanescence won Best New Artist? That's certainly something 50 Shekel would never do.