I'VE GOT A JONES FOR NORAH: I'm excited enough about the Grammys Sunday night that I plan to watch the awards and tape the final episode of "Oz." The Grammys probably won't be as brutal, nor as homoerotic (since there's no Eminem/Elton duet this year) and besides, I want the last "Oz" on tape for posterity's sake.
As for predictions, I had the same rapturous reaction that so many others did to "The Rising" last summer- the Boss was back, with an album of great material, which happened to be the first major response by a major artist to the events of 9/11 ("Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"'s songs only seemed to be about 9/11). I'll be very happy if Bruce wins for Best Album, but honestly, I'll be rooting for Norah Jones. This woman who's younger than I am and was playing gigs at Makor 18 months ago came absolutely out of nowhere to outpace the Britneys, Christinas, and Avrils and make the record that will stand the test of time more than any other put out this year- oh yea, and she's also better looking than Britney, Christina, and Avril put together. "The Rising" now finds its way into my CD player about once a month; "Come Away With Me" gets played just about every day.
Meanwhile, CBS executives have announced that they will cut off any presenter who uses their time to make an antiwar plea. Good for them, I say; if Richard Gere can be banned for life from presenting at the Oscars due to his Tibet comments a few years ago, I don't see why the Grammy people should have to endorse foreign policy analysis from Vanessa Carlton or Fred Durst.