AND THE GRAMMY GOES TO...

By: Sunil Noronha

The anticipated music event of the year had finally come. If you weren't in tune with the music scene this year, 'The Grammy Awards' this year round would get you tuned back in one evening!! 'The Grammy Awards 2006' was kicked off with performances from the year's top music makers strutting their stuff with the Gorillaz who performed their chart-topping hit, Feel Good Inc. later to be joined by De La Soul. Following them was Madonna her hit single "Hung Up". Coldplay came on with their chart busting song "Talk". Lead Vocalist Chris Martin was more tripped on the music than usual going in to the audience whilst going about his usual trademark performing style. Other performers were John Legend and Kelly Clarkson who both had a full-fledged orchestra to accompany to them. U2 were joined by Mary .J. Blige on one of their older songs "One" after deliver a kick ass performance of "Vertigo". The virtuosity in seasoned singer was all the more obvious. Then all new talent was hushed by one of the oldest old timers around-His Majesty Sir Paul McCartney (surprisingly in his First Ever Grammy Performance!!!). After singing "Fine line", he took the bass on and gave the audience a rare taste "Helter Skelter" in true Beatles style. Mariah Carey and the Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir along with Pastor Clarence Keaton kept them entertained. Others performers included country chart topper Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Aerosmith, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx...almost every single one of them that you would have heard this year. That made The Grammy Awards '06 one with the most ever performances ever!!! ;This time around U2 maintained their good run with five more, two more from last year. A clean sweep and long awaited comeback from Mariah Carey was expected taking into the account the fact that Carey had eight nominations but she had to do with three wins. She did make her "loss" sound grateful though. She was quoted saying "We have to go through certain things in order to appreciate life and learn lessons". On receiving the award for Album of the Year, U2 among the " appreciates" for the other nominees spoke of the singing star saying that she sang like an angel.

Other notable awardees were Green day (who like U2 carried their from last year into this year) for Record Of The Year for the song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", John Legend for Best New Artist and for Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Ordinary People" and Kanye West for Best Rap Album for "Late Registration" and Best Solo Rap Performance for "Gold Digger".

As is done every year at the Grammies, tributes in the form of Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to the likes of David Bowie, The Weavers (early folk music pioneers), the Late Robert Johnson (who was represented by his son) and Cream (represented by bassist Jack Bruce), among others. Singer/Songwriter James Taylor was honoured Musicares Person Of The Year for the year 2006. Sly Stone, musical genius of the yesteryears, made his first big stage appearance with the song "I Want To Take You Higher" along with a star studded group compromising of Steven Tyler, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph etc. He appeared in a flashy suit sporting a Mohawk.