|
If you're the
Grammy
Awards, how do you go about catching the latest wave in pop
music while still maintaining your tradition of honoring old
fogies on their final lap of the charts? The answer this year
seems to be Carlos
Santana, who represents both the resurgence of Latino music
in the United States and the old guard of sixties
rockers Grammy voters love
so well. Santana's up for 10
awards, and will put his legendary guitar chops on display during
the broadcast. Insiders
predict he'll walk away with a bushel of trophies to go along
with his chart-topping
album,"Supernatural."
   The
Latino contingent also will be represented at this year's awards
with performances by Ricky
Martin, "Buena
Vista Social Club" star Ibrahim
Ferrer, jazz stars Poncho
Sanchez and Chucho
Valdes, Cheb
Mami singing "Desert Rose" with Sting, and popster Marc
Anthony. In addition, Christina
Aguilera, Gloria
Estefan and Jennifer
Lopez should generate
sparks as presenters. In jumping all over the trend, the Grammys
expanded the number of Latin music awards categories from five
to seven this year, and will unveil a Latin
Grammys event in September. Just wait until polka
makes its big comeback.
If you can stand to sit through the braying
stupidity of host Rosie
O'Donnell, it might actually be an exciting
show for a change. So, who do you think is going to win
it all?
Frank Sennett
Newcity.com
affiliates sound off about the Grammy Awards:
 REWINDING
GRAMMY 2000
The show succeeded because the music featured this year was so good
UNNATURAL ACT
On "Supernatural," Carlos Santana hits his usual standard of virtuosity, he's
got a killer lineup of guests, and the production updates his sound. So why
does the album suck?
PLAYING WITH CHILDREN
In the midst of the Latin music surge, "Supernatural" is a timely statement
from an elder statesman
GRAMMY GIRL
Nominated for Best New Artist, blues singer and guitarist Susan Tedeschi is a
longshot hope against the multi-platinum likes of Britney Spears and Macy Gray
SLAMMIN' GRAMMY
Making the scene at the Grammy nominations
FOLK TALES
Ani DiFranco explains how she's managed to make a living through art without
selling out
THE NEXT WAVE
A comprehensive look at the emerging Rock en Espa–ol movement in the United
States
LATIN
KINGS
Marc Anthony and Enrique Iglesias follow in Ricky's footsteps
NO RICKY, POR FAVOR
There was more to Latin music in 1999 than a gyrating Ricky Martin
 RAP
ROYALTY
Will Smith, Dr. Dre, and Jay-Z display traits of royalty--they're
all arrogant, indulgent, and ironic
BUENA
VISTA, BABY
Frozen in Castro's struggle to keep alive the century's greatest
dream and failure, Cuban music's significance is that it celebrates
the common future through tradition
EL
REGRESO
Latin music experiences a newfound surge of popularity, with great
records from Ibrahim Ferrer
and Chucho Valdes
UN
DIOS
Pianist Chucho Valdˇz fronts the storm of Afro-Cuban jazz thundering
through the United States
BEHIND THE MUSIC
Whether you think she's just another slickly produced pop star or symbol of
tenacity and hard work, Shania Twain is laughing all the way to the bank
SUMNER'S
NEW TALES
Moving away from his own experiences, Sting writes from the perspective
of a transsexual prostitute and other characters on "Brand New Day"
 CREEP
SHOW
The cartoon world of Rob Zombie
MASTER
SESSION
Q-Tip sounds like he's just on a booty-quest on "Amplified"
BUFFALO
BOUND
Goo Goo Dolls explore their working-class roots
SLOW
JAMMING
In a rare
interview, Beck discusses the release of "Midnite Vultures"
BLOODY
PULPIT
Ministry
preaches to the converted with "Dark Side of the Spoon"
BENNETT'S
BLUES
When Tony
Bennett sings Duke Ellington, what's not to like? The harp! The
harp!
OUT OF THE PAST
Moby constructs a danceable future out of historic recordings on "Play"
 SOUL
SHINE
The pop
polish of Mary J. Blige
RISING ABOVE
The Dixie Chicks spread their wings
TEEN
SPIRITS
Bush,
Foo Fighters, STP and Soundgarden's Chris Cornell soldier on as
the new dinosaurs of rock
OVEREXPOSED
Have Alanis Morrissette and Tori Amos run out of creative steam?
KEYED
UP
Tori Amos
takes fans "To Venus and Back" with a strong mix of in-concert and
new studio  material
LIFE SIZE
Macy Gray's voice has been compared to Billie Holiday's, Tina Turner's and
Aretha's. It's not just hype.
GREENER GRASS
Shunning radio and major-label suitors, Alison Krauss still focuses on the
music--and it shows
BACK IN BLACK
After five years away, Nine Inch Nails emerge with a two-disc opus--but will
fans be patient enough to give it a careful listen?
MULE CONVERSATIONS
Tom Waits
talks about his first album of new material since 1993
LOVE & X
You can't help but compare Courtney Love and Exene Cervenka when they bring
their bands to town
RHYMES' SCHEMES
Busta Rhymes is less a prophet of doom than a candidate for post-apocalyptic
Funky President
KID ROCKING
"Devil Without A Cause" is more than just funky, hard-assed, rocking and
entertaining, it's real
|
