Whitewashed

I was joking with my baby last night that I wish my VCR remote wasn't broken so I could tape the Grammys — altho there'd probably be about 12-15 minutes of good (ie. R&B) stuff to watch from the three hour telecast. Keith Boykin writes:

Not a single black artist received an award during the prime time show.

From his descriptions, it was a boring, lifeless affair:

The Grammys were definitely different from past years, but with an emphasis on performances instead of awards, the absence of people of color performing felt all the more inexcusable. Despite the rage about the Latin explosion a few years ago, there were no Latino performers Sunday night either.

Also gone was the glamour of Grammy days past. Although the producers did a great job of transforming Madison Square Garden into a functioning multifaceted stage, the hall itself lacked the elegance of previous locations. Coupled with a poorly conceived lineup, the award show was lifeless and dull, barely registering on the excitement meter and hardly comparable to electric Grammy shows of past years.

I'm glad the Grammys finally returned to New York City, but I'm disappointed with what the producers chose to show. Sadly, this was the least representative Grammy Awards show in years. At a time when music sales are slumping, the recording industry cannot afford to offend a large portion of its consumer base.