Grammy '12 Overview

LL Cool J was a great host

The performances

I missed Adele's opening song.

Bruno Mars - I mean, he was Bruno Mars, not gonna knock the guy, because he is definitely talented - a good song writer, producer, and has a solid singing voice, he's just not my style (Liquor Store Blues w/ Damian Marley is a FANTASTIC song though). But if his album has songs like his live performances (a jazzy/RnB/soul feel) rather than all the poppy songs from him I've heard, he would be an artist I enjoy.

Katy Perry - I like E.T. still for some reason...even though they had already announced Kanye wasn't there so I know he wouldn't jump in for his verse...then whatever song it was she did second (I'm not up to date on my Katy Perry) sounded pretty good for her. She is a bit pitchy live, but did pretty good and looked great (but that hair...um...no).

Foo Fighters - They sounded amazing, they sounded energized and like they were having fun. This performance proved they deserved to win everything they did, great band.

Chris Brown - Sounded bad, and his performance is just like all of his performances, he never really brings anything new to the table, if you've seen one Chris Brown performance, you've seen them all.

Taylor Swift - I don't like Swift's music, and I generally think she tries to hard to look like a dolled up Barbie, but her not only did she sport a very natural look, and looked GREAT (I personally love a girl with a natural country look), but she sounded better than normal too. Didn't think I would be giving Taylor Swift a good review, but it would be bias of me not to.

Adele - Does exactly what you'd expect her to do, and I'm not knocking her because her voice is absolutely phenomenal. I prefer her doing something simple like she did rather than put on an overdone show. She sounded great.

Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson - From what I can judge, rather average. They are talented, but nothing overly impressive was displayed. This could be biased, as country isn't my genre of choice however.

The Beach Boys - Okay...backtracking a bit...The Beach Boys were the first band I listened to. Can't remember which CD it was, but I did know ever word. Watching this performance let me know that I have definitely out grown my enjoyment of The Beach Boys. They were good for who they are though, just not really my thing anymore.

Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood - Two fantastic voices. Really all I can say here.

Glen Campbell with the Band Perry and Blake Shelton - Alright, nothing special.

Coldplay and Rihanna - And award for the most awkward collaboration of all time goes to...COLDPLAY AND RIHANNA! Ri-Ri sounded VERY pitchy during her parts, and looked unusually ehhhh. Chris Martin (of Coldplay) was alright, given the songs he was performing are pretty awful.

Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt - Personally love Alicia Keys, and Bonnie Raitt also has a great voice. They did a great Etta James tribute, and I'm kinda glad they didn't do "At Last" because I think I've heard that song to many time...Etta has other songs guys.

Paul McCartney - As talented as this guy is...his performance was horribly average. Really was expecting something monumental from him.

Jennifer Hudson - Couldn't have picked a better person to do a Whitney Houston tribute, this girl's voice doesn't get enough credit.

David Guetta, Deadmau5, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, & Foo Fighters - um WTF was my first thought when I saw this. I like David Guetta (club music wise), I can tolerate Deadmau5 (not a big fan of techno/electro), usually can't stand Chris Brown or Lil Wayne, and thoroughly enjoy the Foo Fighters. Guetta did his thing, Brown sounded ehhh, Wayne sounded awful. Just like before the Foo Fighters sounded great, and the switch up with Deadmau5 was pretty good.

Nicki Minaj - Much like Chris Brown, Nicki's songs are one in the same. Here she decided to expand on the Roman Polanski gimmick, and the performance and new song she showcased were AWFUL. She didn't look very good either. An while an interesting show, it was a very bad vocal showcase. I don't think it'll be as memorable as they continually stressed it would be.

Bruce Springsteen - simply amazing. Dude still does good, no complaints.

Main Awards

Record Of The Year
Adele - Rolling In The Deep - WINNER
Bon Iver - Holocene
Bruno Mars - Grenade
Mumford & Sons - The Cave
Katy Perry - Fireworks

Was personally rooting for Bon Iver, but had no doubt that Adele would take this one

Album Of The Year
Adele - 21 - WINNER
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Bruno Mars - Doo Wops & Hooligans
Rihanna - Loud

rooting for Foo Fighters, but again saw the Adele victory coming a mile away.

Song Of The Year
Adele - Rolling In The Deep - WINNER
Kanye West (Feat. Rihanna, KiD CuDi, & Fergie) - All Of The Lights
Mumford & Sons - The Cave
Bruno Mars - Grenade
Bon Iver - Holocene

Here, if based on musical composition and showcased talent, rather than as a personality contest, All of Lights should've won. I believe, while Adele is incredibly talented, her song was another pop ballad, whereas All of the Lights was a modern ode to musical composition. It featured Elton John, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and many many more huge celebrity vocalists all harmonizing and contributing different elements to the stadium blowout track.

Best New Artist
Bon Iver - WINNER
The Band Perry
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

Expected J. Cole, Nicki, or Skrillex, but was rooting for Bon Iver or J. Cole - its awesome Justin won this one.

Best Rap Performance
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Otis (Feat. Otis Redding) - WINNER
Chris Brown - Look At Me Now (Feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne)
Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On
Nicki Minaj - Moment For Life (Feat. Drake)
Wiz Khalifa - Black & Yellow

YES, YES, YES. Look At Me Now was a pointless, awful song with an annoying beat, The Show Goes On was great, but it winning would be a slap in the fans' and Lupe's face because he didn't personally like it and was forced by his label to make it, Moment For Life was bad, and Black & Yellow was an overplayed 'anthem', while Otis was Hip-Hop at it's core. Soul sample, two of the best rappers alive just having fun.

All Of The Lights won both Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song (beating out Otis, Kanye beat Kanye) and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy won Best Rap Album (beating out Watch The Throne, Kanye beating Kanye).