TheLoop21.com

By: Crystal P. Smith (Add to your loop)
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 01:00

What's wrong with this picture?

The 52nd annual Grammy show aired on Sunday and proved to be quite a juicy three and a half hours. From the exceptional performances to some surprising wins, the show really was worth watching even if you had to wait for the very end to hear some hip hop.

Pink did an amazing aerial show in a nude bodysuit, little Juelz Knowles stole the spotlight from Rihanna and Jay-Z, Eminem had an amazing performance with Lil Wayne and Drake, Beyonce broke the record for the most Grammy wins ever for a female performer, and I'm sure you heard: Taylor Swift won album of the year. She beat out Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce and the Dave Matthews Band?

Okay, where's Kanye when you need him?

It's unfortunate that his quite plausible point (which questioned the criteria for winning an award) has been overshadowed by his ass-holiness, so much so that Taylor went on to win the biggest award of Grammy night. And at this point, anyone who questions it or complains will sound like a sore loser, even though the decision takes all credibility away from the academy's and the media's ability to applaud real talent and musical genius. This is not an article about who should have won but rather the music industry's standards for what really classifies as exceptional. 

The show was set up from the beginning, with soundbites from "the media," to be a showdown between Beyonce and Taylor—a ridiculous match to begin with. And in reality, yes, Taylor won the biggest award but Beyonce made history. And yet the coverage swings to Taylor as they peddle her triumph tale?

Kudos to "the media" for collectively turning Taylor into America's sweetheart after her blindside attack by Kanye. It seems like that sympathy went a long way, right to the hearts of the voting members of the Recording Academy.

But this isn't anything new is it? The possession of this thing called talent is quite subjective and in the music industry of today, I'm not sure it even counts for all that much. It just so happens that this time, a 20-year-old country singer was blindsided and disrespected by a drunk rapper and was compensated for her embarrassment with a trophy.

Crystal P. Smith is senior editor and writer at TheLoop21.com, where she focuses on pop culture, gender, social issues and race. She also writes the Culture Voice blog and is working on her first novel.

Is President Obama right about Kanye West being a 'jackass'?

Yes, he nailed it

No, Kanye made a mistake

I'm not sure

I'm so over this