You don't call dry humping a staff for 3:30 dressed in chic black with about 6 other women singing lyrics (or not-so-singing lyrics) my dog could come up with while ****ing a french poodle similar to Madonna or Brittany Spears? I said similar, not identical. This is not artistry, just easy; not not authenticity, but pornography. And it has nothing to do with music. Call me a conservative, I don't care, but as far as I am concerned, only cheesy boinky guitar riffs are to be employed for such sequences. I don't enjoy mixing my leisures (feel free to take a shot here, I already did).

I'd hardly call her piano playing "schtick." It's a major part of her music and performance. She's someone to keep an eye on.

Her piano playing has been relegated to a schtick. Maybe it wasn't at first, but judging by this performance, that is all it is now. And that is what is being celebrated here. It's stupid, and she seems to love it. And that's ok, but it is nothing to be celebrated, just as this show is nothing to be celebrated or remembered. It just kinda...happened.

"Anyway....I actually paid attention to the Awards from beginning to end...you did not. Having it on with the sound on mute while screwing around with your buds making fun of what you see on the screen does not enable you to have an informed opinion."

It sure does. I have watched these silly awards shows for years, and this is exactly where they were headed. It's all the same, only the names have changed (if you get my drift).

You simply prejudged and used the occasion as an excuse to flame everything and anything.

Not true, Groban is a true vocal artist who is probably the only member of these performers who will be seen 10 or 15 years from now. I don't like his choice of lyric most of the time, but if I hear him on the radio I always leave it on because it is unique and authentic--undeniably authentic. There is nothing that Usher or Alisha keys does that ANYONE else couldn't do or hasn't done-nothing authentic.

And listen, the Grammy's are just as much of a mess as the AMAs. I am not trying to say how greedy people are or trying to smear corporate america. Money is money. Artistry is artistry. And until they make an awards show devoted to artistry and not the politics (and money) behind it, they will all remain (for the most part) silly wastes of time to anyone who isn't there. But this is impossible because the world revolves around people, and people are governed by money artistry and everything in between. That's life and it is amazing. I am not trying to judge that at all.

"Bon Jovi was fine...but...simply pales next to...yes...Alicia Keys and Usher"

No. There performance (and production) may have been flat, but it was not worse than those derivatives. Sorry, but if you consider Usher an Artist then it is Monet who was just a hack. Usher is an image. That is all. Nothing more, nothing less. He doesn't try to be more, just struggles to keep his status. Alicia Keys had potential for artistry, but judging by her performance on the AMAs (because it is the only recent imag I have of her) and willingness to be propelled by the calculated act of proximitizing herself to Usher, I just don't care if she is an artist. It's all a game, and it is boring. And it IS just a calculated act of imagery.

"...It's My Life, which threw off Have A Nice Day."

I agree, almost blocked out It's my life myself except for the fact that it was Bon Jovi--you're right. But have a nice day was really good.


I will agree with you on one thing though: Rod Stewart's pants alone had more soul than this entire show. I will concede you that They kicked Bon Jovi's ass to the mooon (or to a golf course).

B