Least deserved awards

Subject: Least deserved musical awards
From: steve in ottawa
Date: 29 Mar 99 - 03:46 PM

While I *do* hate to hear anyone trashing well regarded music, it don't irk me none to agree: sometimes they get those musical awards WRONG.

My favourite is the Juno award the Canadian musical establishment gave to Leonard Cohen the recent year when he put out that mediochre record that included the hit, "Closing Time". For some reason, I was actually watching the ceremony when he won "Male vocalist of the year." He accepted the award, said "Only in Canada," smiled ironically and returned to his seat. One of the few people I've ever seen win an award who KNEW they didn't deserve it :-)

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Mar 99 - 09:39 AM

Virtually all awards ceremonies (except for best improved bowler, etc.) are designed to intensify already existing adulation of the gods by the little people who get to tune in and have their drab lives sparkled upon by the beautiful. The idea of being rewarded by the act of doing or the joy in singing or acting is replaced by the need for narcissistic mirroring. Hence current movies require that the hero or heroine have at least one scene in which they are spontaneously applauded or appear on the cover of Time magazine, thus achieving Nirvana. In the words of the Best Selling Book of all Time, winner of the Award for most Pornographic depiction of Father-Daughter Incest (Lot's Family), Multiple Recipient of the Best Written Exposition of Unexplained Human Suffering Award (Book of Job), and Lifetime Achievement Award in Special Effects (Book of Revelation): "Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth!"

Yours, Peter T. (Two-time winner of the Existential Achievement Award for Getting Up in the Morning and Going to Work without Whimpering)

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 30 Mar 99 - 10:58 AM

Peter T.

Congratulations on your award. I don't know how I missed you on the cover of "People". I'm sure that there are many more to come.

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Peter T.
Date: 31 Mar 99 - 05:21 PM

Aw, Steve, thanks. And can I take this opportunity to thank Roberto B. for giving us all a laugh and a warm take-home feeling about the Holocaust. Question: Why did Primo Levi commit suicide? Answer: see above.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: LEJ
Date: 31 Mar 99 - 05:40 PM

I won't watch an awards show. Primarily because I don't think the people who are judging have a damn clue who the Best Female Vocalist, or Best Foreign Documentary Featuring Animals,or Best Male Rock/jazz Instrumental Soloist is. It's completely subjective, with much of the primary focus on Best Anybody Who Made the Most Money in our Industry. The Grammies are probably the biggest joke. Best Male Rock Group: Hanson, Backstreet Boys, In Sync and Boyz to Men. And the winner is ....MEDIOCRITY!

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 31 Mar 99 - 09:52 PM

Can someone tell me who won the Grammy this year for "Best Traditional Folk" recording? Just curious.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Mar 99 - 10:24 PM

Sandy,

I think it was "Mitch Miller and the Sing Along Gang Sing Song of The North and South"

Don

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 01:56 AM

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Banjer
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 02:48 AM

I have to agree with all that Seed said....Well put! My thoughts exactly!

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 03:08 AM

Damn Banj...When you're right, you're right! Rarely in this forum do I see such absolute genius on a more profound subject. I'm trying to think of a thread or comment that evokes more thought and deep contemplation within the reader. Would that many follow this brilliant example of critical thinking and erudite expression. I, as you, am humbled in the presence such a repository of definitive information verbal acumen.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 11:08 AM

Sandy, this year's traditional folk grammy was a tie. The winners were: "Ani DiFranco and the Chieftans play In Your Face FemaCeltoid Favourites" and "Wild Mountain Time" by the Mick Peak Mountain Boys.

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 12:51 PM

I think it was Paul Stamler in St. Louis who said: "Why does the chicken cross the road? To record with the Chieftains." I finally got daring enough to look for a "Grammy" web site and discovered that the "trad folk" Grammy went to the Chieftains and their latest cast of thousands. But Rick's description is more apt.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 03:37 PM

Awards suck! Especially the TV shows that accompany them. When I was very young I used to watch the Oscars with my family and couldn't understand why I didn't enjoy it like my parents did. Over the years I realised it was because EVERYONE who spoke on the show seemed to be reading scripts that I considered moronic. When the celebs would try to be spontaneous, they seemed nervous and self-conscious. I started getting the idea that a large chunk of the movie star people were terribly naive, insular, and basically "one trick ponies". I used to think that some seemed to have some spontaniety because of how they appeared on late nite talk shows...until seeing a few episodes of "The Larry Sanders Show", which effectively exposed how carefully scripted these appearances are. Not ALL celebs mind you, but a high enough percentage to make watching them outside their natural environment (movies and plays) pretty difficult for me.

'Fraid the music awards shows hit me the same way. There are many smaller awards presentations that seem to miss many of these pitfalls, but I think it's only their smallness that keeps them interesting. Folk DJ Steve Fruitman gives out his Porcupine folk music awards up here, and I think the strength of them rests in them being strictly Steve's opinions. (to the best of my knowledge he is still a committee of one) I participated for a few years but it was never a good fit, as Steve's opinions and mine are probably poles apart about half the time.

Just as an example: Were there Mudcat awards, they would no doubt break down along the lines of who thinks what is folky and who doesn't. Catspaw could give the "Neil (terminally screwed) Young award" to James Taylor, and 25 Catters would'nt understand what he had against either Neil OR James.(I might) Sandy could hand out the "Abe Trivett Award" for great singing to someone like Sarah Cleveland, and the only way a lot of folks would get to hear either would be to buy Folk-Legacy albums. (hmmm, not a bad idea Sandy). Since few of us speak Gaelic, our votes in the best lyricist category would be meaningless to many Catters across the pond. The only way it would work would be to have dozens and dozens of special categories, like: Best Caribafroceltoid band...Best Singer-songwriter who credits original sources for his/her tunes...or Best Bluegrass band not using diminished or augmented chords.

I keep my folky awards in my head (although I think my brain has been full since 1977) and it's more fun that way.

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: McMusic
Date: 02 Apr 99 - 02:28 AM

Well, in another thread I made the comment about Linda Ronstadt beating out C. Fink & M. Marxer for the Grammy for best children's recording. That was tied this year with Ms. Fink and Ms. Marxer losing out to Elmo! A frigging puppet! No one need ask me why I don't bother to tune in awards shows!

Subject: RE: Least deserved awards
From: Banjer
Date: 02 Apr 99 - 06:15 AM

I don'y like any awards shows or beauty pageants, (except maybe scenery is not bad);), because all these shows are put together from the onset with PROFIT in mind. Tons of commercials mixed with a little show in which I always get the feeling that the winner was already decided on three months ago. No, I'll just sit in the corner and pick and pluck to the best of my ability and tell myself I win the award for most stubborn, non playing individual in the world.