I had a listen today, prompted by Bob Kefsetz’s katest rant.
It’s bizarre. It’s got Willie, Dolly, some banjos and Jolene but for the life of me, when you consider just how big country is these days, how could they possibly choose it? It’s not like black artists haven’t done good country records but yhis aint one.
“ Cowboy Carter” is not a country album. Beyoncé even said so, she called it a “Beyoncé album.” But after the manufactured backlash stating that country radio racially dismissed Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” the industry and the media were afraid to blow the whistle on Beyoncé.
This is even worse than Jethro Tull winning for best metal album. At least there’s a thread, however thin, between Tull and Metallica. But Beyoncé and today’s country? Just because you say something is country, that does not make it so. All you’re doing is sh*tting on country fans. The same fans who elected Donald Trump, by the way.”
Too late to edit the tyops Lodes.
I suppose one would need to know the system – for the Oscars, actors who should be in “best” are routinely entered into “best supporting” to have a better chance to win i.e. it’s not the academy that decides the category. Perhaps Willie and Dolly’s participation is regarded as an endorsement?
Beyoncé’s overall best album win seems to be viewed as an overdue victory as one often sees at the Oscars. She also won in best country group or duo performance for her song with Miley Cyrus. I don’t know whether either should be considered country, but I gather they are both from Trump voter heartland.
Anyway, the real tragedy at the awards was watching Kanye West smugly and fully dressed, presenting his naked wife on the red carpet “fur coat and no knickers” style. Although she’s a fully grown woman and her life choices have brought her to this point, it was hard not to read coercion in her unenthusiastic expression
Yes that was cringeworthy.
Just who is on the various judging panels?
It ‘s apparently lead to the cancellation of a string of high-paying gigs in Japan so his weird attitude with Kim K surrogates is costing him.big bucks
Thanks for mentioning Kanye and his appalling treatment of his wife, Sewer. That was painful to watch.
There is a lifeless, drugged up look on her face. She is clearly not enjoying being degraded.
If he hoped to shock and offend millions he has certainly succeeded.
How can a husband treat his wife in this degrading, respectless way?
She looked very unhappy. A comment on The Indy said “blink three times if you need help”.
She won “Album of the Year too” apparently country album is voted for by country specialists. She, herself, said it’s not particularly country, but apparently the competition in that category was slim this year
A quick look at Wikipedia reveals that critics have referred to this as a country/Americana record that pays tribute to overlooked black country artists among other things. Beyonce is looking back to styles she grew up with like Zydeco, and bluegrass. Obviously these elements are filtered through her own musical style. It’s also been very well received so the Grammy doesn’t seem so strange. The rant in the OP is wide of the mark if you ask me. Hip hop artist wins best country album shock. Hey maybe it’s innovative and country fans need to be more open minded and see their music develop.
Ok it’s innovative. I listened to it. Irrespective of the Wikipedia entry, it does not sound like a country album to me. As Lefsetz said “ just coz you say it is a country album doesn’t make it so”
Ray Charles plays Country and Western now that was country.
Country music is such a strong field. I doubt any country music fans would have nominated this album as the best for the year.
I would guess that they think it’s good to stir up a bit of controversy, get some column inches, some fuss on social media. At the same time it can be considered a good thing to pick something that pushes the boundaries, challenges preconceptions. I.e.not boring.
There’s plenty of rap influences in modern country.
The real crime is that she hasn’t won best album before. So many options but Lemonade was very harshly spurned.
It is authentic in the same way as Dolly’s “rock” album, manufactured and milked with only an eye on the headlines that will make sales, whatever the darn thing it really is. Meanwhile, here’s Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy:
Ok you can call it a country album if you want. But best? Lefsetz’s point is that no lover of country music would nominate it as the best country album so its a joke. It’d be like Hackney Diamonds getting best rock album… oh wait.
Or the B*****s winning best “performance” for something that was cooked up by stewing old tapes in a laboratory.
But it’s only the Grammys, not the super cool AW end of year poll..
I bought it on release, and think it’s a fantastic album on its own terms.
Question – was Garth Brooks strictly ‘country’ in his high-wire flying pomp?
Like most genres, country is a broad church, and has evolved to incorporate elements of other styles.
Having said all that, Kacey Musgraves should have won the award in this category. Beyonce’s album was a worthy winner of AOTY.
I’m a big country fan so I listened to it a few times. It’s very long. I think it might make a good 10 track album.
Garth Brooks? I always categorised him as the country version of Phil Collins which isn’t supposed to be a complement.
I think the best country album of 2024 was by Kimmi Bitter but I do like the Kacey Musgraves one after a couple of albums I didn’t care for.
Ultimately picking a best album in a genre is pointless unless you’re the one selling more tickets and albums.
A lot of the Grammy awards seem to be based mainly on sales. It is an industry promoting itself, that’s the point of it
These award shows such as the Grammys, the Oscars etc. are very important to the Entertainment Industry. Less so to the punters, who are going to spend their money somewhere or other no matter who wins or loses.
They’re just annual bits of expensive fluff on the TV, soon forgotten.
Blackbird is lovely
The worst thing about the Beyonce album is her terrible singing. WAY too much vibrato. Also, who needs another cover of Blackbird?
Is it her vibrato or jiggery pokery?
It doesn’t sound much like country to me, but it’s one of the best and most imaginative records I heard last year. So certainly worthy of the Album of the Year award even if it did feel like an award made because it was her turn and not Taylor’s