The Envelope - LA Times - Grammy Awards

Grammys gold and silver

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The 50th annual event was a little bit tabloid, a little bit time warp.

Forget the strike, the 50th Annual Grammy Awards had more melodrama than any writer would have dared script -- Herbie Hancock staged an upset that rivaled this year's Super Bowl, Amy Winehouse beamed in from rehab, Kanye West demanded stage time to mourn his mother and, just to toss in some politics, even Barack Obama took home a trophy.

In gentle tones of empathy

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Voices of support are lifted for Kanye West and Amy Winehouse as their troubles are confronted.

THERE was a tabloid overtone to the Grammy Awards this year, with Amy Winehouse's personal struggles and Kanye West's shocking loss of his mother, Donda, looming larger as each amassed more and more accolades. But for those in attendance and for Recording Academy officials, the event was notable for the outpouring of support for those artists.

Back from black, Winehouse wins five

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The pop star emerges from rehab to perform and wins for her song about refusing to go.

AMY Winehouse's road to Grammy pay dirt was more like a minefield, but there she was on Sunday, beamed to the world from London, the honoree in absentia, taking a break from rehab to sing about refusing to go into rehab.

Hollywood glamour catches on at Grammys

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Rock 'n' roll rebellion in short supply.

THE red carpet at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards threw into sharp relief just how safe female musicians are required to play it these days. The steady stream of jewel-toned gowns, softly waved tresses and unremarkable diamond baubles was eerily similar to the red carpet scene at the Screen Actors Guild Awards a few weeks ago. Since when did pop and rock stars start dressing like actresses?

Grammys live!

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:52:43 -0800

Real-time commentary on the 50th Grammy Awards.

Pre-Grammy glamour infusion

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Clive Davis' annual party packs in the stars.

Arriving in the final stretch of one of the bleakest awards seasons on record, Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party on Saturday night arrived as a reminder of certain inalienable Hollywood truths.

A vote of Grammy confidence in 'America'

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Leonard Slatkin and the Nashville Symphony win big with Joan Tower's 'Made in America.'

The classical Grammy voters, whoever and however many they may be among the Recording Academy members, have spoken with one voice. Joan Tower's 13-minute exuberant fantasy, "Made in America," an upbeat, patriotic, bountifully orchestrated fantasy on "America the Beautiful," is the big winner.

A soulful serenade to Aretha Franklin

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The MusiCares gala honors the gospel tradition.

The Rev. Al Sharpton said it best. Opening Friday's MusiCares gala honoring Aretha Franklin as person of the year, the pomaded potentate thanked God for the singer, "who, though she walked as royalty, never lost the common touch."

Grammys at 50: Bring the magic back

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Sunday's award show has a chance to tap the special way music can touch people.

BEFORE the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences worked out a deal with the striking Writers Guild, the Grammy Awards sat in a really interesting limbo. More intriguing than a looming picket line was the chance that the annual schmoozefest, minus longtime producer Ken Ehrlich and writer David Wild (both WGA members), would drift toward improvisation. With no script and no slick staging, this classic pseudo-event might have been forced to get real.

A blues traveler arrives

Fri, 8 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Given Doyle Bramhall's rocky path, the real 'News' is that he and his music are alive.

JUST a few mood-setting grooves into drummer-singer-songwriter Doyle Bramhall's Grammy nominated album, "Is It News," he gets right to the heart of the matter -- literally.