Of all of the award shows, the Grammys tend to take the most abuse. Maybe it is because taste in music is so subjective. Maybe it is because of the tendency to give awards to safe, generic performers like Bonnie Rait or Steve Winwood. Regardless, it seems like people are always disappointed by the results. This year's Grammy's were notable for two things: (1) Rock icon Santana's official emergence into the mainstream, and (2) Jennifer Lopez's fashion choices. (I will refrain from commenting on Ms. Lopez's outfit on the grounds that it might incriminate me.)
I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed (Lopez's appearance notwithstanding). I could not help but think that Santana's awards were more of the "lifetime achievement" variety than anything else. After all, it's hard to believe that his songs would have been as popular if they did not feature people like Rob Thomas, Dave Mathews, Lauryn Hill and Eric Clapton. Okay, so the actual reason I was so upset is because of the disappointing night suffered by the Backstreet Boys, who were clearly the best artists of the year. The solution: Let Lone Star, myself, and junior high girls everywhere take over the Grammy's.
Here are my picks for who should have won the major awards at this year's Grammy's. Before I give the results, one last note: I limited myself to choosing among the nominees, which explains why my list is not dominated by WWF The Music Volume 4 (a CD which somehow avoided the critical praise it so richly deserved).
RECORD OF THE YEAR: "I Want it That Way" - Backstreet Boys (Actual Winner: "Smooth" - Santana)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Millennium - Backstreet Boys (Actual Winner: Supernatural - Santana)
SONG OF THE YEAR: "I Want it That Way" - Backstreet Boys (Actual Winner: "Smooth" - Santana)
BEST NEW ARTIST: Britney Spears (Actual Winner: Christina Aguilera)
BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE: "I Will Remember You" - Sarah McLachlan
BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE: "Brand New Day" - Sting
BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL: "Kiss Me" - Sixpence None the Richer (Actual Winner: "Maria Maria" - Santana)
BEST DANCE RECORDING: "Praise You" - Fatboy Slim (Actual Winner: "Believe" - Cher)
BEST POP ALBUM: Mirrorball - Sarah McLachlan (Actual Winner: Brand New Day - Sting)
BEST ROCK SONG: "Special" - Garbage (Actual Winner: "Scar Tissue" - Red Hot Chili Peppers)
BEST ROCK ALBUM: Echo - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Actual Winner: Supernatural - Santana)
Submitted 3/1/00 by Notre Dame law student Brad Sobolewski.