Grammys/Morgan Wallen

"Pink Floyd's Roger Waters says Hamas massacre 'thrown out of all proportion'"

That's from the "Telegraph," behind a paywall, but you can read the story in the "Jerusalem Post" here: https://tinyurl.com/yvwej9nw or if you need an American source, check out the story and watch the video on "Breitbart" here: https://tinyurl.com/ynccs5rr

As far as left wing publications, as far as music publications, the NME covered the story, but if you are aware of it, I'm surprised. Then again, if you're a progressive you might be wary of appearing to support Israel.

Let's see, Roger Waters thinks 10/7 was a "false flag operation." And "how the hell did the Israelis not know this was going to happen?" he said. "'there's something very fishy about that.'"

But Roger Waters is not antisemitic. No way.

Yeah right, when accused, he's doubling down. It's almost like Donald Trump, when attacked they don't examine the accusation, they just fight back with more strength.

But the real criminal is Morgan Wallen.

I was truly offended by Wallen's use of the "N-word." However, when you watch the video... He was drunk and saying goodbye to his friend using language he has heard again and again on hip-hop records. Does that make it right? Of course not. It demonstrates ignorance. But how long are we going to keep this guy in jail, are we ever going to forgive him?

Morgan Wallen has the biggest album of the year, by far. A double album, it has sat in the Top Ten for a year. But you can't earn a Grammy for that, no way. His song "Last Night" was nominated, but he wasn't one of the writers of it, so Wallen is shut out.

Now if Wallen was included would Blacks protest?

Maybe. There could be quite a kerfuffle. But maybe we could have a discussion about forgiveness.

If you go to jail for shooting someone, you come out and are forgiven. Seems like it's a revolving door, there are many performers who get incarcerated, it's almost a badge of honor. But some dumb bloke from the sticks says something, just utters a word, and he's a pariah for all time.

And unlike Waters, Wallen has apologized. Bent over backward to atone. But it's just not good enough. The holier-than-thou country music haters won't let him off the hook, there's no coming back. One and done, that's what it's like in music, in the arts. Huh?

Not that Morgan Wallen cares, not that his audience cares. It's not affecting his business whatsoever. Wallen plays stadiums. He's rolling in dough. He doesn't need some phony, trumped-up award to make himself feel good. That's just for those with little commercial success, to put on their resumes, so they can book gigs in the future. If you're a star, you don't need no stinking Grammy.

Kind of like Barbra Streisand. Did you listen to any of her interview with Howard Stern? I'm only an hour in myself. But one thing is for sure, she's f'ing nuts. But in truth they all are. Get to meet your heroes, most are one dimensional, narcissistic, in many ways out of touch. And their focused drive has allowed them to make it, but if you think you can be friends with them, want to be friends with them, if you put them on a pedestal, you're just plain wrong. Howard brings up Streisand's Oscars, as if they should make her feel good for all time. The truth is, you win an award and the hit of adrenaline, the self-satisfaction, the wonder, usually lasts about 24 hours, then it's back to your regular life, to the grind. It's only those who don't win awards who think they make a difference. Now more than ever, when there are endless verticals, endless niches.

Yes, you could look at the endless Grammy categories and think either you're completely out of touch or the nominations represent only a small slice of the music universe. Chances are your favorite act is not included.

Yet people rail on about the Grammys because... In today's world we are looking for points of connection, things we are all aware of, that we have an opinion on, that we can argue over. Yes, I'll posit the Grammys, the organization and the show, is more important than the awards themselves. There aren't enough women, there aren't enough Blacks, there aren't enough pygmies, it's fixed by the labels... That you can argue about, but the individual categories? Who cares!

But to leave Morgan Wallen out...

I'm trying to think of the equivalent. Maybe excluding the best team from the Super Bowl. Or handing the Presidency to the runner-up.

Imagine if either of these scenarios occurred. People would be up in arms, they'd go insane! But Morgan Wallen is excluded from the Grammys and most shrug their shoulders. However, Wallen's fans, those in Nashville, they feel the snub. They get it, you're better than them, they're just crackers, they've got to learn their lesson.

But the bottom line is Morgan Wallen made the most listenable mainstream album of the past year. That doesn't seem to account for anything anymore. Better to laud the critics' darling Jon Batiste. Who the hell do you expect to pay attention, other than the labels and those who hope to profit off the nominations and awards, even though the Grammy bounce, in any significant way, is a relic of the past.

But this zero tolerance policy...even in the arts? I mean who else should we exclude?

Well, definitely Picasso. I'm surprised he isn't canceled yet. I expect protests, insisting his paintings be removed from museums. I mean this guy didn't even apologize.

And how about all those rockers who raped and pillaged in the seventies. Better not play their music.

The bottom line is most Trumpers are not that different from most fans of Biden. There are a few significant points of contention, and on the rest they agree. But you've got to decide which side you are on, and if you're on the other team you're a pariah.

And how many times do you have to pay for your offense? Does this mean Morgan Wallen can never be nominated for an award ever again? He was excluded for "Dangerous," now for "One Thing at a Time," what's a poor boy to do? Play in a rock and roll band?

I was talking to a venerated artist yesterday, and I asked her about some of her career choices, and she said she was a rebel, through and through, forever, even though she's an aged baby boomer. She doesn't want to be controlled, she doesn't want to be told what to do. She doesn't want to suck up to anybody.

But that's what the Grammys are, a giant suck-up.

Art can bring people together. Believe me, it's not only southern rednecks listening to Morgan Wallen, even a Black NFL player plays Wallen to inspire his team.

Yet the fat cats in the Grammys, they know better.

But they don't.


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