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2012 GRAMMY AWARDS - A SOMBER NIGHT OF GREAT MUSIC & OTHER STUFF

by Jeff Laufer, L.A. Rock and Roll historian, music promoter & columnist

February 13, 2012 - With the death of pop diva Whitney Houston, there was a definite cloud looming over the Staples Center for the 2012 Grammy Awards. But as we commonly say in show biz or the music industry: “The show must go on."

GRAMMY AWARDS 2012 - THE GOOD ( A GENEROSITY OF WHAT WAS )

Despite the overtone of mourning for the 2012 Grammy Awards, there were some stellar performances that provided a silver lining for this event. It started fast.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed a stunning rendition of their new single, ”We Take Care of Our Own”, to open the show. The song had a sentimental purpose. It was a tribute to prominent former member Clarence Clemons who died on June 18, 2011. The song was seen as an ambitions statement to drive forward even after the death of "The Big Man." Originally there had been a scheduled tribute for Clarence Clemons during the Bruce Springsteen E Street Band's segment of the show. Parliament-Funkadelic saxaphonest, Maceo Parker was to have performed in Clemons' place. However, he was later scratched to make room for the sudden need to have a Whiney Houston’s remembrance later during this same Grammy event. Although, I'm sure this must have been a great dissapointment for Sprinsteen and others in the E Street Band, it was quite understandable given the somber circumstance of this years Grammy event.

Unquestionably, the finest performance of the evening had to go to Bruno Mars. It was rather uncanny how that he proved to the world that he is actually in many ways a true reincarnation of the late great James Brown. Without any shtick, he performed with such a vigor that I’m sure many Grammy voters thought twice about not giving Bruno his own Grammy. He was nothing less than phenomenal and surely gained many more fans on this evening.

On the rock music side, the Foo Fighters certainly did prove that they have both the talent and street credibility to deserve taking home their own assortment of five different Grammys. Apparently, the Grammy big wigs were so delighted with the band's Grammy Awards performace outside of the Staples Center in 2008, that, they chose to have them do it again for this year's 2012 Grammy Awards celebration. Predictably, this again was a great decision as their fans gathered outside the courtyard of Nokia Plaza at L.A. LIVE proved to be much more exciting to watch than the somewhat stuffy Industry insiders left inside. Dave Grohl, the band's lead singer is seeming to be keeping rock relevant with Industry insiders as he head banged his way through three songs at this year's Grammys. Nonetheless, not more so than the old guard of McCartney as he was given three individual segments.

As I wrote in my previous LA Music Review Grammy article (see: "2012 Grammy Awards - Will A History Of Women Winners Rule Again?" ), Adele was expected to be the main centerpiece of the evening; and, she was. The awards themselves had a sense of clarity thanks to this 23-year-old British soul phenom who swept all six of her nominated categories, including Album of the Year which contained her sophomore smash “21.” With her six Grammy Awards, Adele tied Beyoncé for the most wins by a female artist in any one Grammy Awards celebration.

Overall, the 2012 Grammy Awards were adequate with an overriding sense of what was absent or just not there. The somber air of saddness for the tremendous loss of Whitney Houston could not be undone. Lady Gaga didn't perform nor get any award(s). Diana Ross deserved much more recognition for her Lifetime Achievement Award. And finally, the blaring lack of any significant presence for Latinos, Asians, and all others besides whites and blacks alone denotes that if the Grammy's are to remain relevant in this age, it's time for the awareness to grow.