I largely missed most of the Grammys this past Sunday.
I don’t know much about popular music, but I think the Grammys are kind of cool because they match older musicians up with newer ones, as well as get old band mates together to play once more.
One pairing that I was sure to look up online Monday morning was that of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – the two remaining Beatles. They united to play a new McCartney tune “Queenie Eye.”
It’s a nice, bright, poppy tune and the performance went over big with the audience.
But come on!
I know both are still working musicians and have other songs that they want to play besides classic Beatles tunes, but let’s get real; couldn’t they have just done a little bit of “With a Little Help from My Friends” or “Hello, Goodbye” or, heck, I’ve had even settled for “Honey Pie.”
I know that McCartney and Starr will likely play together at the concert tribute show that CBS has organized in honor of the 50th anniversary of when the Beatles played on The Ed Sullivan Show. That will air February 9.
The thing that I really don’t understand is why not just play a little taste at the Grammys? You have a captive audience of millions of people.
What else are they going to do? Watch the Pro-Bowl? No thanks.
It is incredibly kind that CBS is doing a whole star-studded special in honor of the achievements of four blokes from Liverpool who became the biggest band in the history of recorded sound.
I just thought it was something of a tease to have half of the Beatles on stage and not even play half of a Beatles song.
Well, what am I gonna do? Nothing, I suppose.
It’s funny how a mild irritation can be so completely aggravating.
The real funny thing is that I’m likely going to have no problem turning into that special in two weeks despite the fact I feel so let down by this whole thing.
At least I got to see two grown men in robot costumes attend a black-tie affair and accept a major award….That is, of course, the very least that I got from watching the Grammys.
I guess that’s the way of television. It’s here and now.
If McCartney and Starr relied too much on good will for their Beatles years they’d have a hard time attracting the new listeners and kids who are interested in robots who play music and twerking.
I guess if I were to sum up this short rant in one sentence it would be this: I was lied to by commercials.
We’ve all been there. We’ve all been had by an advertisement that seems attractive and let down by the end product.
You could say it’s the same thing here, only I’m a near-twenty-year-old man and I shouldn’t be nearly as surprised when these things happen.
But I’m not. Everytime it happens, it stings. More and more as time goes on, in fact.
Brian Laughran
Senior Viewpoints Editor