The 52nd Grammy Awards & What Quality Means

it’s Grammy night.

I don’t just watch the Grammy’s, I study them. I want to understand what it takes to be on this show. I want to know how hard the artists work, how many people are involved, the type and quality of music which has been nominated and presented. I want to study the artists stage performances and even what they wear. I enjoy interesting and unexpected parings and I love to be a witness to singular performances.

What it takes to become Elton John, Fergie, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Pink, Dave Mathews…I’ll tell you. Lots and lots of hard work (squared), dedication, commitment, passion, a love of music, and a seriousness of purpose. There is no room for “messing” around at the professional level. And, while there is a lot at stake, that’s not the driving force. These artists have high standards and try to make each performance outshine the last. Pink’s performance was understated before turning into an incredible moment of jaw dropping surprise. It was a bit of history in front of my eyes. i’m just trying to imagine the months or years it took for Pink to obtain the fitness level it must have taken to be able to join the circus. And, then there is the poise required of Pink to pull it off. And she was stunning.

The opening act with Elton John & Lady Gaga was truly magical. That was a paring ripe for the history books. These two performers, with their dueling pianos and glittering eye glasses, looked more like Spy Versus Spy during a musical make up session, than a veteran performer and a performer on her meteoritic rise.

In comparison, the Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks paring left me scratching my head. While I am certain this was supposed to represent some sort of passing of the musical baton from one generation to another, it felt less than that. Here is Stevie Nicks, this classic, legendary performer with this 20 something fresh faced newbie….and it just didn’t work. Stevie should have been able to perform more equally and not be relegated to back up singer. It would have made more sense to me to pair Taylor Swift with Dolly Parton. I was not moved at all. This was not special. And, it’s a shame because I like both artists separately.

What is interesting to me is how excited I am to “get” the opportunity to work this hard. My record deal with Maddie Records is one of those great stepping stones. This is my jumping off point. And, there is no safety net. It’s a leap of faith. Let’s see how high I can fly.

Jennie Walker
www.jenniewalker.com

21 Days & The Grammy’s

It’s Sunday and that means the Grammy’s are on tonight!

I have been watching the Grammy pre-show event on the internet tonight as I prepare to see the prime-time show later. I’ve been to the Grammy’s….once, the time I attended it was in New York City. It was interesting, but it was clear to me from my experience that the best way to attend the Grammy’s was as a nominee. So, I have not been back in person, instead, enjoying the show from home and working on my music.

Now, as a little girl, I used to watch the Grammy’s. I remember watching Barbra Streisand, hearing her sing and wondering how to get there from here….here being my living room, sitting with my mother and other family members. This was more than living room entertinment to me. This was my dream unfolding before my eyes on the television screen. To be able to sing, sing for a global audience and also be recognized with that oh-so-cool award, now that was bliss. I would watch the Grammy’s awards every year, unless I just forgot about it. I have enjoyed, over the years, seeing performers like Madonna, Bee Gees, Elton John, Phil Collins, Michael Jackson….I’ve seen them … enjoyed them … wanted to be them..or at least be doing what they were doing.

I have spent my entire life learning the steps necessary to win a Grammy,..First, you need to be nominated, before that you need to be submitted, before that, you need to write and record and distribute an album, before that you need to find a good producer who knows what to do with your music and your voice, before that, you need to try to write some songs, before that you need to be singing and performing all the time, before that, you need to learn what orgnaizations are around to help you, before that, you need to love music and before that, and most important of all, you need to believe you can do it.

i’m a believer.

Jennie Walker
www.jenniewalker.com
www.twitter.com/msjenniewalker