Oh my god you guys, Justin Bieber got his first Grammy nomination this week! Congrats to the little man who joined the ranks of artists like Arcade Fire (album of the year!), Eminem (who will win almost everything if not for…), Lady Gaga (the hopeful winner of practically every award).
Taylor Swift doesn’t have a single nomination, that’ll be next year when she goes up against Kanye West (both of their high selling albums came out after the 2010 deadline). But who can you get mad at now that The Biebs has finally gotten his credit? Oh don’t worry, your rage will boil when you see who the Grammys put up for some of the shiny gold trophies. Here are the worst Grammy nominees of 2010.
“Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry for Song of The Year
The song with lyrics so bad that they managed to spawn a meme on Tumblr is nominated for Song of the Year. Anyone can listen to this song and realize that it’s not even in the same category as some of the other songs on the list (“F*** You” by Cee Lo anyone?!). This song is a piece of trash, and I’d rather see her song “California Gurls” get nominated — at least it’s catchy.
“Graffiti” by Chris Brown for Best Contemporary R&B Album
Chris Brown’s comeback album was one of the biggest creative and commercial failures of the past year. Lame singles and weak ballads made it one of the worst albums of the year for sure. Besides the remix of “Deuces” and his cameo in this great video that came out last week, Chris Brown’s career is down the tubes, and he didn’t deserve this nomination.
“I Dreamed A Dream” by Susan Boyle for Best Pop Vocal Album
If you watch the performance that SuBo gave on The View this week and still think that she should be nominated, then you’re probably one of her nine million cats that she left starving in England while she went on tour.
Dr. Luke for Producer of The Year
Have you ever seen “Josie and The Pussycats”? No not the good cartoon, I’m talking about the horrible live-action movie with Rachel Leigh Cook. No? Neither have I, of course, but my friend told me that in the movie they have evil producers that put subliminal messages into the songs that make teenagers turn into mindless zombies. The evil Dr. Luke must have gotten his hands on one of these machines. He’s produced “Party In The U.S.A.” and “Tik Tok”. Case Closed, excuse me while I try and get these two hits out of my head with a screwdriver.
“XI” by Bear Creek for Best Native American Music Album
Bear Creek has gotten so commercial with this latest release. It’s like the musical version of “Dances With Wolves” or something. Stick to your roots guys, make more of your old stuff. Nothing will ever beat “Through Thick and Thin”. NOTHING. [Ed. Note: Myles knows nothing about Native American music besides that one time he went to a trip to a wigwam in the third grade].
To be honest, I think Katy Perry being nominated for Album of the Year is much much much much much much worse.
@luis I second that. Downright depressing. Let us hope she doesn’t grace us with an a capella rendition of a song if she wins an award, cause that shit is rouuugh on the ears.
To: Myles Tanzer:
Re: “XI” by Bear Creek for Best Native American Music Album
Have you reviewed the correct album?
“XI”, produced by my company Canyon Records, is comprised of only Northern-style pow-wow songs, entirely in the same tradition as “Through Thick and Thin”. There is nothing vaguely “like the musical version of Dances With Wolves” about this recording.
All albums submitted to the Grammy process are screened by a committee of experienced professionals from the music industry, media and academia. A “musical version of Dances With Wolves” would not have been allowed in the Native American category.
If as your editor notes, “Myles knows nothing about Native American music besides that one time he went to a trip to a wigwam in the third grade.”, it is irresponsible journalism for you to comment on music that you don’t understand.
Additionally, if your editor is truly expressing a fact about your experience, then the editor is equally irresponsible for following unqualified commentary.
I will be in touch via other means to clarify this matter.
Robert Doyle, President
Canyon Records
@Robert — Here’s the only clarification needed: the parenthetical is not an editor’s note. The author added it himself for irony, and an indicator that the review is not to be taken seriously. The review is a joke, and quite frankly, the author is entitled to think that the album sounds like the “musical version of Dances With Wolves,” especially considering the un-seriousness of his review. He is entitled to think it is worse than their previous music. This is a review, however unserious at parts, not a report. –the editor
lololol I miss Josie and the Pussycats, what a great movie.
To: Ms. Annie Werner
Cc: Charlie Eisenhood
Date: December 4, 2010 – resubmitted December 8, 2010
Re: “XI” by Bear Creek for Best Native American Music Album
This is the second submission of my response to your December 3 posting. Please respond. Note: whatever the writer’s intent the third listing on Google search under “Bear Creek Grammy” is NYU Local * The Worst grammy Nominations of 2010
And as nothing ever goes away on the internet, this search result becomes permanent.
Any album included in a review headlined, “The Worst Grammy Nominations of 2010”, is automatically subject to the highest level of condemnation.
To list “XI” as one of “The Worst Grammy Nominations of 2010” is personally hurtful to the singers who have done nothing to deserve condemnation.
To attack Bear Creek as responsible for one of “The Worst Grammy Nominations of 2010” at their moment of recognition by mainstream society as elite artists of the music industry is cruel.
Bear Creek is one of the most respected pow-wow drum groups among American and Canadian Native communities, and is deeply committed to maintaining and sharing their traditions in recordings like “XI”.
Instead of appreciating Bear Creek’s gift of their artistry and culture, Mr. Tanzer ridicules them by including “XI” in his list of condemnation.
I doubt if Mr. Tanzer actually listened to “XI” as it’s comprised of the same kind of pow-wow songs as “Through Thick and Thin”, the other Bear Creek album he cites. If he has not listened to “XI”, then he should not write about it and is irresponsible to do so.
If he has listened and characterizes “XI” as Bear Creek not sticking to their roots, then he deliberately made a false statement as it’s clear, even through the most casual listening, that “XI” and “Through Thick and Thin” are both related expressions from the same cultural root. This is a point of fact, not Mr. Tanzer’s opinion.
Mr. Tanzer states “Bear Creek has gotten so commercial” and “It’s like the musical version of Dancing With Wolves or something”, but does not provide an explanation or justification for these statements which are the basis for including “XI” on his “Worst Nominations” list.
I’m pleased the writer likes “Through Thick and Thin”, but liking it better than “XI” does not mean that “XI” is not worthy of its nomination.
The issue here is not about the journalistic freedom to criticize (I have no difficulty with critical reviews that are knowledgeable and thoughtful; honest critical reviews are very useful), but about journalistic irresponsibility hurting people.
Your description of Mr. Tanzer’s review as “un-serious” undermines his creditability.
Is “XI” one of “The Worst Grammy Nominations of 2010”, or is your blog “just kidding” and your writer didn’t really mean to condemn it? You can’t have it both ways.
You cannot defend Mr. Tanzer that he signaled his true intent by use of the parenthetical when he’d already condemned Bear Creek by including “XI” on his list of offending albums. Most tellingly, in using the parenthetical Mr. Tanzer admits he knows nothing about Native American music. Why did he feel qualified to judge and condemn something about which he admits he knows nothing?
The most troubling element of the review is why Mr. Tanzer choose to attack a Native American album of limited release alongside his attacks on mainstream artists of national prominence. Why single out “XI” for condemnation from the hundreds of albums nominated? At the very least it indicates ignorance (which Mr. Tanzer admits) and a profound cultural disrespect; at worst it implies a deeper hostility that cannot be explained away by the writer’s attempt at “irony”.
Mr. Tanzer owes Bear Creek a public apology and must terminate his condemnation of “XI” by removing it from “The Worst Grammy Nominations of 2010”.
Please do not assume that you can contain this issue to your blog. This hurtful, unfair and irresponsible attack on a Canyon artist is of the utmost seriousness for myself, my company, and all Canyon artists.
The ultimate issue is about more than a badly written blog. The ultimate issue is about one of the most critical issues facing our society: developing and maintaining respect for those different from us and alien to what we know.
Mr. Tanzer’s review indicates we have a very long way to go.
I will devote my full attention and effort to this matter.
Robert Doyle, President
Canyon Records
3131 West Clarendon Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85017
(602) 266-7835
Chill out Rob.
Fall back.
I am very worried about the post regarding Bear Creek too. My co-worker sit on the drum, and we were so proud and happy for these guys to be nominated. I watched the red-carpet crap tonight just on the off-chance I’d see them walk by. It was huge for them to be able to get there. Then, I was curious to see if they had won, and did a Google search. This is the first page that came up. I just think it will be very disappointing for them to see it.
Sault Sainte Marie, MI
Robert Doyle, thank you for challenging the ignorant comments of Mr. Tanzier. Your points and communication is needed, as we Native Americans make our mark on the music scene.
Bear Creek has been doing an amazing contribution to the Native American genre of music, congrats to all the Bear Creek entourage!
kjp
In REGARDS TO SLANDERING BEAR CREEK “XI”
“We are NYU’s Blog. Our goal is to deliver all the discussion-worthy happenings in the school and city we call home. The site is conversational, the setup straightforward, and the information useful. Read our daily blend of original reporting and insightful commentary”
No where does it say that this BLOG site is used for humor and putting down people muchless a specific group / race.
I think Myles must be a special ED student at NYU……..If thats all this University is about then some one needs to keep their ass on ELLIS ISLAND you racist FUCK of a school.