THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602290345
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
The would-be newly hip Grammy Awards displayed a different face about 10 minutes into Wednesday night's telecast when the Hard Rock Performance trophy - the type of award usually given out late in the show - was handed out near the beginning of the glitz-fest.
Of course, rock 'n' roll had to step on the toes of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which has given out Grammys since 1958.
``I don't know what this means,'' said a bemused Eddie Vedder, accepting along with his mates in Pearl Jam. ``I don't think it means anything.'' The band took the statuette for its speedy punk 45 ``Spin the Black Circle.''
Anyone expecting the victory of that two-and-a half-minute blast to set the tone for the rest of the evening must have felt disappointed when, after a commercial break, Hootie & the Blowfish grabbed the New Artist Grammy. In that dull spirit, British popster Seal's bland ``Kiss From a Rose'' was named Record and Song of the Year.
The colorcast itself was a livelier affair than in past years, occasionally even giving forth with the sort of raucous activity more common to the MTV Music Video Awards. At one point, rapper 2Pac announced his intention to ``shock the people.'' The members of Kiss, in full 1975-style regalia, then joined him onstage.
Later, Bobby McFerrin shouted a heartfelt message to the people. On the subject of reaching schoolkids in an age of arts program cuts, he directed teachers to ``bring a boombox and some CDs into class, and play music! Play Beethoven! . . . Play Ellington! Play Coltrane! Play everything!''
A truly grave, chilling moment came when Coolio delivered his winning (Best Rap Performance, Solo) ``Gangsta's Paradise'' on a stark, playground-like set. Declaiming the anti-violence song's warning that ``you and your homies might be lined in chalk'' to an audience full of millionaires was a much more subversive accomplishment than Alanis Morissette's tinny obscenity. The overhyped Morrisette, winner of four Grammys, including Album of the Year for ``Jagged Little Pill,'' had been in the eye of a mini controversy prior to the gig. She pushed the oral-sex reference in her ``You Oughta Know'' past the CBS censors before having its F-word blocked from the airwaves. Yawn.
Coolio, who with singer L.V. modeled his hit on Stevie Wonder's ``Pastime Paradise,'' wasn't the only reminder of Wonder's greatness. R&B newcomers D'Angelo and Tony Rich were affecting in a tribute to the '70s award king, who copped a Lifetime Achievement nod, as did his late Motown cohort Marvin Gaye. Wonder added Grammys in R&B song and vocal categories to his stock. Ironically, he's now seen as a somewhat uncommercial artist.
The triumphs of his recent music spoke to a Grammy promise to quash sentimentality in favor of worthiness. Unfortunately, the chance to provide Frank Sinatra with his first win in more than two decades (for the misbegotten ``Duets II'') proved too much to resist.
Even the very deserving Nirvana's first Grammy, Alternative Rock Performance for the hushed ``MTV Unplugged in New York,'' came nearly two years after Kurt Cobain's suicide.
We'll know the Grammys have truly come a long way when a Cobain doesn't have to die to get one. Or when a ``Gangsta's Paradise'' is recognized for what it is - Record of the Year. by CNB