Rihanna’s Loud, a decent, if vapid pop album, got a nomination by the Grammys for best album of the year. I actually don’t find anything wrong with Rihanna, and I think with her army of songwriters and producers behind her, she has quite a bit of good, deserved hits. But here’s the thing, Rihanna is well, blank. Her voice is decent, but has no character. She’s certainly attractive, but we can’t actually buy her as a sex fiend or sassy urban girl or whatever she tries on. Molly Lambert describes her best, honestly. She’s a display case that showcases ideas well, but contributes absolutely nothing beyond that. There’s nothing awful about Rihanna. And her library of hits is quality and admirable. But would I remember her as a great voice, singer, songwriter, dancer or even a pop star? I honestly don’t think I ever considered her as any of those in the first place.
Loud might not be memorable, but it’s just the type to get a Grammy nomination for best album. It’s sold a lot of copies, and Rihanna’s staged “edge” seems just hip enough to pass for artistic integrity. Yet, Loud isn’t too edgy for it alienate blocks of a voting base that’s just too big and disparate to vote for anything too out there (Arcade Fire notwithstanding). Bruno Mars, who might not have as many hitmakers behind him as Rihanna but can actually sing, is also an easy nominee for similar reasons. And of course, the old, white voters that still makes up a sizable bloc will get their say with the Foo Fighters. But it really is all for naught because Adele’s 21, which we all knew would win 10 months ago, is a 2-5 odd to take that prize. She’s the next star who can be embraced and shared by any demographic (and SNL nailed the base appeal of Adele) and her music is classy enough for your grandparents, even. I thought there’d be room for Bon Iver, but I guess his warble was too esoteric, I guess. And there was no baby boomer who was worthy either (I wouldn’t know though). So we’ll have to settle for Rihanna, Bruno Mars and the Foo Fighters as the nominated losers who’ll smile politely while Adele accepts her trophy and quickly thank everyone in her fourth or fifth acceptance speech of the night.
But the obvious question is, “where’s Kanye?” (people are asking where’s Taylor too, but her last album frankly sucked) His previous albums have been nominated every time before. Finally, he records an album that matches his ridiculous sense of self-worth, an album that, after a year’s distance, still holds up as one of the greatest ever in it’s genre, and that’s the one that gets snubbed. Maybe his antics really did catch up to him. Or maybe Grammy voters really hated the Chris Rock interlude. Personally, I’ll miss his contorted face as he fails to contain his anger and annoyance when Adele wins. We’ll have to settle for content disappointment when he wins yet another rap album of the year, robbing us of a desperate chance at breaking up what will surely be a broadcast duller than even previous years.
Joe Boo
muldo
