:: They never won a Grammy

parishioner Keith Childs is not impressed by the industry awards

Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson have Grammys; but Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Tupac, Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Tupac, The Who and The Doors are just a few of the significant artists never to receive the industry’s most equivalent of the Oscar. But Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson do have Grammys.

In fact, history teaches us the Grammys consistently fail to separate the good from the popular. The Grammys, however, not only give statues to the wrong people, they often honour the very worst artists in music.

It’s curious to note The Black Eyed Peas song “My Humps” earned a Grammy, but “Yesterday” by The Beatles did not. “Yesterday” is the most covered song in the history of music and regarded as one of the most accomplished songs from the most popular band ever. “My Humps” gives the listener this: “What you gon' do with all that junk?/All that junk inside that trunk?/I'ma get, get, get, get you drunk,/Get you love drunk off my hump.”

Maynard James Keenan blew off the Grammys on his band’s (Tool) big night.

“I think the Grammys are nothing more than some gigantic promotional machine for the music industry…They don't honour the arts or the artist for what he created. It's the music business celebrating itself”.

Perhaps his comments explain why Mariah Carey has five wins, but the brilliant Ani DiFranco has just one win — and DiFranco's statue is not even for her music (the Grammy is for “Best Recording Package”). Or shed some light on the fact that Avril Lavigne has been recognized by the Grammys with nominations, but songwriting prodigy Regina Spektor has never had a sniff.

Of course, The Oscars and Emmys have also made blunders, but they somehow manage to avoid giving honours to the worst of their industry.

However, for reasons of commerce and industry promotional pressure, the Grammys make a habit of ignoring the brilliant but less prestigious artists and choose to praise some of the “worst” contributors to the world of popular music.

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