My Grammy Predictions

Alright, these aren't my Vegas choices, this is more who I think should win, not who I think is going to win. I know I've already blogged about the Grammys, but hey, it's the Grammys; give me a break.

Let's start with RECORD of the year. In case you're wondering what the difference between Record of the Year and Song of the Year is I'll fill you in. Record of the Year is given to the artist AND the producers/mixers/sound engineers. Song of the Year is purely a songwriters award given to the folks that wrote the track. Alright now that we've got that ironed out, let's look at the nominees:

-Halo, Beyonce
-I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
-Use Somebody- Kings of Leon
-Poker Face- Lady Gaga
-You Belong With Me- Taylor Swift

My Pick: Poker Face, Lady Gaga. This chick is awesome. Wanna know why? She can REALLY sing, she can REALLY play the piano and she can REALLY be creative. Maybe too creative? Either way, her strange music videos and wardrobe mostly made of things not meant to be worn make her stand out in a coveryourselfinbloodandhangyourselfattheVMA's kind-of-way. She's a pioneer and has more talent that any other woman in show business in my opinion.

Next up, Album of the Year. Nominees:

I Am...Sasha Fierce, Beyonce
The E.N.D., Black Eyed Peas
The Fame, Lady Gaga
Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band
Fearless, Taylor Swift

My Pick: Fearless, Taylor Swift. Who am I pulling for? Dave Matthews Band. There is not a more deserving band in the business. after the death of their original saxophone player Leroi Moore, the band put out an incredible CD dedicated in his honor. Their music is not like any other group today. It's involved, with meaningful, cryptic lyrics, and I'd say easily one of the biggest band names of all time. But back to T-Swift. Everyone is tired of her scooping up all the awards, but there's a reason for it. She has an ability to connect with people through her songs all written by her, both music and lyrics. You don't see that too often any more with female soloists. The down side to her music, she's not that good at guitar. Almost all of her songs consist of four chords and all sound, let's be honest, the exact same. Still, I'll admit that I know most of the words to this album and Taylor has had a bigger year than any other artist.

Song of the Year, nominees:

Poker Face, Lady Gaga
Pretty Wings, Maxwell
Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift
Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), Beyonce

My Pick: Use Somebody. If my 2009 was a movie, Use Somebody would be the title track. It's just good. It's a fresh sound, it's put together well, their concert was incredible and you couldn't go into a Jamba Juice without hearing it on their stereo. One of my favorite comments of 2009 was, "Hey, have you heard about that new band, Kings of Leon?" They formed in 1999. These guys are deserving. The End.

Best New Artist, nominees:
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
The Ting Ti....alright, I could care less about this category. There's always a stand out group in this category and this year I don't know what to think. MGMT has been together since 2005 and Electric Feel is one of the best songs ever, but they're not a new artist. Zac Brown Band's album is so cheesy they sell it at Kroger next to the Gouda and Monterey Jack. The Ting Tings....their name is The Ting Tings, that's all I got. How about Owl City, Cobra Starship, Kid Cudi? They all had big songs and are actually new artists. None of the nominated artists even had peak songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, unless you want to include Keri Hilson just because she had Kanye and Ne-Yo behind her. Alright, I pick Zac Brown Band.

Don't miss the Grammy's Sunday night CBS 8pm.

-JAI

Avatards Sink Titanic

37 days, $1,858,866,889. Avatar has claimed the top spot for the highest grossing movie of all time. Did I mention it only took 37 days? Was it the special effects? The lack of big stars acting in it? The 3D experience? The fact that James Cameron is starting to look more and more like the Quaker Oats guy? Either way, I still have yet to hear a negative word about this movie.

Titanic now rests at the number two spot at a measly $1.84 billion dollars. My question is, how is James Cameron going to outdo himself again, or will he even try?

Since this is a music-aimed blog, I guess I'd better talk about the soundtrack. James Horner was used again for this soundtrack after the success that the Titanic Soundtrack experienced. And yet again, Horner is able to put his brain a hundred and forty four years into the future to put viewers smack dab in the middle of Pandora. Leona Lewis' song didn't quite make the same impression that Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" did, but if I heard Celine Dion's voice at the end of the movie, I might have uncontrollably strangled the guy next to me who had already seen Avatar so many times I could overhear him quoting the movie, but get most of the words wrong, like my mom trying to sing along with the radio in the car.

-JAI

Hope For Haiti Now: $61 Million

I think it's fair to say that the United States of America still has some climbing to do before we can say the recession/slump/great depression part deux/insert sugarcoated euphemism is behind us. Even at this time when households are doing whatever necessary to cutback, we still join together and raise over $61 million for the people of Haiti. It's not just helping Haiti, it's helping PEOPLE.

Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris are topping the charts with their rendition of Leonard Cohen's (that's right folks, not Jeff Buckley) "Hallelujah." The entire Hope For Haiti Now CD is topping the charts as well, where 100% of the proceeds are added to the Haitian Relief Fund. Way to go George Clooney and way to go US!

Here at Alltech, we have started the Alltech/Haiti Relief aimed at rebuilding one of the many schools that was destroyed or badly damaged during the earthquakes. We intend to set the rebuilt school up with school supplies, teaching aids, and hope to fund a teacher's yearly salary. All money raised by 2,300 Alltech employees worldwide will be matched by Alltech and be used to help reestablish Haiti's education system.

-JAI

Big Bad Show

Alright Lexingtonians, we've officialy announced the first act of our 16 day Alltech Fortnight Festival. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will make a stop at the Singletary Center and perform with the Lexington Philharmonic. It will surely be a night music lovers will not want to miss!

After first gaining mainstream popularity with their breakthrough performance in Swingers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has gone on to become one of the most popular touring bands on the road today. BBVD now carries on the tradition of the legendary big bands and orchestras by touring non-stop, performing over 100 high-energy concerts each year around the world, all while sporting their zoot suits. And as a twist, the band has recently begun collaborating with symphonies in select cities, and as stated earlier will be teaming up with the Lexington Philharmonic for September 30th's show.

Tickets go public August 2nd on lexphil.com. Here's a link to our site for more info:
www.alltechfestival.com

-JAI

I'm With Coco

It's a sad week for me as well as millions of people across the states this week as each episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien becomes more and more cherished. It is official; The Late Show with Conan O'Brien will be off the air after tonight's episode.

Depite the rallys, the show's infancy, students of Northwestern University gathering to do Conan's signature "string dance" and The Late Show's ratings being up 50% Conan is still getting the boot. When asked about the situation, he says that he's "honestly embarassed" but also decided to have fun with the show while he still had it, planning on costing NBC as much money as possible in the few nights he had left through trademark violations, expensive skits, etc. Still, Conan leaves with over $32 million, his exec producer with over $4 million and over $7.5 million to his crew.

Tonight's final show will pack more than a punch, including special guests Tom Hanks, Will Ferrell, Neil Young and lots of surprise visits from friends of the show. NBC is even raising the proce of airing a commercial due to the unbelieveable volume of watchers.

As disappointed as I am about the Tonight Show ending, I know that Conan will bounce back like no host ever has before and I can't wait to see what this gangley, poofy haired ginger has in store for us next.

P.S. I can't wait to see how low Jay Leno's ratings will be next week.

-JAI

I Haiti Earthquakes

Nobody else comes together for a cause quite like the US. More than $5,000,000 dollars had been raised for the disaster in Haiti just through TEXT MESSAGES! Stars across the country like Larry King, George Clooney, and one of Kentucky's newsest and most bragged about icons, John Calapari have organized telathons that have swept in millions more. Wyclef Jean, a Haiti native, has also brought in more than a million dollars through his Twitter account.

Soon CDs will hit featuring the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Slash, Peter Gabriel called Download to Donate to Haiti. Lady Gaga will also donate all of her ticket sales from her next show plus all of her merchandise sales to the relief efforts.

Don't miss George Clooney's telethon this Friday on MTV. Artists such as Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Wyclef Jean, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Bruce Springsteen, The Edge, Sting, Rhianna, Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow will all make appearances on the show. Their performances will also be available on iTunes where every penny of each song downloaded will go to "Hope For Haiti Now" charities.

Mad props to all the celebrities that choose to do good with the fame and fourtune that they have inherited.

Just a reminder that if you text "HAITI" to 90999, $10 will automatically be added to your cell phone bill, which in turn will add to the millions raised by The Red Cross.

-JAI

The Golden "I Watched the Season Premiere of 24 Instead" Globes

Alright, I lied in the title; I don't even like 24. But if Ricky Gervais wasn't hosting, I would have been watching re-runs of Full House. Do people really get excited about the Golden Globes? They're like the Donnie of the Wahlberg family, nobody really brags too much about having one. But if you had a Mark (Oscar/Emmy) you might put it where someone could see it. The Golden Globes is like a spork. It combines the best in Movies and TV and tries to put them together in one night filled with winners trying to navigate their way to the stage through an obstacle course over Mariah Carey's empty booze bottles, around cast of "Precious", and through Jason Reitman's creepy beard. Sure, you can be excited, but I would rather be invited to the NCAA tournament than win the NIT.

Can't wait for the Grammys.

-JAI

Judge A CD By Its Cover

So there's 120 categories for Grammy nominations now? Well, of course we wouldn't want to forget about the "Best Chamber Music Performance," and you know that everyone will be biting their nails when they present the nominees for "Best Native American Music Album."
Anyways, of all the top selling grammy-nominated albums and records this year, only a small handful create any kind of lasting impression as far as album artwork goes. I will now grant 1,000 points to Dave Matthews Band and Kings of Leon for showing music goers that CD covers can still be creative and live up to being called "art," not just look like a high-school facebook profile picture.
Be sure to check out the Grammy's January 31st on CBS for a lineup of the best of the cliche, overplayed radio song awards. May real, innovative and deserving artists leave the awards with a little golden gramophone.

-JAI

THE FESTIVAL

"Hey intern, how about mentioning our festival every once in awhile instead of always using that sharp wit of yours to analyze everyone on the cover of US Weekly?" Yes sir. Here we go.

For the past two years Alltech has put on the Fortnight Festival to build anticipation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky (which by the way is the biggest thing to happen to the U.S. since the 2002 Winter Olympics). We've had artists like Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, The Doobie Brothers, The Beach Boys, The Punch Brothers, Liza Minnelli, The Decemberists and tons of local artists have played for our Kentucky-wide festival.

Not a bad warm up.

Get ready folks, it's the year of the games. Kentucky is expecting 600,000-900,000 visitors for the games, and we aren't here to disappoint. Just imagine going to witness the unbelieveable equine events at the Kentucky Horsepark during the day, seeing all the sights, exposing yourself to different cultures, and experiencing the shared love for the eight spectacular events. Now, what's different about these Games is after the day is over, there will be several events happening in different Kentucky cities EVERY night; combine live music and KY Ale and something magical happens!

We are now looking for talented Kentucky musicians, both solo artists and bands, of every genre to enterain across the bluegrass. If you're interested, send your music samples, biography, anything that shows us who you are as an artist to:

Alltech, Attn: Fortnight Festival
3031 Catnip Hill Pike
Nicholasville, KY 40356

-JAI

KE$HA? Really?

You know what Lady Gaga is missing? A money sign in her name...what a missed opportunity. But like a beautiful, washed up angel with whiskey stains on her shirt and a First Response in her pocket, KE$HA glides in on the chance. And with this day in age's taste in music, it wouldn't be right if her album didn't top the charts. After all, she does have a band on stage with her that pretend to play instruments and she's blurring the line between what's fashionable and what's stolen from the crossdresser in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. With deep, philosophical roots hardwired into her lyrics such as "Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack" and "Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty of beer," KE$HA's most popular fan demographic (females 12-17 years old) will learn so many life lessons from this Californian twentysometing. It also seems that she has acquired a protégé after writing songs with Miley Cyrus. Which reminds me, what ever happened to that show "To Catch a Predator" with Chris Hansen?

-JAI

Simon Says, Goodbye

It will be a bittersweet feeling for American Idol addicts tonight as they tune in for the season premiere of Idol knowing that Paula is gone, Simon will be leaving after this season and Kara’s lackluster presence will continue to hang around the show like that smell in your fridge that you can’t quite get rid of. Paula’s replacement this season, Ellen DeGeneres sure has some big prescriptio-I MEAN-shoes to fill. But what about Simon? Who could take his spot? Do we secretly love it when he throws cruel, suicide-inducing remarks to the people dressed up in leotards? Or is it his baby-sized wardrobe of white, grey and black t-shirts that we can’t get enough of? Either way, I’m going to miss those faces of his while he listens to the tone-deaf beekeeper from Nebraska stumble through “Unchained Melody” like a bad high school talent show dream.

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-JAI (Just Another Intern)