RollnSmokeRecords Presents: 52nd Annual Grammy Award Wrap

52nd Annual Grammy Awards Wrap-up: GaGa sucks, as I knew she would. Beyonce, on the other hand, steals the show with her inspiring performance of “If I Were a Boy” – with a dash of Alanis Morisette tossed in as she covered “You Oughta Know” -- yum! One more scoop, please. And there’s her boy-toy, Jay-Z, in the front row, clearly diggin’ his lady.

Pink’s performance is startlingly pretty, accompanied by her wet, air-cascading-water dance. “I’m gonna be” wearin’ what Fergie’s got on -- even better than Cat Woman’s body-suit! – and way the hell better than the Black Eyed Peas’ actual performance. In contrast to last year at this time, it’s good to see Rihanna alive and well in the audience. Norah Jones is certainly a class act as presenter for Best Record, which goes to the four drunk brothers that comprise the Kings of Leon. Zac Brown strums the hell out of that gui-tar of his!

For all the kudos, Taylor Swift is awful and way out of tune during her medley performance. Thank Ja Stevie Nicks is there to keep her afloat. The 3D Michael Jackson tribute is bizarre and trippy (but that Carrie Underwood sure has got a set of pipes!) especially with the weird parading-out of Michael’s two children, Prince-Michael-Jackson and Paris-Michael-Jackson. A refreshing shot of old school when our lady Roberta Flack joined Maxwell to singing “Where is the Love.” Nice surprise cameo by newcomer Irish lassie Imelda May, singing a Les Paul tribute.

Big Award of the Night -- Best Album of the Year = Taylor Swift (where's Kanye tonight?) for FEARLESS.

RollnSmoke Scoop

2010 is shaping up to be a banner year for new releases … Massive Attack will release a new album in February. In March Natalie Merchant, Jamie Foxx, Drake and Gorillaz will all drop new albums. April will see new albums released by Kate Nash, Kylie Minogue, Devo, J. Lo and Maroon 5. Other albums to be released this spring include work by Kelis, Avril Lavigne, U2, Keri Hilson, Goo Goo Dolls, Jack’s Mannequin and Kid Rock.

RollnSmoke Scoop

Bottom Line for 2009: Best-Selling Artist = Michael Jackson; Top Selling Album = Taylor Swift’s FEARLESS (followed by Lady Gaga and Susan Boyle); Biggest Tour = U2 (followed by Madonna and Bruce Springsteen) and Biggest New Artist = Lady Gaga. The decade saw a 45% decline in U.S. CD sales.

50 Cent and Val Kilmer will star in “Gun,” a movie drama about drug dealing based on an original story by 50 Cent. Lady Gaga – talented, vulgar and exhausting – wore a red-latex , puffy-sleeved dress with a 20-foot train when she met The Queen of England recently. On March 15 The Stooges, Genesis, Abba, The Hollies and Jimmy Cliff will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Guitarist John Frusciante has (once again) quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Lil Wayne will put out another record in February, around the time his jail term for gun possession begins.

Lilith Fair is back! And this summer’s new version will feature some of the original ladies in amphitheaters across the nation including Sheryl Crow, Indigo Girls and Sarah McLachlan. Also onboard to add a cross-section of musical style to the shows are Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Tegan & Sara, Emmylou Harris and Colbie Caillat. Also on the road this summer – two giants of 70’s rock – The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac – together, on a joint-tour.