By ETHAN HERZINGER
Contributing Writer
Last Sunday, February 12, 2017, music lovers everywhere gathered to celebrate today’s biggest acts. I was a little hesitant to watch the Grammys because in my opinion, I feel today’s music isn’t as influential and universally cultural as it once was. Besides that, I decided to give it a fair chance.
I can say that I’m somewhat pleased to say that the Grammys delivered it’s highs and lows that night. One high I can say and I’m pretty sure most of music lovers will agree, is when David Bowie won best rock album of the year for his work on “Blackstar.” It was released last January two days before his tragic, upsetting death on January 10, 2016. To make an album that would have an impact after your death, or as they call it, a posthumous album, is remarkable. The starman really showed his presents that night, even though he’s no longer with us.
One of the upsets of the Grammy’s was when Metallica performed with Lady Gaga. Leading up towards the event, Gaga was successful with her performance at the Super Bowl Halftime show and Metallica scoring big with their album “Hardwired… To Self-Destruct” back in November. When first hearing the news, I was skeptical because both of these musicians come from completely different backgrounds musically. But, thinking back to when Bruno Mars and The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed together at the Super Bowl halftime show at Super Bowl 48, I’m thinking it could happen. Well, I was surely mistaken.
Before the performance even began, Metallica didn’t even get a proper introduction. I was irate because everyone before them got a proper introduction, plus fans had to wait an hour for them to appear. When a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is present, show some respect. When the musicians broke into Metallica’s “Moth into Flame,” James Hetfield’s, lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the band, mic went out completely while Gaga’s mic was on and at full volume. I thought it was a disgrace on the way the Grammys treated Metallica. Despite not introducing the band properly, the fact that they couldn’t turn Hetfield’s mic on really made irate. Hopefully, next year’s Grammys will have more ups than downs.
