Gazing back at the Grammys

India: 1st February 6:30 am: The Grammys - LIVE!
It was an amazing show. The 'Gramaphone Awards' are like no other show on Planet Earth, and this year the performances were pristine.

The 52nd annual Grammy Awards show  became a validation for two avenues of country music's future: the introspective pop-country exemplified by Taylor Swift and the confident, rootsy, adventuresome trad-country-centered music championed by the Zac Brown Band.
Maybe its  'hill' roots, or the fact that we've listened to Jim Reeves and Hank Snow from the womb, but without a doubt, simple, soulful, Country serenades send me into rapture. Country Music is an excellent way for Indian people to learn the lingo. The themes are so familiar: land, family, the simple life.

20-year-old Taylor Swift solidified her hold on country music after a year of firsts, ranging from CMA awards to CMT awards to an MTV VMA award, Saturday Night Live appearances, international touring and record-breaking sales. Her total of four Grammys trailed Beyoncé's haul of six trophies, but Swift significantly snared the all-genre album of the year prize for Fearless, her second album, which continues to set sales records.

The ZBB's first-ever Grammy culminated a breakout year in which the Atlanta-based band made giant strides in music. Intersting to see that the members of the band -- in accepting the all-genre award for best new artist -- first thanked members of their marketing and management team. The realities of music these days!

Keith Urban, with his win for male country performance, established his primacy as leading contemporary male country figure.

Country Music is great to listen to on a lazy aftrenoon, or on a Hard day's Night, when you've been working like a dog, an you should be sleeping like a log!