Oh, the Grammys. The best of, the worst of, the most of. It is no secret that these awards pave the way for the musical hierarchy within our society. Not to mention, the stirring up of drama pots, our cherished celeb reunions, and the overwhelming sense of pride we get to experience when our favorite finally makes it. From couture to competition, to controversy, and the actual acknowledgment of music appreciation, there is so much to dissect from these types of events. They do have me thinking, though… a lot. The best of… the worst of… the most of?
For the past couple of years, just when the annual Grammy period starts to wind down, I have wondered to myself: If were to line up everybody who is reading this and asked you to raise your hand whenever you hear me call out your favorite artist’s name, how much hand movement and shifts would I see? In my mind, and most likely reality, hands would swing up, down, and to the side all the way through the list. Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean, Harry, Lana, Nirvana? Doesn’t everybody have a favorite? Isn’t that, most times, the only common denominator? I mean, we call and see them as “favorites” for a reason!
It’s funny to me because… is it such a lie? There is no such thing. The best and worst are a lie, and this includes classical cello and Sound Cloud rap, Beethoven and Keith Urban – and well you get the gist – in the same category. Oh and also, there is no best music genre. Sure, that doesn’t go to deny popularity, the charts, you know, numbers. But we are just always so mad and disappointed as if we aren’t all individually just having favorites.
For example, being Latina, born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, I mentioned Bad Bunny. Reggaeton… can’t stand it. I see redundant, overplayed, more often than not, a bit too empty. Although I do need to admit that Bad Bunny has some select bangers, I simply am not a fan. However, back home I would stumble upon people in cars, bars, parties, getting-ready, and lifting sessions, who were all just singing and dancing, enjoying and savoring the moment. You could see the dopamine. And it’s so easy to throw stones at the genre and I could keep talking about it, but there is absolutely no denying the movement, emotion, and life it causes people. Isn’t what music is for? Expression, dance, play, creation…and it comes with us everywhere. Think about the beauty in that.
I’m not really a person who goes to the gym and listens to classical piano or even remotely listened to Phoebe Bridgers when I first got into my relationship, so how the heck am I supposed to choose the better out of those?
It is possible that from now on, I’ll simply focus on finger tapping, head shaking, eye squinting, and dancing, to identify when something is good and best. The savoring of it. Not something to win or lose or take away, but a whole concept that makes someone, anyone, move and sing. And independently of who causes the moving and singing, I just find that pretty cool.
Anyways, congratulations to all the award winners!