The 55th Grammy Awards - a running diary

It's time for our annual Grammy running diary...so here we go!

8:00 - Last year we opened with Bruce Springsteen.  This year a crazy Alice in Wonderland Taylor Swift opening.  Stupid.  I liked it better 25 years ago when Tom Petty tried it.

8:06 - LL Cool J is back again.  I didn't realize he was so good last year, that he was needed to come back again this year.  Yes, I'm feeling snide this year.

8:10 - I give Ed Sheeran a little credit for writing a catchy little song about drug use.  I'm sure he felt honored that Sir Elton wanted to perform it with him.  Too bad EJ is murdering the song.

8:20 - I can't...it's too easy.  J. Lo is crazy, Pitbull is..., and Adele - what a dress!

8:22 - Fun. is much like the Hold Steady or early Springsteen: very wordy.  I respect that they are a live band, and I have read in multiple sources they are a decent live act.   The lead singer's outfit isn't earning him points though.

...and it rains.  My 11 year old thinks it's a cool effect. Enough said.

8:32 - Katy Perry doing her best to keep John Mayer in check.  Wait, is John Mayer the joker?

8:33 - My son Nick: "This girl's huge.  Who is she?"  As you can see, country music isn't big in our house.

8:39 - LL Cool J on AB is a highlight: skinny showing who's "bad."

8:40 - Wiz Kalifa's outfit is Grammy approved & auto-tuned! Nice.

8:43 - American Idol makes stars.  Too bad I never heard the song before.

8:53 - Johnny Depp is doing his best Jim Morrison.  And what is with the drinking this year?  Is this the People's Choice Awards?

8:56 - my prediction: Mumford & Sons will go they way of the Strokes & Franz Ferdinand.  Nice sound, but their follow up sounds EXACTLY the same.  Record #3 will amount to nothing.  Shame, they do have talent.

9:15 - Hi, My name is John.  I am 41 years old.  One month from today is my birthday.  I announce I am officially out of touch with current popular music.  I was bored & could care less about JT & Jay Z.  At least last year featured Glenn Campbell.

9:18 - CBS puts up its "Cool alternative girl" to present with Mr. Cool Dave Grohl. I liked "Lonely Boy" & the video a year ago, but it became the mos mainstream/alternative song out there.  Much like the Re Hot Chili Peppers & MGMT, you can hear them on any FM rock radio station.

9:38 - I am not a Rhianna fan.  I find her to act immature.

9:40 - Ne-Yo.  By FAR my LEAST favorite artist out there.  That sing/talk rambling has to go!

9:43 - A joke by Jay Z  highlights the night.  I know what my overall highlight will be, and I'm sticking around just for that.  Otherwise, I think I'd move on.

9:50 - I am being critiqued on twitter that I am too negative - sorry.  @discordants, @bigjohnny2

9:50 - My interest just got piqued.  A pretty raucous version of "Lonely Boy."  Is that a random Indian Chief sitting in with the band? Like the horns too.  There, a true positive.

9:53 - I'm not a fan, but Kelly Clarkson can sing.

10:06 - Bruno Mars just owned the Grammy's.  The star-studded crowd is eating him up.  Sting coming out is icing on the cake.   The song sounded like a Police song, nice touch Bruno.

10:11 - I was hoping for a medley of Bob Marley songs for the tribute.  A little disappointed.

10:19 - The Lumineers is something I enjoyed.  Nice little love song.  Transitions into Jack White.  Two artists who made my best of 2012.  The Grammys have been improving since getting called out.

10:23 - love that Jack White just went off the grid.   My wife is wondering why he's "so white."

10:28 - It's fun's night.  It could be worse.

10:31 - Checking posts, D. Mazepa just proclaimed Jack White the savior of rock & roll.

10:37 -  are the dress effects supposed to draw me in to Carrie Underwood - not working.

10:40 - was that a little Sexy MF I was hearing!  AWESOME!!!

10:41 - Prince likes Goyte.  Glad he won.  Overplayed, but great song. Prince looked truly touched by the complements Gotye gave him.

10:49 - Glad to see Dave Brubeck get his due.  Very talented Jazz artist.

10:55 - RIP Adam Yauch.  No question the biggest applause for the deceased.

10:58 - If I didn't know better, I would have thought Zach Brown was a member of the Band.  That guy is beloved by so many I know.  Never got into them.

11:15 - Sorry to so many, but I just don't get Frank Ocean.  Simplistic keyboards with lyrics about Forrest Gump?   I was honestly trying.

11:16 - Rolling Stone just tweeted a Yauch retrospective through the years.  Maybe I'm not THAT out of touch.

11:18 - The Grammy's seem to honor those who have put together a collection of decent work instead of the work itself.  Mumford & Sons previous record far surpasses this one.  Springsteen is now a Grammy favorite, when his best work couldn't get a nomination.  Jethro Tull anyone?

11:24 - Chuck D and Tom Morrello - ok! I'm liking this.  Travis Barker seems to be a celebrity drummer for hire - but he is playing well.  Morrello is a guitar god, to me.  I lov RAGTM.  I also love that he toured with Springsteen.

11:28 - a shout out to MCA.  Thanks LL Cool J.  Great to see how influential Yauch was.

Interesting night, I'm out.  Look for some "three for the road's" this week.