Norah Jones and her tuneful Come Away With Me album turned the 45th annual Grammys into a one-woman show.
“This is freaking me out,” Jones said at one point in the show, noting that “Don’t Know Why” was “recorded as a demo. I can’t believe what happened to it.”
A virtual unknown a year ago, Jones was honored as best new artist and took trophies for record of the year and best female pop vocal performance for the melodic ballad “Don’t Know Why.” The Rising and The Eminem Show, which put the Boss and Slim Shady on a plethora of magazine covers. Yet none of that mattered on Sunday.
Though Springsteen has won seven Grammys in his career, the best-album snub for his highly publicized post-Sept. 11 album was unexpected. That’s especially true considering the emotional impact that a Springsteen win would have had on the ceremony’s triumphant New York return.
Both Springsteen and Eminem had each scored previous multiple Grammy wins, though neither has ever received the coveted best album award.
Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP lost to Steely Dan’s longshot Two Against Nature two years ago. Springsteen’s blockbuster Born in the U.S.A. lost to Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down in 1984.
Springsteen and Eminem faced competition for the best album award from the Dixie Chicks’ bluegrass-flavored Home; pop-jazz chanteuse Norah Jones Come Away With Me; and Nelly’s rap hit Nellyville.
Though The Rising didn’t win the night’s big award, the album and title song were recognized as best rock song, rock album and for best male rock vocal performance. Eminem won two awards for his five nominations, including best rap album.
And there no shortage of love for New York.
A reunited Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel opened the show with a shaky rendition of “The Sound of Silence,” performed on a circular stage in the middle of the Madison Square Garden crowd. The duo was honored with a lifetime achievement award.
And though the weather was wet and windy in Manhattan, stars stopped and dished cheerfully with Joan Rivers and other reporters on the red carpet outside the Garden. It’s the first time in five years that the show has originated from New York.
“We’re thrilled that the Grammys are back,” Paul Shaffer told Rivers on E! Entertainment Television. “Now we all have something to do on Sunday night.”
Shaffer was among a roster of Gotham celebrities enlisted to host the ceremony, in place of one marquee personality. The list included Robin Williams, Marc Anthony and Whoopi Goldberg.
Along the way, the rotating celebrities produced a few clumsy verbal mistakes. Hoffman called Springsteen “Springstreet” in the show’s opening moments. Later, John Leguziamo mispronounced the name of conductor Leonard Bernstein.
Though the ceremony took place in the shadow of an impending military conflict in Iraq, there was little overt political talk.
Fred Durst, announcing the nominations for best hard-rock performance, did note that “I think we are all in agreement that this war should go away as soon as possible.”
Among the most outlandishly attired red-carpet arrivals was Harvey Fierstein, dressed in drag after rushing over to the event from his Broadway role in Hairspray.
Renowned bassist Bootsy Collins was resplendent in a full-length white leather coat with black and white zebra cuffs, faux fur lapels and a matching white fur top-hat.
“I’m like a young kid, man,” said Collins, who was there with members of the Motown house band, the Funk Brothers, who won a Grammy for the soundtrack to the documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
“I grew up on this,” Collins said. “If I didn’t feel like a young kid, I’d feel like an old fool.”
Eminem, Jones, Springsteen and Nelly were all nominated for a leading five Grammys apiece, along with eight-time winner Sheryl Crow, neosoul singer-songwriter Raphael Saadiq, teen rocker Avril Lavigne and R&B; newcomer Ashanti. It was the first time eight acts had tied for most nods.
Eminem won for best short form music video for “Without Me.” After The Eminem Show won for best rap album, Slim Shady rattled off a list of inspirational MCs, including Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre and Jay-Z.
Though Nelly lost to Eminem for best rap album, he did take best male rap solo performance for “Hot in Herre.” He also garnered a trophy for best rap/sung collaboration for “Dilemma,” with Destiny’s Child Kelly Rowland.
Springsteen also won for best rock song, rock album and male rock vocal performance for “The Rising.”
Jones won for best female pop vocal performance for “Don’t Know Why” and her Come Away With Me was honored as best pop vocal album. “Don’t Know Why” also won for best song, a songwriter’s award accepted by Jesse Harris.
The Chicks won for best country instrumental performance (“Lil’ Jack Slade”), best country performance by a duo or group with vocal for “Long Time Gone.” The trio’s Home release also won for best country album and best recording package.
A pair of country veterans also took home awards, with Johnny Cash honored for best male country vocal performance for “Give My Love to Rose,” from his latest solo album. Willie Nelson’s duet with Lee Ann Womack on “Mendocino County Line,” was recognized as best country collaboration with vocals.
Other nominees for best new artist were Ashanti, Lavigne, Michelle Branch and John Mayer, all young singer-songwriters.
Mayer, who won for best male pop vocal performance, was featured in a singer-songwriter salute with Vanessa Carlton and James Taylor.
