Amy Winehouse took home three of the “big four” awards at the Grammys last night (and five in total) and the legendary Herbie Hancock won the “Album of the Year” Grammy for a Joni Mitchell covers album that I’m not sure many people (outside of Grammy voters) were aware of. Canadian chanteuse Feist, on the other hand, was shut out.
After being denied a U.S. visa, Amy Winehouse, who’s currently in rehab, will still perform at the Grammys, only via satellite. The embattled singer, who’s up for six awards, will also accept any wins via a satellite acceptance speech. The Grammys take place this Sunday at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. [Spinner.com]
Amy Winehouse won’t be performing at the Grammys this Sunday because she has been denied a visa to enter the US. Her publicist released this statement today:
“Unfortunately, her application for a visa to enter the United States of America has been rejected at this time by the American Embassy in London,” the statement said.
“Amy has been progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago and although disappointed with the decision, has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery.
“Amy has been treated well and fairly by the embassy staff, and thanks every one for their support in trying to make this happen,” the statement said. “There will of course be other opportunities and she very much looks forward to visiting America in the near future.” [CNN.com]
Sara Schaefer, on the other hand, will be at Union Hall on Sunday night with another installment of “Name That Tune” or as it is otherwise known, a few songs I can actually name, and a lot of stuff from The Hills that I’ve never ever heard of. No, but seriously, it’s fun and it’s free, you should go.
The accolades for Canadian chanteuse Leslie Feist continue to pour in as she was awarded the Shortlist Music Prize yesterday.
Canadian singer Leslie Feist is the winner of the Seventh Annual Shortlist Music Prize for her album The Reminder. Feist is the second female artist to win the prize, following Cat Power who won the award last year. Feist was chosen by a panel of five Listmakers: recording artists Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol) and Ronnie Vannucci (the Killers), journalist Rev. Moose (CMJ), radio DJ Chris Douridas (KCRW) and the hosts of Hunnypot Internet Radio.
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Feist is the first Canadian winner of the Shortlist Music Prize, joining Irish singer Damien Rice and Icelandic band Sigur Ros as Shortlist winners who hail from outside the US. Previous winners also include American artists Sufjan Stevens, N*E*R*D and TV on the Radio.
In other Feist news, she will be performing at both The Grammys and The Junos (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys). Also, In addition to her previously announced four Grammy nominations, Feist is also up for five JUNO Award nominations including Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Pop Album of the Year. Last but not least, Feist will be making her way to the Hammerstein Ballroom on April 29 and 30 (tickets on sale 2/8 at 10:00 am EST).
It seems that the producers of The Grammys and the WGA have come to an accord. Thank God, because I don’t know if I could handle unscripted banter between the likes of Queens Of The Stone Age and Bette Midler (ba-dum-pum).
Hollywood’s striking writers said on Monday they will grant an “interim agreement” to organizers of the Grammy awards allowing the ceremony honoring musicians to be written by union members.
Last week, the Writers Guild of America, which represents some 10,500 striking film and television writers, said it would not picket the music event, so Monday’s announcement further ensures the show will continue in its traditional format of presenters giving awards and musicians performing hit songs.
“Professional musicians face many of the same issues that we do concerning fair compensation for the use of their work in new media,” the Writers Guild said in a statement, adding that it made the decision “in the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair contract.” [Reuters/NYTimes]
