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Musical interlude
Monday, Feb 5, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * I don’t usually watch the Grammys, but I flipped to CBS last night just to see what was going on and landed in the middle of this amazing song…
 * Joni Mitchel wrote this song when she was in her early twenties. It seemed to take on far more meaning when she sang it last night at the age of 80…
“So many things I would have done / But clouds got in my way” * And congrats to 2024 Illinois State Fair performer Jason Isbell…  Did you watch?
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- ArchPundit - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:11 pm:
Man, I’m not a huge fan of the Combs’ cover, but together they are incredible. I’ll have to listen to his version again and see if connects better now. Fast Car came out at the end of my Junior year in high school–that song and entire album have always been a favorite.
- Irmagerd - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:17 pm:
Thanks for sharing, I didn’t see the ‘Fast Car’ performance - that was beautiful. The Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox tributes to Tony Bennett & Sinead O’Connor were amazing. Jason Isbell is my favorite artist at the moment, so excited to be able to see him perform at the IL State Fair.
- H-W - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:19 pm:
Thanks so very much for sharing these. Especially, Joni.
- James - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:35 pm:
Fast Car has a special meaning to me. I had a friend in high school who protected me and made me feel like I belonged. I was a skinny nerdy white kid in high school and I got alot of abuse from all sides. My friend related to the song because of his own broken home experience. Everytime I hear it, I think about how my friend, who passed away a few years back, made me feel like I was more than just someone to be picked on. The power of music is just amazing. It connects people together who otherwise might not be.
- Bogey Golfer - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:35 pm:
Watched after the Illinois-Nebraska game and before Curb Your Enthusiasm. Don’t get the Olivia Rodrigo thing - might be better if someone else sung her songs.
- ArchPundit - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:36 pm:
Oh, and to the question–no, they almost never have the awards I’m interested in nor performances I care much about so like these two, I catch them the next day.
- Amalia - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:41 pm:
I did watch as the performances are the draw for me. Joni the tops. Always and forever. Tracy really good. Jon Batiste very fun. Also some true ridiculous stuff that is not really music and I wonder if people see the difference between those named wonders and the nonsense.
- ??? - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:42 pm:
Thanks for posting these, Rich. “Fast Car” and “Both Sides Now” are two of my favorite songs.
- CentralILCentrist - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:43 pm:
Yes, watched it. Found it to be 80% pedestrian back-patting (as most award shows are) and some morsels of artistic relevance. I think Combs and Chapman delivered an award-worthy performance of the song.
I’m hoping those under 40 paid attention to Joni’s performance (if they haven’t already heard it in the movie CODA, performed by Emilia Jones).
- Annon'in - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:51 pm:
Did see Fast Cars, but Mitchell was great. Hoping to catch up with other stuff today.
- Jibba - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:54 pm:
I about didn’t make it through the first stanza watching Tracy feeling the love and appreciation from the audience (long overdue). I was at NIU when she was booed off the stage with racist taunts when she opened for 10,000 Maniacs. It has hurt my heart since.
- ArchPundit - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 1:57 pm:
==I was at NIU when she was booed off the stage with racist taunts when she opened for 10,000 Maniacs. It has hurt my heart since.
Jeesh. Did 10,000 Maniacs say anything? Also, had the crowd ever listened to the 10,000 Maniacs lyrics?
- Jibba - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 2:06 pm:
Arch…yeah, Natalie Merchant let them have it. NIU is (was?) an odd place…sheltered kids from the suburbs mixing with an inner city population of often first-generation college kids, and they don’t always mix well.
- SteveM - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 2:19 pm:
This was probably my first Grammys show in a decade or more. Watched it with my girls who are old enough now that most those in attedance, nominated and awarded were in their wheelhouse - Olivia, Taylor, et.al. They also were all about the fashion on the red carpet. My favored honorees Metallica and Jason Isbell were relegated to the non-prime time show to pick up their awards.
- Rudy’s teeth - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 2:19 pm:
Watched only the clip on Cap Fax. Beautiful rendition by Joni Mitchell. The lady still has chops. And no auto tune needed.
- New Day - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 2:25 pm:
I never watch awards shows but someone flagged this for me last night. It was really a beautiful performance.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 2:28 pm:
Watched the whole thing. (I was multi-tasking and stopped to watch the interesting stuff.) Some excellent performances from a wide variety of genres. I like the cuts to the crowd to see who is groovin’ to the music. I enjoyed most of the performances and couldn’t help but sing along with Joni. If only there could be more music and less fighting in the world. -sigh-
- Leslie K - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 2:36 pm:
Thank you so much for posting, Rich. I didn’t, and don’t usually, watch the Grammys, but when I started scrolling through news this morning I was astounded by what I missed.
- jackmac - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 2:49 pm:
My 25-year-old daughter is a walking encyclopedia of contemporary music. Musical roots and history? Not so much. I had to explain who Joni Mitchell is and health issues she endured. I hope the kid might be prompted to take a listen to some of Joni’s works.
Also, Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs performing “Fast Cars?” Terrific.
- Nick Name - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 3:04 pm:
I need tissues.
Also, kudos to the Grammys for acknowledging not only Sinéad O’Connor, but also Anglo-Irish legend Shane MacGowan, who died November 30. Shane MacGowan and his band The Pogues changed my life. May he and Sinéad rest in peace.
- Paddyrollingstone - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 3:33 pm:
Right on Nick Name.
Saw Shane with the Pogues and the Popes on several occasions. Danced to Fairytale with my daughter for the father-daughter dance at her wedding.
Plus, I got this sweet handle that I use on CapFax!
Oh the words that he spoke
Seemed the wisest of philosophies
There’s nothing ever gained
By a wet thing called a tear
When the world is too dark
And I need the light inside of me
I’ll walk into a bar
And drink fifteen pints of beer
- state worker - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 3:45 pm:
==Amalia 1:41pm Also some true ridiculous stuff that is not really music and I wonder if people see the difference between those named wonders and the nonsense.==
I would love to know the answer to this.
- Nick Name - Monday, Feb 5, 24 @ 4:34 pm:
===Right on Nick Name.===
Thank you, Paddyrollingstone! You are so lucky to have seen Shane with both his bands. The one time I saw the Pogues, Shane was I guess on a break, so Joe Strummer filled in for him. Now, yes, it was awesome to see Joe Strummer, but I really regret not seeing Shane.
Beautiful, beautiful lines from “Streams of Whiskey.” No one wrote like Shane.