This year's Grammy Awards show was pretty great. I have to admit that there were many amazing musical performances this year. Donald Glover's soulful performance of his song "Terrified" definitely gave me chills; and I almost started crying when Kesha performed her song, "Praying".
Among all of these amazing performances, and awards being distributed, there were two things that I wish the Grammys would have given more recognition to, which were jazz and classical music. Jazz and classical music are two music genres that seem to be the most underrated. It's not just the Grammys that, in my opinion, do not honor these two categories of music the same way other categories are honored, but its other award shows as well, such as the American Music Awards.
It is unfortunate to see that jazz and classical music are somewhat being given the backseat at music awards ceremonies. Why is it that awards for jazz are given out before the actual awards show begin? Artists who perform these two genres of music should be given the same amount of respect. They should be able to give performances and receive awards during the actual airing of the awards ceremony. Jazzmeia Horn's fantastic performance of Boby Timmons' song, "Moanin", was so delightful to see.
Before the premiere of the Grammys on Sunday, January 28th, I was hoping to see more than one or two jazz performances. I was hoping to also hear some classical music as well. I was disappointed, once again, that jazz and classical musicians weren't given the same limelight other musicians were given.
We have to remember that jazz and classical music are just as important and worth hearing about as other genres of music like pop, and hip-hop is. These two genres of music are where other genres of music came from. Hip-hop gets its roots from jazz, in the same way, classical music has influenced and affected rock music.
In my opinion, these two categories of music should be put on a pedestal. I believe that jazz and classical musicians deserve more recognition then what they are being given now. Whenever I ask someone why jazz and classical music are not treated the same way as other genres at music awards ceremonies and events, they usually say that it's not what the mass majority is interested in. As upsetting as it is for me to constantly hear this, there is still a large population of people, not just in the U.S., but in the entire world who are lovers of jazz and classical music. Jazz and classical music are not dead music genres.
