If you're anything like me and you caught this year's America Music Awards - then let me know what medications you're taking to settle your stomach. Watching some of these artists, I can't help but think back to Britney's Spears atrocious train wreck at the 2007 MTV Video Awards (the gig that was supposed to catapult her back to top icon status - but left the word gazing with jaws wide open at one of the most horrific, nationally televised live music performances of all time. (Watch the Britney train wreck here)
OK, so the AMA performances didn't come close to the Britney horror show, but many of them we're really weak. I'm not talking about stage antics or energy levels of the vocalists/bands, but the actual musicianship, particularly of the singers (although Avril Lavigne could have easily taken home the "I'm Completely Bored Out of My Skull" Award).
If you're reading this, you might be thinking, "Who are you to judge these performers? Why should I care what you think?" Well, if ABC is going to subject the general viewing public to this level of musical cacophony, then I have every right to slam some of these folks. The real problem I have is that most of the artists who didn't perform well CAN actually perform better. It's not like they stink... they actually have talent. You just wouldn't have known it by watching them at the AMAs. At least with Britney we're not really expecting any form of musical genius.
Let's start with Fergie, who sang of medley of sorts. Her live rapping ability is atrocious. And "Big Girls Don't Cry" nearly forced me to switch the channel. She couldn't have been more off pitch. The only reason I didn't switch is because of RTVFS (Reality TV Fixation Syndrome) where you're watching something so horrific that it actually pains you to look away. I'm not super crazy about the song in the first place, but the studio recording does have a good pop energy to it. If this is what we can expect from Fergie's live shows, she'd be better off letting her producer run pitch correction software on her vocal tracks - and leave the live performances to singers who can actually sing. See for yourself. (Fergie at the AMAs)
Next, on to the comedic duet by Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Beyonce. Before this wonderful experiment of mashing together country and R&B, the announcers said, "You will definitely be talking about this tomorrow." Boy, were they right. This was a producer's gamble - and everyone involved lost the bet. I did actually hear people talking about it in the office the next day - but not in a good way. This one is a little less about the actual notes they sang and more about the milk-curdling arrangement of the R&B song "Irreplaceable" - done this time with a country flair. Let's be honest. Both of these women are very talented singers, no question about it. Unfortunately, the more popular Sugarland gets, the more stylized Jennifer Nettles' singing becomes. In the early days, Nettles' voice was clean and simple - but lately she's been adopting this Reba-style twang that is WAY over done. Listen to her early stuff and you'll see what I'm talking about. Maybe the twang was accentuated here because of the vibe of this arrangement - well, actually there is no vibe. The feeling is like trying to make a country ditty out of Michael Jackson's Billy Jean. Then there's Beyonce, who we all know can sing the roof off - but she shouldn't EVER try the country thing again. What do you think? (Sugarland and Beyonce at the AMAs) I could go on and on with this, but my fingers are getting tired - and frankly, I think we'll all be better off the sooner we forget about this year's AMAs.
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