After a lovely day visiting Mr. Brillig’s parents, we settled down and watched something on TV. Mr. Brillig went to do something and I said “eh, I”ll just peek at the Grammys before heading up to read”. Last night’s awards show, which I normally don’t watch (preferring to catch the highlights the next day) transfixed me. Let me share a few of the moments I’m sure you’ve seen by now but which I want to save for posterity in my life journal that is my Top Comments diaries, then close with something unique that I heard about today.
I missed it live, tuning in just a bit too late, but Luke Combs performing Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car WITH Tracy Chapman was a performance that ranks among the greatest ever. Watching as he mouthed the words while Tracy sang, then joined in utterly gorgeous harmony, his respect and admiration for Chapman obvious from start to finish, was incredible. I apologize for linking to X, but it’s the only place I can find the full video to share.
The In Memoriam section of the show was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Multiple artists sang in tribute to those gone on, and all were poignant and well done. A friend asked me on social media if I’d heard of any ‘trouble’ during one performance, and when he said he’d heard about it (he wasn’t watching the show) from an Irish friend, I understood why. But it wasn’t troub; no, it was the very best tribute to Sinead O’Connor that Annie Lennox could have given…a political statement. Well done.
Then of course there was Joni Mitchell, with a performance of her Both Sides Now that brought everyone I know to tears. At 80, this was her first Grammy performance. Watching the audience respond to her performance was beautiful.
And then more of my youth came on stage, with Billy Joel debuting a new song, his first in decades. This one hit all the feels, just like the Piano Man does. Here’s “Turn The Lights Back On”
Celine Dion. Billie Eilish. SZA. Stevie Wonder. Jon Batiste. So many excellent musicians and the joy of watching a room full of stars sing, dance, and enjoy music from every genre warmed my heart.
As I was reminiscing to Mr. Brillig over coffee this morning, I read about a very, VERY different musical event… A musical composition designed to take well over 600 years to play has gone through its first chord change in seven years. The John Cage piece As Slow As Possible gave no direction as to how long the 8 page score should take except “as slow as possible”. An organ in Halberstadt Germany is playing the piece — the first note sounded in 2001, a note today, and the next note due to sound on August 5, 2026. The performance is scheduled to end in 2640.
Did you see the Grammys last night (or bits today)? Come chat music, or anything else, in tonight’s comments after perusing today’s Tops!
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Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down. Please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
From inkstainedwretch:
Torta comments on ca cokz’ Coulter has remarked that the best thing Trump could possibly do for America is to die. The enemy of our enemy (for whom she helped pave the way) is still our enemy.
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday (Sunday), February 4th 2024, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
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Top Pictures for yesterday (Sunday), February 4th 2024. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you to the wonderful dKos staff who made it possible to continue this feature in memory of jotter!