Funny: Taylor Swift & Friends Flinch at Best Album Grammy
Unfortunately for Taylor Swift, she didn’t walk away with any hardware at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday night (1-26) in Los Angeles, but for the night’s top prize, the coveted Best Album award, Taylor Swift was very, very close. So close in fact when the award winner was announced, it had Taylor Swift and her entourage leaping out of their shorts.
The infamous divided screen that award shows use to put nominees on-the-spot hoping to capture some reaction magic had Taylor Swift in its crosshairs, and when the announcement was read for the Best Album winner, the ‘R’ had Taylor and Co. half way to the ceiling … until they realized that it wasn’t for her latest album Red, it was for the actual winner, Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories.
Swift is actually the most sedated of the crew, with the person sitting to her right looking like he got tazed, and the suit behind her looking like he just had a snake scurry up his pant leg. This is not Taylor Swift’s first time at the rodeo, and despite her initial confusion, the multi-Grammy winner looked gracious in defeat. The guy to the right however seemed to run through the FCC’s dictionary of censored words, as Taylor’s mom (sitting at the far right) gives him an ear full.
So close, Taylor. So close.
Anon
January 26, 2014 @ 11:10 pm
Not her Dad but still some reaction
Grace
January 29, 2014 @ 2:42 pm
The man sitting beside Taylor is her long-time tour manager Robert Allen (and her mother’s rumored partner).
Dave
January 26, 2014 @ 11:17 pm
Just wanted to point out that the guy who has the huge reaction is her father, so it makes sense that he would be rather emotional about his daughter winning a major award.
Trigger
January 26, 2014 @ 11:22 pm
Actually I’m getting hammered by Swifties saying that it is in fact NOT her father. I’m not here to play gumshoe, this is a stupid post I’ve probably already spent too much time on so we’ll just leave the background players anonymous.
But I will say, I don’t blame anyone that was captured reacting like they did. We would all react the same. I’m not trying to make fun of anyone, just thought it was a funny moment to relive. No blame needs to be handed down here. Nobody acted inappropriate.
Dave
January 26, 2014 @ 11:25 pm
Fair enough. I do have to wonder though, why did you post this? Don’t you always claim that you just focus on the music and not the tabloid crap that others do? Hasn’t your claim to fame always been that you focus on just the quality of the music, and not on who is singing, and that you give every song a fair chance? I can’t help but wonder what a bunch of people reacting to potentially winning an award has to do with Saving Country Music?
Honestly, this post seems way below your normal quality and it almost feels like you’re just fishing for page views.
Trigger
January 26, 2014 @ 11:41 pm
Dave,
I appreciate your concern, and I mean that. But did you read any of the Grammy live blog I just spent the last 5 hours conducting? It’s full of stupid crap. I post rants, fake news stories, all kinds of garbage all the time. Now maybe I should stop all of it, but that’s another discussion. Sure, I want to be taken seriously, but I think that we have to laugh at times or we risk taking ourselves TOO seriously. Humor is an important part of the flora and fauna that makes Saving Country Music tick. And the best part about this story is that the laughter really isn’t at anyone’s expense, except for maybe Taylor’s father/non-father. If I was Taylor, I’d watch it and laugh. I don’t think there’s any reason to be embarrassed for Taylor. So laugh and move on. Yes, it’s a stupid post. But it’s 12:40 AM and I’m already on to the next one.
At the same time, I am always conflicted about stories whose basis is humor. Eventually I see them all disappearing to be honest.
The Hillbilly Muslim
January 26, 2014 @ 11:58 pm
Yup, the humor of Saving Country Music is what gives it, its flavor. The funny articles is what gotten my attention and made me a fan of the music scene!
Leather Telecaster
January 27, 2014 @ 6:47 am
If we didn’t have a sense of humor to go with the seriousness of how bad things have become for the industry, I think it would be terribly boring and redundant.
This site was my saving grace after I had a run in with some dope who kept saying, “well, if they call it country, it must be country…”
Keep up the good work Trigger!
LT
Sonas
January 27, 2014 @ 11:50 am
Trigger that was an amazing response.
Chris
January 26, 2014 @ 11:30 pm
I agree wholeheartedly!! It probably, for a split second, really sounded to them like the announcer was going to say RED. No one acted inappropriate at all. But out of all of them I think Taylor did the best in covering. It’s the two guys in the back that had me rolling when I saw it Live. HAHA!!!! They went from ECSTATIC to Depressed in a matter of nanoseconds!
Grace
January 29, 2014 @ 2:45 pm
Trigger, it’s her long-time tour manager Robert Allen.
Major Gunns
January 27, 2014 @ 12:12 am
Yes, the winning album is called “Random Access Memories”, so when the presenter started to say “Random”, it must have sounded like they were saying “Red” which, for a split second, caused Swifty’s crew to think she’d won. At least she didn’t pull a Faith Hill and yell “WHAT?!!”. I think that still holds the title for best reaction.
Trigger
January 27, 2014 @ 12:26 am
Again, I am not criticizing Taylor’s reaction. I though Taylor’s reaction was dignified, preceded by a funny moment that we could all enjoy without pretense.
Adrian
January 27, 2014 @ 1:45 am
This scene is pretty funny, and in an unscripted way.
I also think people have finally learned to treat her like an adult and judge her music based on its merit. They no longer think she’s a helpless kid who needs a pat on the back.
Eric
January 27, 2014 @ 1:55 am
This line of commentary is getting beyond insulting. What makes you think that her music was not previously judged on its merit? Remember that “Speak Now” was not even nominated for Album of the Year, despite its massive sales and critical favorability.
Phil
January 27, 2014 @ 6:30 am
It’s a totally valid comment.
We’re not talking about someone writing “Dust in the Wind” or “Hotel California” here.
Jack Williams
January 27, 2014 @ 7:04 am
Actually Phil, it’s just another in a long line of anti-Taylor Swift comments from a Carrie Underwood fan.
Adrian
January 27, 2014 @ 10:21 am
I am a traditional country music fan, not a Carrie fan.
I do think Taylor played the “young and innocent” card very effectively in her younger days, and that part of her popular appeal has diminished in the past 2 years.
Eric
January 27, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
“We”™re not talking about someone writing “Dust in the Wind” or “Hotel California” here.”
Yes, because all Grammy winners over the last several years have been in the league of “Dust in the Wind” and “Hotel California”.
Zen
January 27, 2014 @ 2:29 am
Yeah, this Adrian certainly has a deep and personal hatred towards Taylor.
I just love the story of Taylor Swift, how she continues to triumph and how she continues to make her critics like you look small.
It is really quite fascinating.
No amount of money in the world can buy that kind of feeling.
Adrian
January 27, 2014 @ 10:32 am
It is not personal at all, because I do not know her and have never met her.
My point is that her image, and the way she is perceived by the public, has changed in recent years. Here is a good article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/fashion/for-taylor-swifts-image-erosion-is-a-danger.html
Her strength is in playing identity politics, not her singing. And by recording Max Martin songs and becoming more generically pop, she is losing part of the identity that made her a big star in the first place. I think she could have done better by running against the Hollywood crowd and not trying to be like Britney Spears.
Trigger
January 27, 2014 @ 10:50 am
“And by recording Max Martin songs and becoming more generically pop, she is losing part of the identity that made her a big star in the first place.”
I think this is the key to the fact that Taylor did not win any awards, either at the Grammys or the CMA’s (despite her Pinnacle Award). She moved away from being a songwriter and self-producer, and now she is paying from the lack of critical merit. However the idea that the entire industry would bend their will to her because she was a little girl and they felt bad for her in the past I think is a little far fetched. There’s too much talent to be handing out awards on such spurious grounds.
Yoggy
January 27, 2014 @ 1:37 pm
Saying this as a fan, I’m glad for the snubs. Hopefully some lessons will be learnt after this, to stay stay stay away (pun intended) from Max Martin. Even though I think that Max Martin hints for the next record are more of a red herring, I’m still pretty worried.
And as much as I don’t care about awards, was rooting for “Begin Again.” A genuinely good tune. But I can take losing to Kacey. At least it’s not Blake.
Adrian
January 28, 2014 @ 12:28 am
Yoggy, I have a somewhat different perspective. I hope she records more Max Martin songs, so that she will stay away from country radio and stick with pop. That would open up space on the country charts and at the CMAs for more real country artists, which would be a win for country music fans.
Eric
January 27, 2014 @ 12:43 pm
The key to great songwriting is in getting others to identify at a deep empathetic level with the writer’s experiences. The fact that Taylor has enjoyed such success in “identity politics”, as you call it, is actually a sign of songwriting talent.
Adrian
January 27, 2014 @ 12:59 pm
I see your point, she writes songs that lots of 12-15 year old girls can identify with at an empathetic level. If the Grammys were to create an award for the “Best Album for Tweens” then she would have a better case for winning.
Eric
January 27, 2014 @ 1:43 pm
Have you taken a look at the fan demographics at her concerts? The wide age range in the demographics does not fit your stereotype.
rusty beltway
January 27, 2014 @ 6:34 am
When my buddy told me guys in space helmets won the Grammy, I was shocked it wasn’t Bob Log III.
Lunchbox
January 27, 2014 @ 6:53 am
zing!
Jack Williams
January 27, 2014 @ 7:16 am
So that little guy that gave the acceptance speech is songwriting legend Paul Williams. I thought it was him, but had to check to be sure.
MH
January 27, 2014 @ 7:55 am
Taylor after hearing the winner:
“Note to self: incorporate Daft Punk elements on next album.”
Ranger
January 27, 2014 @ 8:03 am
Pretty funny, but she’s got a ways to go to reach the level of Faith Hill classlessness.
Tim
January 27, 2014 @ 9:36 am
I’m assuming you are referring to when Faith stormed off camera when she didn’t win Female Vocalist? You know that she wasn’t serious about that, right?
Tom
January 27, 2014 @ 11:32 am
I kinow what Mrs. Tim McGraw said about the incident when she was in damage control mode. I also know that there’s no way her reaction was faked.
Tim
January 27, 2014 @ 12:30 pm
Tom,
How do you know?
You’re going to have to show me a hell of a lot more than what was clearly a joke moment. She had no damage control, she addressed it with Underwood before the broadcast was over and the media ran with it. It was clear that it wasn’t real. I’m actually shocked anyone took it seriously.
Tom
January 28, 2014 @ 12:19 pm
For one thing, I don’t see any point to the joke. There was nothing funny about it, and I can think of no context where it would be funny.
Secondly, had she simply hollered “What?!?!” when the name was read then smiled and started clapping, maybe I could buy it. She didn’t. She started to strike a pose appropriate for the acceptance of accolades, then when it sunk in that her name wasn’t read she yelled, made a face, stamped her foot, and walked off someplace.
Thirdly, The body language gives her away. The contrast between her expressions when she assumed she had one and figured out that she hadn’t is greater than anything Robert DeNiro or Meryl Streep could ever pull off, and she’s no DeNiro or Streep.
I just don’t buy it. I’ve always believed that her “people” told her how bad it looked as soon as they got to her so she started the spreading the joke story right away.
I’ve never been a fan or a detractor of Ms. Hill. She’s somebody who is just there, and artist with a great voice who seldom records anything that has much appeal for me but at the same time doesn’t record anything that I really find offensive. I’m as neutral as I can be, and I am now and will always be convinced that she honestly reacted as someone who felt she was robbed.
Tim
January 27, 2014 @ 8:37 am
I’m pretty impressed with all Taylor’s success to this point. She can’t sing that well live, and after watching last night, she sure as hell has ZERO rhythm and can’t dance a damn bit. Jesus girl, she looks like Elaine from Seinfeld:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQu_NLRvULM
Eric
January 27, 2014 @ 12:47 pm
“she sure as hell has ZERO rhythm and can”™t dance a damn bit”
Good. The less dance/rhythmic music there is, the better.
Rachel
January 27, 2014 @ 8:44 am
Shock Face. :-O
Leather Telecaster
January 27, 2014 @ 9:25 am
May I point out that there is group of artists out there named The Residents who started doing the “Mystery Masked Man” act 40 years ago. And, in a much more musical and creative way.
Again, been there, done that.
I couldn’t take 5 minutes of that DJ crap I saw.
I hope I don’t make any enemies.
Jack Williams
January 27, 2014 @ 10:13 am
You might like this, then. Bill Burr on Conan after last year’s Grammys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PbP7oVHNyw
Leather Telecaster
January 27, 2014 @ 10:45 am
Am I sounding old? Hah.
I’m probably around Bill’s age. He’s a genius.
That’s great stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Jack Williams
January 27, 2014 @ 10:56 am
Well, I’m pretty sure I’m several years older than Bill. And I totally relate to it.
Phil
January 27, 2014 @ 9:59 am
Funniest thing I’ve seen today is videos comparing Taylor’s Hair flips to an exorcist kid and a female on a mechanical bull.
Someone should make fun of Miranda Lambert though. Whatever odd infection covered her Mic in sparkly glass has now spread all the way down her microphone stand.
Adrian
January 27, 2014 @ 11:08 am
It may not be exorcism, but the hair flips are a gimmick meant to appeal to the tween crowd, just like her hand hearts. Funny how artists who are not the best singers do all this other stuff to get fans’ attention. (Taylor isn’t the only one, or the first. I recall hearing a lot of sounds on Shania Twain’s “Up!” and “Come On Over” that did not sound like singing).
Yoggy
January 27, 2014 @ 1:36 pm
Ever heard of Tori Amos? The original Queen of hair whipping/live exorcism/trashing-or-humping the piano. 1/3 of ’90s Alternative Queens. And Taylor’s last night was most likely to be inspired by Tori than Shania.
Zia
January 27, 2014 @ 11:46 am
Credit where it’s due, I think it was a very classy reaction.
Between this and Hubabloo over Kacey’s face last time around, I’m glad I don’t have to go to Award Shows, because I’m sure I’d give people a YouTube moment when my Competition was winning.
BwareDWare94
January 27, 2014 @ 12:31 pm
Why was a Taylor Swift album up for this, in the first place? She’s talented, and honestly better than most people act like, but her albums don’t belong in this category, yet.
BwareDWare94
January 27, 2014 @ 12:32 pm
My god, she is a bombshell, though. I don’t care if there’s eight layers of makeup on. Holy shit.
Adrian
January 27, 2014 @ 12:50 pm
Beauty is in the eyes of those who have imbibed the Koolaid.
BwareDWare94
January 27, 2014 @ 1:11 pm
Hatred is in the eyes of those who’ve imbibed on a closed mind that leads to blind hatred.
Eric
January 27, 2014 @ 12:46 pm
Why wouldn’t her albums belong in this category? All 3 of her last albums have topped or almost topped the yearly sales charts, and the song quality in her albums is better than pretty much any of the other top albums.
Also, keep in mind that she already won Album of the Year four years ago for Fearless.
BwareDWare94
January 27, 2014 @ 12:48 pm
I always forget the “sales” part of the Grammys. As if that’s any indication of quality.
My point is that while she’s releasing decent music there’s no reason her albums should be in any “best album” category at any awards show. You pick the award show, you pick the genre, there’s always better albums out there.
I wish we had an award show that actually valued quality first.
Eric
January 27, 2014 @ 1:40 pm
Why single her out, then? By your criteria, do you think that any of the Album of the Year nominees deserved to be on the list?
Dave
January 28, 2014 @ 12:27 am
To be fair to him, Kendrick Lamar’s album was unquestionably the best Rap album released in the last year.
Yoggy
January 27, 2014 @ 1:23 pm
Her album actually made it to year-end lists; P&J, Spin, and Stereogum for example.
Not on Country lists though. So AOTY nod made more sense than the Country AOTY.
Tim
January 27, 2014 @ 12:32 pm
When did Alicia Keys become a man?
goldencountry
January 27, 2014 @ 12:57 pm
The look on both their faces is priceless!
Yoggy
January 27, 2014 @ 1:16 pm
I love her and I feel like Judas to her for hollering at that vine. The reaction of the people around her in that vine though…… Lord, priceless.
Speaking of who should have won though, poor Kendrick. His album was really the best out of the bunch. 🙁 — “Get Lucky” is great, but RAM is full of fillers.
And I see same old from Adrian. Sir, Taylor grows old & up. You too. Her fans do grow as well. Everyone does. Geez. Aren’t you tired of it already? I know I am.
Karl
January 27, 2014 @ 3:33 pm
Nothing says product like Daft Punk.
Pathetic.
Chris
January 27, 2014 @ 4:38 pm
LOL! That awkward moment when you thought you won that Grammy but lost to FGL incognito.
MikeO
January 28, 2014 @ 9:02 am
I think the old timer dropped an F bomb. “FGL incognito”… LOL, classic.
Sarah
January 28, 2014 @ 2:42 am
Taylor handled it well. The two men were funny.