- Title: USA: CARLOS SANTANA EXPECTED TO WIN IN 42ND AMERICAN GRAMMY MUSIC AWARDS
- Date: 21st February 2000
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 17, 2000) REUTERS SOUNDBITE (English) ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY SENIOR WRITER CHRIS WELLMAN SAYING: "It's certainly harder to hear everything and I think there are a lot of older, and or more conservative voters who are just kinda running down the ballot and do think gee this sold a lot so it must be good and I mean that sounds
- Embargoed: 7th March 2000 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES / VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAEAMOUPXRU7IKELOAPUJWLR25A
- Story Text: Music lovers and industry professionals worldwide are looking forward to the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, a barometer of artistry and commercial accomplishment, and veteran Carlos Santana is expected to take home the lion's share of Grammy trophies.
Veteran Carlos Santana is certain to make many trips to the victor's podium, making this year's Grammy Awards one big love-fest for the band and Arista Records' embattled president Clive Davis, who is widely credited with Santana's re-emergence on the current music scene.
Nominated for 11 awards, including the prestigious Record, Album, and Song of the Year honors, Santana is expected to have an armload of Grammys to take home.Industry insiders in turn are expecting a less than exciting show.
"We're looking at the categories that Santana isn't in for some suspense," says Chris Wellman, a Senior Writer for Entertainment Weekly.
"I think there's some consensus that Macy Gray will win Best New Artist even though she hasn't sold as many records as obviously Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera in that category I think the two teen pop stars will cancel each other out," Wellman mused."Macy Gray, besides being very good, is someone the voters can vote for and feel kinda good about themselves and say yeah we're hip and we're on top of what's happening with music now," he continued.
What's happening in music now is a subject open to wide discussion, ranging from the perennial "Is rock dead?" to the "explosion" of the Latin and hip-hop genres.
Those looking for excitement will likely find it via the highly coveted and hotly contested artist performance segments.
Top artists nominated across the categories are scheduled to inaugurate the Grammy stage at the newly-constructed Staples Center, including Santana, Whitney Houston, Sting, Backstreet Boys, Faith Hill, TLC, Britney Spears, Kid Rock, Cheb Mami, and the Dixie Chicks.
Last year's show-stopper by Puerto Rican heartthrob Ricky Martin got the audience's pulse racing and this year's lineup promises to capitalize on the continued popularity of the Latin sound with a special group performance by Martin, Marc Anthony, Poncho Sanchez, Chucho Valdez, and Buena Vista Social Club's feisty, octogenarian singer Ibrahim Ferrer.
Macy Gray, N'Sync, Busta Rhymes, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Phil Collins, Mary J.Blige, and Christina Aguilera areamong the presenters.
Talk show host Rosie O'Donnell will host the show.
While Santana may garner the majority of the night's accolades, musical diversity is the big winner overall as the Academy's voters acknowledge the passion for everything Latin, Jazz makes a major reappearance in the top Album of the Year category, and hybrids like rap-rock extend the grudging acceptance of rap and hip-hop among Grammy's voting committees.
Variety and the difficult task of listening to all of the worthy selections available worldwide can lead to confusion amongst NARAS members, making retail sales a huge factor in determining nominees and winners.
"It's certainly harder to hear everything and I think there are a lot of older, and or more conservative voters who are just kinda running down the ballot and do think gee, this sold a lot so it must be good," says Entertainment Weekly's Wellman.
"I mean that sounds awfully cynical to describe these seemingly august people who belong to this exclusive Academy that they would draw on the basis of commerciality, but it really does seem to be the case."
Retail success counts and the categories are certainly chock full of differing styles of music, but it could be said that that's what an awards show is all about; the controversy over who is nominated and the suspense surrounding who is going to win.
The top-selling Backstreet Boys are sure to win something as are teen sensations Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Recognition is probably also in order for the new, old-school soul sounds of Macy Gray and other multiple nominees, including Ricky Martin, TLC, Cher, Mary J.Blige, Melissa Etheridge, and Whitney Houston.
And of course, Santana.
The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on February 23, 2000 at 8pm EST. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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