Awards Fashion: (Late) Grammys Edition (Plus, No Band Reunions!)
Filed under: Awards, Hold the 'Fone, Speak No Evil by Jeffrey Sebelia
I have to admit ... while I am a fan of certain Police songs -- and I definitely had a moment in the 7th grade when I actually owned a Police record and listened to it regularly -- I think Sting is really pretty annoying. And I'm not excited at all about a Police reunion. In fact I feel taken advantage of. Sting is just weird ... in a 'South Park' way. He's weird to me the way Yanni or Fabio are weird. And I resent (a little) having to sit through his awful performance.
Generally, I think band reunions just suck. They shouldn't be allowed; they (reunions) are wrong, and in so many ways just not fair. Once a band breaks up, for whatever reason ... they should stay that way. The problem is that we (the public) allow this to happen. And we allow it in a way that we wouldn't allow for any other artist. I mean, what if Leonardo Da Vinci decided, 15 years after he painted the original, to repaint the Mona Lisa? The public would cry, "Haven't you got anything new?" Or what if a designer decided suddenly to just put out one of his old collections again, because it was popular the first time. We would cry: "BULLSHIT!"
But the worst part about the Police reunion to me is the message it sends to other bands of the same ilk. That maybe it's OK for them to get back together. Holy crap ... can you imagine? What if some of the Police's contemporaries from back in the day suddenly appeared together? Ha!! Huey Lewis and the News, Dexys Midnight Runners, The J. Geils band, Toto. What a mess we would have on our hands, you know? I say, if you want to be around in 15 years then you have to stay in the game for 15 years. You have to stay together, and relevant, and touring and proliferating. Playing only in Vegas doesn't count. You have to stay IN THE GAME. Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers for instance ...
OK ... I have to stop myself now because I'm gonna just go on and on. I'm back in New York after a crazy week of traveling all around the country, and I started writing this about 4 or 5 days ago, and because of internet problems, wacky scheduling and pure exhaustion, I haven't been able to finish. Not to mention every time I sit down to write, I end up starting over..
So thank God the Grammys were exciting to look at. I loved the camouflage suits O.K. Go wore, and I loved the silly string brought by the Chili Peppers. I thought the hottest person of the night (by FAR!) was PINK in Herve Legre. WOW. What a beautiful lady and what a gorgeous dress. I also think the Dixie Chicks looked great, that Mary J. Blige was on point and that I give Beyonce a pass for being beautiful (but she really is starting to bore the hell out of me).
I got an e-mail a few weeks ago from the Pussycat Dolls' stylist and really wanted to dress them, but people don't seem to understand that I'm still a small designer. I don't have a warehouse full of gowns and inventory for people to choose from, and for me to make six dresses in a week would be impossible ... so i had to decline, as much as I didn't want to ... then had to see what they actually wore that night. Oh well, I still want to work with them some day; I think each and every one is gorgeous, I just think a little more thought needs to go into their look. It's tough when you have a group.
I liked, also, what Shakira did for the evening. Beyonce should take a page from her book. There is a lesson on how to successfully change your look, change people's perception, stay true to yourself, and look beautiful ... Which all leads me to ... IMOGEN HEAP ... hahahahahahahahaha ... ooooooooooooooohoooohohohohhhhh.... aaaahhhhhhhhhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
GASP....hahahahahahahahahahah ... ooooooooooooooooooooo shit. Jesus Christ.









Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-22-2007 @ 3:59PM
Ms. G. said...
Aw, you may have been a little rough on The Police. I think the main factor in whether or not a band should reunite is how they sound together. There was a lot of hype about The Police getting back together for this Grammy performance, but they actually played together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in 2003, the year they were inducted. It was broadcast on VH-1 and they performed two songs: "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take." I remember remarking at the time, "These guys sound AWESOME together. They should still be a band." The HOF ceremony, which VH-1 used to broadcast every year (That ended this year; not sure why) was always a good showcase for seeing which old bands can still cut it. A LOT of them CAN'T, and for them, I agree with you, the public should be spared a tour. But in the case of The Police, all three are really great musicians, seem to have a good musical (if not personal) chemistry, and I think they'll put on a good show; maybe even make some new music together if they can keep from killing each other.
As for poor Imogen Heap - Eccentricity is just her style, but your comments on her made me laugh, Jeffrey. To rephrase a famous quote, "I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to....snicker."
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2-22-2007 @ 4:49PM
Alicia said...
I'd pay good money to see a Dexy's Midnight Runners reunion tour. Coming to a county fair near you ...
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2-22-2007 @ 4:56PM
Lovesthe80s said...
Huey Lewis and the News IS getting ready to make a comeback (again), although to a lot of their fans (both of them)- they never left.
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2-22-2007 @ 5:34PM
Stan Winsome said...
Bite me- The Police rock!
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2-22-2007 @ 5:42PM
thecinema said...
i agree. the police are an amazing band. and so is huey lewis and the news.
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2-22-2007 @ 10:56PM
Amanda Stein said...
If a band only played their old music I could see your point easier, - but if they create new music? Then it's new offerings - and I'm crossing my fingers the Police will do that...(and hopefully will create something as relevant as bands that have stayed in the game.)
Nice to see Pink and OK Go recognized!
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2-22-2007 @ 11:24PM
erika said...
wow. i agree with everything you say Jeff!
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2-23-2007 @ 12:59AM
donny said...
umm...Huey Lewis and the News don't need to reunite...they are together and touring!
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2-23-2007 @ 9:38AM
Greta said...
I agree about the bands... if you've been dead in the music business that long... please dont try to come back to life.
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2-23-2007 @ 9:42AM
Angie said...
i missed the grammies but i am excited for the police reunion. they are one of my favorite bands and hell, if the pixies never got back together i never would've had one of my dreams realized, seeing them play live...twice. i think any relevant band who decides to bury the hatchet and give it another go is great, as long as the passion for the music is still there.
imogen heap is trying to be the next bjork but i think she should scatter and leave the flowers for the bees. xoxo - a
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2-23-2007 @ 9:58AM
Kari said...
I would have been more impressed if the Police had done something interesting, instead of regurgitating the same old song in the same old way, with no interaction with the audience whatsoever. Big friggin' deal. I can turn on VH1 Classics and see it done back when it was fresh and semi-exciting. And really, when it comes right down to it, the Police didn't perform at all. It was Sting, his massive ego, and the two dudes who do backup for him. Which is a crying shame, because both Andy and Stewart are talented musicians and deserve much more than to be used to further Sting's worn out welcome in the public eye.
Pink really did look gorgeous. I wish you were able to dress the Pussycat Dolls. They needed a little more edge and much more cohesiveness as a group. I know you would have made them look amazing.
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2-23-2007 @ 10:14AM
Pants said...
Thank you thank you thank you! OMFG. Everything: Sitng (a.k.a. Stink), reunions, Imogen Heap.
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2-23-2007 @ 10:40AM
Vegas said...
Jeffrey, while I agree that we shouldn't just have re-hashes of sameness, if an 'old' band brings us something new I'm all for it. I think the notion for bands to get back together had it's genesis in RockstarINXS. INXS was roundly criticized for doing the show at all, but hey, like fashion you gotta shake up the industry once in awhile!! Believe it or not this band had been playing in small houses after Michael Hutchence died..and tried a few new lead singers,until they decided they can't just do this any longer. One of their band members Kirk Pengilly felt the idea of a reality show would get them the best in the world to audition...Their reality show like the one you were on, brought us a great new talent in Jason Fortune, and a new audience to INXS as well as resurrect some of the older material, but more IMPORTANTLY a great new, but sadly somewhat ignored (in the US) album in SWITCH...(it went platinum in Austraila and Canada, and is doing well in the UK)
If Sting and the boys decide they want to do bring back Police, that's good, that's decent...but is it fresh? Unless they follow up with a NEW Police album, I'd be disappointed. I mean, I love U2, but how many times can you hear Vertigo without saying...so what's next?
I believe the band (Police) has a wonderful foundation to build on, the ska, jazz, reggae roots...and if there's new work coming from them it would be a welcomed addition to my record collection.
Now, if I only had the body to fit into Costra Nosta clothes.......
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2-23-2007 @ 11:12AM
Heather said...
If it weren't for the fact that it's been pretty publicly publicized (and why they broke up in the first place) that the members of the Police hate each other, the reunion might not have seemed so odd. It's bound to fail. Much like the Van Halen reunion with David Lee Roth back in the mix. I'm sure that their reunion won't be long term.
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2-23-2007 @ 11:34AM
Steve said...
Hi Jeffrey –
I enjoy your rant/blogs !
I totally agree with you about The Police & Sting.
I just do NOT welcome these reunion tours and performances.
But, I also felt that The Red Hot Chili Peppers were a drag also.
A lot of hype about their performance – but, it was a dull song.
The fashion is starting to look the same at all the awards show and it isn’t that interesting for someone like me that isn’t involved in the fashion industry (anymore).
I agree that IMOGEN HEAP was a total disaster and boy, am I getting sick of Beyonce – who just seems so OVERRATED (witness that “to the left, to the left” trashy song).
I don’t know much about The Pussycat Dolls but, you better dress them soon because, I doubt they’ll be around long !
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2-23-2007 @ 12:12PM
Mandy said...
The pussycat dolls just looked awful... especially that metallic.. thing on the right. I'm just at a loss for words when I look at that picture.
As for Imogen Heap... yeah.................. but hey we're here talking about it aren't we??
I am delighted that OK GO won a Grammy. I just loooove their style. Good old NYC...
Police reunion? Who cares.
Britney Spears and sanity reunion? Probably not.
On a completely unrelated note (my music is on): If anyone's seen those new iPod commercials and thought to download the song that's playing in the background.. it's called Flathead by The Fratellis. After hearing two songs I bought the entire album. It's awesome.
"I love the way you city girls dress even though your head's in a mess."
Oh and I guess we'll see if Beyonce took your advice on Sunday, Jeffrey! OSCARSSSSSSSSSS
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2-23-2007 @ 1:01PM
Keith said...
I agree and disagree with you. I think that certain bands break apart for legitimate reasons and then come back together once they've figured it out. I think however, that Sting is a pompous asshole and the only reason that I will possibly see this tour is because my wife is hellbent on going.
About your comment about staying in the game, however, I disagree. Members of the J. Geils Band are still in the game, releasing albums and touring, just in smaller venues. They were all serious musicians and I would love to see them get back together, because I think it would be fun...especially if they did it for altruistic reasons, like a charity event.
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2-23-2007 @ 1:05PM
Josh Lanada said...
Band reunion totally SUCKS!!!!
Sting wearing a vest is really age-inappropriate! I thought my grandfather came back to life (HAHAHA)! At least Christina Aguilera made wearing a vest look cool :)
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2-23-2007 @ 2:01PM
Megan said...
I'd rather a band go away for 15 years and come back than have a band like the Chilli Peppers around for 15 years and making the same album 3 times in a row. I REALLY liked the Chilli Peppers for a while - but the last couple albums have all sounded like each other - and on top of that, they play whatever the single is every 5 minutes. I would MUCH prefer it if they went away for a bit so that when they came back to make their next album that sounds like the last one, it would seem fresh and not as annoying.
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2-23-2007 @ 2:04PM
Amanda said...
haha wow imogen heap looks pretty gross. i totally agree about the band reunion thing.. but i would have to say that SOME band can get backtogether.. like i dont think aerosmith was so disastrous.. but did they actually break up, or was that just a hiatus.. hmm, but omg i was wondering if you noticed OK Go they are one of my favorite bands of all-time and i think they are the best dressed group of guys out there. (not sure if thats gramatically correct, but you know what i mean)
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