They took film, music, storytelling, and theater to a new level. The rap was a short story in and of itself, but when combined with Elton John's chorus, the film playing above their heads, the stage set, and the presence of the audience, the story was crystalized into powerful, if raw, emotion. Eminem's performance was brilliant, a one man play with him protraying two separate characters. His staccato rhythms punctuated each element of the story. The lyracism of the chorus overlayed the story, giving the listener moments to let each section sink in even as the rap rhythms continued to play as an under-current. The end of the piece was done with perfect timing, as the character recognizes the reality and impact of what has happened.
Even with it's modern themes, the piece was like a Greek tragedy, nearly mythic in its capacity to protray the raw, brutal emotions of a culture. All in a 3 minute "song"! I can imagine a night of theater with a number of pieces like that - short stories, pulled together perhaps with a common theme - as a remarkable art form and experience.
The controversy was a dissappointment to say the least. For people who advocate freedom of expression to want to censor this performer was hypocritical to say the least. Shame especially on the people who had so little confidence in Elton John after all he's done for the gay community. I'm glad he stood up first for freedom of expression - the principle that underlies all other causes. Without that freedom, the rest become meaningless. The result of the performance transcended causes, regardless of ones opinion of the content.
Entertainment is a strange thing. There is a place for so many different levels of art - from purely entertainment, to a voice for opinion, experience, spirituality, causes, and many more. There is room for all of the voices, and the proof will always be in the performance. It's more than a voice for the angry and disenfranchised that keep Eminem on the charts. When his performance fails, so will he.
There is clearly a place for the bland, happy, bubble gum, non-threatening N'Sync; the virginal sluts; and (yes, yes, I know I spent two years in) Up With People (and I'll never live it down! lol). There is also a place for opinionated, cause driven music.
Having grown up with protest and politically aware folk music, I can appreciate the voice that young people bring to their music. Even when that voice takes forms that I'm opposed to, I realize that they are dealing with these issues in their own way. Sometimes the portrayal of the brutal can shock some into deeper realizations of how they want to live their lives. For others it is a vicarious way to discharge their very raw and equally brutal emotions. Still others may identify too closely with the story and want to participate in it literally - hopefully, those remain a very small minority. Inspiration is a double edged sword.
Art forms evolve and develop over the years. Film went from a novelty to a powerful force, musicians learned the power of combining art forms with their music and have been experiementing in that for many years now. When Michael Jackson took music videos to a new level by creating a short film with Thriller, he opened a door to new ways of expressing the story telling power of music. Harry Chapin, too, took his voice to a unique place with his brilliant combination of story telling and music. His ability to take his stories into our hearts through the emotional carrier of music was wonderful and amazing. Each word crystallized and sparkeling in its clarity, purpose, and power.
So, yes, I turn on the FM stations on my way home from work to sing along with Sheryl Crow, hum along with smooth jazz at work, check out the top 10 on VH1 on the weekends, pour my soul out to Andrea Bocelli, Ivan Lins, and The Mirrors at home, and love all the aspects of music in my life. I now feel priveldged to have seen the birth of a new art form last night on the Grammys.
