Cee-Lo doing his best Liberace
I'm not here to praise (or pound) the performers, or to cheer (or jeer) the winners and losers of the evening. I'm here to talk about the aftermath of the Grammy's, re: Esperanza Spalding and her unforeseeable win of Best New Artist for 2011 against a bevy of formidable opponents, but none so unspeakably formidable as that of that perky little Canadian wunderkind, Justin Bieber. The win shocked a lot of people, Esperanza included, and it outraged Bieber-fans everywhere, sparking nasty Tweets, vitriolic blog posts, and "fandalism" of Esperanza's Wikipedia page. Included were such... interesting... entries as "GO DIE IN A HOLE…WHO THE HECK ARE YOU ANYWAY?" Her middle name was also changed to "Quesadilla." (Alright. I guess that one's kinda funny. )
Spalding and Bieber: They ain't so different.
I must admit, a certain part of me understands the rage of the Bieber fans, the "Beliebers" as they so fondly refer to themselves. Passion for a loved artist can run pretty deep and to see one's object of affection spurned is not easy, especially when one believes that their beloved is deserving of the adulation of all. That being said, Justin and Esperanza are not so different. They're both musical entertainers, they both started their musical careers at a young age, and they both have adoring fans who love them and their efforts to spread their love of music to the world. Could we call a truce, Beliebers? There's no need for the continued acrimony. Both Justin and Esperanza surely have wonderful careers ahead of them during which time we, their respective fan base, can continue to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
That being said, here's my favorite Esperanza Spalding tune. Of course, this isn't just fellow bass-player love... but that may have a bit to do with it. Enjoy! [ link ]
Bass ain't just a fish,
-Nate Bellon(bass)
