<p>I think the basis for getting a Grammy has changed over the years. Remember when Steely Dan won in 2001? There were lots of “Steely who?” people out there who had spent a lot of money on Eminem that year. I was one of them - I really liked Eminem’s album.</p>
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<p>It’s actually interesting the extent to which that is no longer true. I don’t think education has ever meant much in Nashville (I don’t know how Mary-Chapin Carpenter ever got any acceptance there), but in the rest of the world it’s increasingly common for successful newbies to have college educations. I’m thinking of recent buzz bands Vampire Weekend (Columbia), MGMT (Wesleyan), Yeasayer (Penn, mainly), Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Oberlin, mainly), Lady GaGa (Tisch). I read an article recently where it talked about “the now well-worn path from Wesleyan to Brooklyn” apropos of some band I don’t remember.</p>
<p>I want to add that I went back and listened/watched a bunch of Taylor Swift videos last night, thinking about this thread and trying not to get distracted by the bad eye makeup and general adorableness. You guys are right that, autotune or no, the technical aspects of the singing are horrendous. She needs to take an infinitesimal fraction of her royalties and give them to a good vocal coach.</p>
<p>Also, the order in which I heard Swift’s songs doubtless contributed to my favorable impression of her. I heard “Our Song” first, and that remains head and shoulders my favorite of her lyrics. Lots of her song lyrics don’t get anywhere near that level.</p>
<p>“Tim McGraw” is my favorite Taylor Swift song and I think the lyrics are really,really good. Next is “You Should’ve Said No”.</p>
<p>I never heard of Taylor Swift until Kanye West did his Normandy invasion thing on her and stormed the stage. I thought her response then was very classy. Then in the past month or so I’ve seen her on Leno, Saturday Night Live, and elsewhere. Her music isn’t typically my style, but I can see her appeal. Now Stevie Nicks, I’m crazy for. As for Swift, it’s definitely Bubble Gum stuff. But hey, I’m glad that American popular music is no longer so narrowly defined and no longer narrowly appreciated…with the exception of some Rap that’s God Awful, including Jamie Foxx. Go back to stand up comedy, Jamie!</p>
<p>By the way, was Nora Jones new album not worth a nomination?</p>