Grammys 2007: Chili Peppers and Dixie Chicks dominate
Story by Jack Foley
THE Red Hot Chili Peppers were among the big winners at this year’s Grammy Awards (2007), picking up four awards including best album (for Stadium Arcadium) and best rock song (for Dani California).
The Californian rockers had gone into the evening with six nominations, so could go home satisfied with their haul.
The biggest winners on the night (Sunday, February 11, 2007), however, were country trio The Dixie Chicks, who largely dominated the major honours.
The group won five prizes, including record of the year (Not Ready To Make Nice), album of the year (Taking the Long Way) and song of the year (Not Ready To Make Nice).
The awards were all the more impressive given that they caused uproar among US country music fans four years ago when they admitted to being “ashamed” of President George Bush.
They were subsequently banned from many American radio stations and received death threats as a result.
Ironically, the controversial comment was made during a concert in London on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003, when singer Natalie Maines told the crowd she was “ashamed” that Mr Bush came from her home state, Texas.
The group’s prize haul was completed by best country performance by a duo or group and best country album.
Another of the night’s big winners was R&B star Mary J Blige, who went into the show leading the field with eight nominations.
Blige won three prizes, including best R&B song (Be Without You), best female R&B vocal performance and best R&B album (for The Breakthrough).
She commented: “For so many years I have been talked about negatively but this time I’m being talked about positively by so many people. This is a great night for me.”
The Grammy Awards are considered the most prestigious honours in the global music calendar, with 108 categories ranging from pop to jazz to gospel to polka.
In what proved to be a lavish ceremony, reformed group The Police opened proceedings, playing their 1979 hit Roxanne to a standing ovation from 12,000 fans.
And there were also performances from Corinne Bailey Rae and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Sadly, however, the night failed to provide much to celebrate for British performers.
UK singer James Blunt was up for five awards but went home empty-handed, much like other British nominees, Corinne Bailey Rae, KT Tunstall and the Arctic Monkeys.
Other key prizes went to Gnarls Barkley for their smash hit Crazy, which was named best urban/alternative performance, while their album St Elsewhere was judged best alternative album.
Madonna scooped best dance/electronic album for Confessions On A Dance Floor and Bruce Springsteen won two awards, for We Shall Overcome – The Seeger Sessions and best long form video for Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born To Run.
There were also prizes for Christina Aguilera, John Mayer, The Black Eyed Peas and American Idol star Carrie Underwood, who went home with three.
Justin Timberlake also picked up best dance recording for Sexy Back and best rap/sung collaboration for My Love, featuring TI.