DEAR GRAMMYS, ARE YOU LYSSTENING?

Hey Grammys, I’ve Had Enough Shaking My Ass, I’m Ready To Save My Soul 
The full lysst of Grammy nominations were released today. The Grammys are the Wrestlemania of the music industry, and we all know how much I love Wrestlemania. We wait all year for it. Every storyline, every song, every promo leads you up to that moment. Just like the Grammys. Every press release, every artist single, everything for labels + the industry leads up to the moment that you are nominated or you’re not. Then every moment after leads up until the moment that you win, or you don’t. 

I have a Grammy. Well, I have three or four of them, but I have ONE grammy that I love the most (sorry) and the one who changed my life. Her name is Nonnie Marge and that grammy used to have a saying. In fact it’s the saying that changed my life. Grammy used to always say, “Alyssa, you’ve gotta shake your ass + save your soul.” 

Grammy shook her ass. Constantly. While doing dishes, in the car, to the electric slide at weddings. She taught you that dancing, having fun, and moving your body was really important. Grammy also saved her soul. All the time. She was the embodiment of higher levels of thinking, compassion, love, and all for one and one for all- it’s a vibe. 

But Grammy never said “shake your ass” OR “save your soul.” It was always both.

I graduated in 2007. I have a Britney Spears tattoo on my thigh, I know what happens when Cash Money Records takes over for the ‘99 and 2000. I LOVE pop. I love rap. I love hip hop. I love R&B. I love that the Grammy’s have finally done something about the “urban” categories. I love shaking my ass. 

But when are the Grammys going to allow me AND YOU  the pleasure of saving my soul?

Rock isn’t the “devil’s music” like “they” want you to think. God is the most rock and roll thing there is. The essence of GOD creates and destroys. It’s loud and it’s alive. Tornados, earthquakes, volcanos- pretty sure they’re all still considered acts of God whether you believe in her or not. You’re welcome.

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll have always been invitations to get to know yourself better, to achieve higher levels of consciousness, and before you take this out of context, I’m not talking about the manufactured drugs or artificial sex. Just like music, I’m talking about what’s real, organic, and natural. Losing yourself as “the individual” and coming into unity as “the one” while having sex, taking magic mushrooms, or singing along at a rock and roll show all feels the same way. (Do all three at the same time, I dare you.) 

Rock and roll isn’t dead, either. You see the proof when a Fleetwood Mac song trends on TikTok. You see it when Motley Crue’s “The Dirt” drives their streaming up 2000%. 

SO why are rock artists not even the ones nominated for rock categories at the Grammys? 

It doesn’t take an expert to see that those nominated for the rock category aren’t even in the genre. 

(I think explaining this any further would dilute the message. Let’s say it again. Rock artists are not even nominated for the rock category.)

AND THEN, (let’s take it one step further) why are the rock categories (which don’t nominate rock acts) not even televised on The Grammys? 

We are told it’s because “rockstars” don’t show up and that doesn't make for good TV. We’re told that “analytics” and “viewership” proves that’s not viewers they want to see. 

Well, let’s talk about it. Would you “show up” when you’ve been ignored or neglected? The “music business” is all about “relationships” and the industry’s relationship to “rock” has been one sided. They had no problem taking from the relationship for so many years, but when it came to giving, they just didn’t want to do that. They saw something else that made them more money, faster, and easier, and they wanted to do that instead. We found out the hard way as lyssteners that when you ignore and neglect the other half of the relationship, everyone suffers.

How do you “assume” viewers only want to see what you’ve shown, if they’ve never shown anything else in the last decade?  If you don’t even allow rock artists, rock bands, and rock musicians as little as the nomination, how will anyone even be introduced to it? Are you lysstening? 

Honesty + trust are key to successful relationships. So if we’re being honest, sure, “viral” hits and fast singles from other genres bring in a nice quarterly earnings report, but where is the sustainability? There isn’t any. Rock and roll legends and classics STILL sell out arenas. The music is timelyss. 

BUT what happens when Guns N Roses isn’t around anymore in forty years to remind us of the sustainability factor? What careers have been developed for longevity instead of manufactured for “the moment?” 

Manufactured for the moment is different than being present to the moment. Manufacturing is artificial. It’s fake. It’s saying that you’re paying attention while you’re really scrolling on your phone. 

Rock and roll grounds you into the present moment, but reminds you the present moment is forever. It goes on and on and on when you let it. It’s presence. It’s losing yourself. It’s the sex/on mushrooms/ at a Beatles concert thing. 

Rock and roll isn’t meant to go “viral”. Rock and roll isn’t a virus. Rock and roll is our soul essence and it’s been infected with the virus programming that slow, sustainable, and heart-felt music should be rushed, artificial, or manufactured, or not worthy enough to be on music’s ultimate night, The Grammy’s. 

My grammy made sure to include everyone, that’s why everyone love’s going to her house. When I think of my grammy, when I think of “grammys” in general, “Grammys” don’t exclude, “Grammys” don’t play favorites. “Grammy’s” invite everyone and if you decline the invitation they ask why. “Grammys” lyssten. 

So, Grammys… are you lysstening?