Who Got it Right: Jay Z or the GRAMMYs?
“We as a society sometimes forget that these artists have feelings and opinions too.” - Emmy Brutnell
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Recently at the 66th GRAMMYs, Jay-Z made it very apparent to the audience that the academy may not be doing it right. He was on stage at the event on February 4th accepting his honorary award, the “Dr. Dre Global Impact” award, while his wife in the audience was silent and serious. Being on stage at the GRAMMYs puts a lot of pressure on an artist and also gives them the opportunity to speak their minds.
When I watched it, I felt the same heavy silence that took over the venue in my own room. When an artist calls out a company or even a person on live television, it immediately finds its way onto the internet and becomes the next big topic of discussion amongst society.
While on stage, Jay-Z stated loud and clear,
“We want y'all to get it right. At least getting close to right. And obviously, it's subjective. Y'all don't gotta clap at everything. Obviously, it's subjective because, you know, it's music, and it's opinion-based,"
As we know, this is simply Jay-Z once again sharing his opinions, which many disagree with. He refers to a ‘young lady’, which we can guess means his wife, Beyonce, who was up for Album of the Year in 2010, 2015, 2017, and 2023. However, when Jay-Z said,
“You know, some of you gonna go home tonight and feel like you've been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don't belong in a category. No, when I get nervous I tell the truth,"
it felt as if the words shifted to be more personal. We as a society sometimes forget that these artists have feelings and opinions too. They may not agree with the nominees or winners of each category, but they still put on a smile, unlike Jay-Z. Should more artists be this way? Voice their opinion? Stick up for their significant other? If it gets a message across, if it makes the media talk, then maybe, yes.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
He leaves his speech off with,
“Just in life, you got to keep showing up. Just keep showing up. Forget the Grammys you got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel you deserve. Until they call you Chairman, until they call you a genius until they call you the greatest of all time,"
This situation makes us realize how much power celebrities have. They can start conversations, they can lift questions, and they can challenge fairness.
Strike Out,
Emmy Brutnell
Saint Augustine
Editors: Maya Kayyal, Jessica Giraldo
Emmy Brutnell is a writer for Strike Magazine Saint Augustine. She grew up writing song lyrics and then horribly sang them. She enjoys reading poetry books as well as writing poetry. Feel free to reach her @emmybrut on instagram, or by email- ebrutnell@gmail.com.
