I don’t always watch the Grammys. It can be a bloated, over politicized, and a clueless evening. And they have a history of treating the Country format horribly.  Or is that the MTV Awards? No matter.

However, there are always a number of good things happening at the Grammy Awards. It’s like Saturday Night Live, you have to sit through a lot of junk to see something very well done. I did watch the entire show this year and found quite a few things to be cheering about.

First and foremost was the quote of the evening from Vince Gill. Shortly after Kanye West’s pompous speech, Vince was presented “Country Album of the Year” by Ringo Starr. During his gracious acceptance, in grand Vince off the cuff style he said, “I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?” The best moment of the night.

Gill told reporters backstage that it was all in good fun – and that he doesn’t think he’s started a new rivalry. “No, he was laughing,” he said. “I’m a smartass. You know, I can’t help it. He seemed to think that he and Amy [Winehouse] were the only ones worthy of the album of the year tonight. And I was just having some fun. He laughed, so it was all in good spirit.”

Oh, and the newer Vince Gill music should be all over the radio. He’s a superstar and having worked with him for 8 years, I can testify he is one of the most genuine guys in the business and does more the country format than most of us could ever think about. And his wife Amy Grant is probably the nicest artist I know.

The Grammy Awards always remind me how much we don’t get enough classical and jazz. I loved that Herbie Hancock won album of the year over Winehouse and Kanye. As much as our pop culture society makes a big deal out of making sure things are diversified, classical and jazz music doesn’t even have to try. They just are. I saw more diversity and talent in the symphonic and jazz segments than anywhere in the show - age, color, race and creed. That just shows you that true music does indeed bring people together.

Overall, there was something different about this years show. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there were definitely very strong performances.  I believe having all the musical legends participate on the program made it stronger.  Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Tina Turner, The Time, Andre Bocelli, Beatles “Love” Tribute, Eldar, Herbie Hancock/Lang Lang…….memorable performances.  And maybe the program wasn’t as crude and bizarre as years past.

Speaking of bizarre, I wonder what it would be like to have a conversation with Amy Winehouse?