What Music Culture?: 12 Things I Learned From the Grammys

So this year social media really got me into the Grammys, arguably the biggest music awards ceremony in the world. I noticed that it is such a grand ceremony, with a lot of big shots. However, there were 13 (unlucky for some) things that I did learn from the Grammys:

1. Jay Z Wants to Kill Jamie Foxx

Right, maybe a bit hyperbolic. Anyway to sum it up, Foxx told Hova that his wife Beyonce was hot. Joke or not, Jay Z decided to just grab his wife whilst delivering a bit of a death stare to the actor.

2. Lorde is Really Cool 

When she went up to receive one of her awards she just seemed so laid back and down to earth. Humble as pie. She almost seemed like she didn't care so much about winning. Good to see good music win, but will she go down the Adele route and just become boring? Only time will tell. Hopefully not.

3. Daft Punk Are Heroes

Why? Because they turned up to a swanky awards' ceremony in a suit - with their trademark helmets. They also refused to talk as Pharrell and Nile Rodgers both spoke on behalf in what was a piece of comedy from the robots who obviously took inspiration from The Stig.

4. Kendrick Lamar was on Fire

The Compton rapper collaborated with Imagine Dragons as they mixed tracks. The performance started off quite wonky, but Lamar tagged in and performed a great version of his song "m.A.A.d City", leaving the rock band looking minuscule in compare.

5. Imagine Dragons were Awful

I do like Imagine Dragons, they are a fun, decent band who have been unnecessarily over-hyped. No wonder they failed to live up to my expectations after being told they were "great" live. This could have been an off night, but it was not the night that you want to mess things up. The band's instrument playing was actually good, but the singer managed to murder his own song. As I said above, Kendrick absolutely outshone the band.

6. Same Love is Just Beautiful

When Thrift Shop came out, I was already categorising Macklemore and Ryan Lewis under the "funny one hit wonders" alongside LMFAO and (although I don't find it funny now) The Crazy Frog. Yet who really thought that The Heist would have such a great song on it? It pretty much summed up and justified in three and a half minutes that you should be able to marry whoever you want. The Grammys went OTT with the couples marrying, but still, Macklemore is one of the unlikely heroes of 2013.

7. Daft Punk Doing Get Lucky Was Sweeeeettt

Stevie Wonder joined the supergroup that is Daft Punk featuring Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams. Wonder, sadly seems to have lost his vocals with age, but everyone pitched in for a really cool song. Right at the end Daft Punk appeared from behind a window as well to everyone's delight.

8. Taylor Swift Won't Want to R-(wait for it Taylor) emember Her Early Celebrations

You've got to feel for the girl. Her album "Red" was up for best album which lost out to Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories". However, Swift reacted after only hearing the "r". To her embarrassment she then realised that she hadn't won, but she was gracious in defeat. It is a funny video though, I recommend watching it.

9. Queens of the Stone Age Really Did Rock

Josh Homme and co ended the Grammys along with Lindsey Buckingham (formerly of Fleetwood Mac) and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. There was a lot of controversy as the performance was cut for adverts, but it was really good. QOTSA were nobodies in the UK just a few years ago, but now they have added to their already huge fanbase in the US. My God Is the Sun was pretty special.

10. Pharrell is (un)officially the Greatest Dresser of the 21st Century

He is a fucking mannequin! You put something on him and it suits him. In the Blurred Lines video he wears a silver shell suit, how did he pull that off? If I done that, someone would assume I was quite rough. Long shirts with denim shorts and a bow tie in his Happy video, which also featured a slightly ugly shirt that he manages to pull off again? He pulls off leather, suede, braces and even hats. His Grammys hat looked almost ridiculous like a Canadian mountie, but you couldn't help but think that he looked quite cool. Also, it would be nice to see N.E.R.D. back Mr Williams.

11. Madonna looked like Calvin Candie

You know the guy in Django Unchained? The guy that owns Candyland? Leonardo Di Caprio plays him? Yeah, well Madonna was the spitting image of him when she appeared in Macklemore's performance of Same Love. She looked like the Tarantino villain crossed with an amateur cowboy, a bit inappropriate to dress like a character who opressed many people when the song is trying to stop that. Kudos.

12. The Grammys Are Awful 

Sorry if I have offended anyone with this, but they are. Much like the Brits, they have lost that fun that they used to have. The jokes are safe and unfunny, it's too professional; and you have the likes of Kendrick Lamar - who grew up in one of the most dangerous areas in America - suiting up, not putting a foot out of line or being outrageous. I find it hard to believe that Kendrick would usually act so professional, so why should he have to? The sad thing is, we no longer get moments such as Jarvis Cocker mooning at the Brits when Michael Jackson performed the pretentious Earth Song. No longer are the days where all the artists get absolutely smashed. So sadly I will have to finish on a sad note, but yes, awards ceremonies are destined to head in the same direction as the Grammys: a party as fun as being a prisoner-of-war - because ultimately, the Grammys are like that, minus the brutality and physical punishment.

Don't agree with me? Drop me a comment and express your opinion.

For more updates, follow me on Twitter: @mickyhaitch

What Music Culture?: 2014 Festivals - The Year of the Comebacks?

I have been to only one festival in my whole 18 and a half years on this planet.

It was The Wickerman Festival in Scotland, it was a bit strange. The reason why? There were many. For a start, it was in 2009 when I was 13, a time where my favourite bands where Elliot Minor and The Wombats - I am currently cringing at the keyboard. When I was 13 my music taste was all right, but wasn't very broad compared to now. So, going to an obscure festival with bands that were only appealing to folkies (folk music lovers) and hipsters, I was a little bored. Idlewild played and I'm pretty sure Human League did as well, but at that point I had no clue about that 80's band. The other main reason was I was with my mum and my siblings. There were students taking legal highs and everyone seemed wild - except from me. My mum didn't make it look cool, but nonetheless I'm happy that I at least got to go.

Now, in the year 2014, I am a musicaholic addicted to do musicahol, or else as it's better known, music. I have already bought tickets for two festivals this year: T in the Park in Kinross and Leeds Festival in well, Leeds. Leeds was always on my mind, but the early announcements of Blink 182, Disclosure and Jake Bugg sealed it for me. I promised myself that I would go to TITP this year and when Arctic Monkeys were made headliners, I jumped at the chance.

Once you have bought tickets to festivals there is one big question - Who's going to play? There are around another four months of anticipation and my question to myself was, is this the year of nostalgia? The Stone Roses and Blur started off reunions in 2012, but 2014 is looking brilliant. Outkast have been confirmed for Coachella which got everyone going. Then, Foo Fighters reunited after a very brief hiatus, which surely means that they will play festivals this summer. The Strokes - although not broke up - have all went their own ways and our now due to play The Governor's Ball sparking rumours that they could tour festivals. Blur could make another comeback as Damon Albarn is swinging around and they have stated that it isn't completely off the cards. Also one to be excited for is Kasabian who look set to release a new album this year and will surely play a least one festival. Oh, we almost forgot about Prince and Fleetwood Mac.

Then you have two bands who everyone really wants to reunite: Oasis and The Libertines. Noel Gallagher seems to be flying high with his High Flying Birds, but Liam seems desperate to get his Beady Eye nightmare over with. The whole "I fucking hate him" and "he's dead to me" patter between the brothers seem to be almost fake now because of how much I've heard about it. The other band, sadly seem to be a million miles away from a reunion. Carl Barat and Pete Doherty had a relationship like JD and Turk from Scrubs, but Doherty's drug use has damaged their friendship. Doherty has already been deemed unreliable in his band Babyshambles, but in the words of that little shit Justin Bieber or that country lass Taylor Swift, "never say never". The London quartet did reunite in 2010 for Leeds, who says that they don't get back together? That seems like a long shot.

Anyway, I think there may be more comebacks than usual this year. I will finish on my predictions for T in the Park, Reading and Leeds and Glastonbury.

T:  Arctic Monkeys, Biffy Clyro, Kasabian
R&L: Blink 182, Foo Fighters, The Strokes
Glasto: Arcade Fire, Prince, Foo Fighters (if not Fleetwood Mac)

Of them, I predict about four of them will be right (three have already been announced). Anyway, peace out.