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Il 21 Febbraio 2001 si è tenuta a Los Angeles l'annuale cerimonia di assegnazione dei Grammy Awards, in pratica l'equivalente degli Oscar per la musica internazionale.

Se durante l'edizione dell'anno passato si era parlato e straparlato dell'abito di Jennifer Lopez, pieno di scollature che lasciavano poco alla immaginazione, quest'anno a monopolizzare l'attenzione dei media durante la cerimonia di assegnazione dei 43° Grammy Awards è stato senza dubbio l'insolito duetto che ha chiuso la serata... quello tra Eminem e Elton John, che hanno cantato insieme " Stan " con John alle tastiere a sostituire la voce di Dido. Naturalmente, per ovvie esigenze di carattere televisivo (lo show è stato trasmesso in diretta dalla rete CBS), il testo del brano è stato attentamente ripulito da ogni parolaccia. Al temine della performance, Eminem e Elton John si sono abbracciati, poi Eminem ha ringraziato il pubblico che gli tributava una standing ovation e, come sua consuetudine, ha alzato il dito medio.

Prima di esibirsi con John, Eminem era salito sul palco dello Staples Center di Los Angeles ben 3 volte per ritirare altrettante statuette, per best rap album (" The Marshall Mathers LP "), best solo performance (" The Real Slim Shady ") e best rap performance by a duo or group (" Forgot About Dre " insieme a Dr. Dre). Accettando la statuetta per il best rap album dalle mani di Jimmy Smits e di una Toni Braxton più sexy che mai, ha detto " I want to thank everybody who could look past the controversy (to) see what it was and what it isn't ".

Fuori dai cancelli dello Staples Center intanto, gruppi di protesta organizzati dalla G.L.A.A.D. (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) protestavano contro l'Academy per aver assegnato nomination e premi ad un artista i cui testi sono "omofobici, violenti e misogini."

A sorpresa, il premio più prestigioso della serata (quello per best record of the year) è andato al duo degli Steely Dan per il loro " Two Against Nature ", album partorito dopo una pausa di riflessione ben due decadi. A contendersi la statuetta in questa categoria, oltre ad Eminem e agli Steely Dan, c'erano anche Paul Simon (" You're The One "), Radiohead (" Kid A ") e Beck (" Midnite Voltures ").
 
 

Curiosità della serata:

A Dr. Dre è andato il premio come best producer of the year per la canzone " Bitch Please II " (Eminem feat. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit & Nate Dogg) contenuta in " The Marshall Mathers LP ".

A Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Bjork e Madonna, a dispetto delle previsioni, non è stato consegnato neppure un Grammy.

Bette Midler, che ha presentato la categoria best record of the year insieme a Stevie Wonder, ha introdotto il suo discorso dicendo: " I brought the most beloved figure in music to hide behind '' in caso che Eminem vincesse.

Nonostante le controversie, molti artisti e musicisti durante il backstage hanno commentato positivamente le vittorie di Eminem. " He has made the most culturally significant album of the year " ha detto Phil Selway dei Radiohead. " I support Eminem's free speech " ha invece commentato Moby " I oppose censorship in all forms. He's very good at what he does, but he's also a misogynist and homophobe and racist and anti-Semite. " Anche Tom Morello dei Rage Against The Machine, nonostante la sua personale disapprovazione per gli elementi misogini e omofobici dei testi di Eminem, lo ha difeso dicendo: " To me it seems pretty straightforward. There are two opinions one can have about freedom of speech--you're for it or against it. " Bono degli U2 invece non ha ritenuto opportuno rilasciare commenti su Eminem ed ah preferito parlare ai giornalisti presenti in sala stampa dei suoi prossimi impegni sulla cancellazione dei debiti del terzo mondo.
 
 

La lista completa dei vincitori della 43° Edizione dei Grammy Award:

-    Album of the Year: ``Two Against Nature,'' Steely Dan.
-    Latin Pop Album: ``Shakira - MTV Unplugged,'' Shakira.
-    Native American Music Album: ``Gathering of Nations Pow Wow,'' Tom Bee and Douglas Spotted Eagle Producers.
-    Country Album: ``Breathe,'' Faith Hill.
-    Jazz Vocal Album: ``In the Moment - Live in Concert,'' Dianne Reeves.
-    Record of the Year: ``Beautiful Day,'' U2.
-    Song of the Year: ``Beautiful Day,'' U2.
-    New Artist: Shelby Lynne.
-    R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: ``Say My Name,'' Destiny's Child.
-    Rap Album: ``The Marshall Mathers LP,'' Eminem.
-    Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: ``Beautiful Day,'' U2.
-    Female Pop Vocal Performance: ``I Try,'' Macy Gray.
-    Pop Vocal Album: ``Two Against Nature,'' Steely Dan.
-    Engineered Album, Non-Classical: ``Two Against Nature,'' Steely Dan.
-    Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Dr. Dre, ``Bitch Please II'' - Eminem featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit & Nate Dogg.
-    Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical: Hex Hector, ``Feelin' So Good'' - Jennifer Lopez.
-    Engineered Album, Classical: ``Dvorak: Requiem, Op. 89.
-    Producer of the Year, Classical Albums Only: Steven Epstein, ``Appalachian Journey .
-    Classical Album: ``Shostakovich: The String Quartets'' Da-Hong Seetoo & Max Wilcox, producers.
-    Orchestral Performance Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra: ``Mahler: Sym. No. 10,'' Sir Simon Rattle.
-    Opera Recording Award to the Conductor: ``Busoni: Doktor Faust,'' Kent Nagano; Kim Begley.
-    Choral Performance: ``Penderecki: Credo,'' Helmuth Rilling .
-    Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance: ``Maw: Violin Concerto,'' Joshua Bell, violin; Sir Roger Norrington, conductor.
-    Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra): ``Dreams Of A World'' Sharon Isbin, guitar.
-    Chamber Music Performance Award to the Artists: ``Shostakovich: The String Quartets,'' Emerson String Quartet.
-    Small Ensemble Performance: ``Shadow Dances'' Orpheus Chamber Orch.
-    Classical Vocal Performance: ``The Vivaldi Album '' Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo soprano.
-    Classical Contemporary Composition: ``Crumb: Star-Child,'' George Crumb, composer.
-    Classical Crossover Album: ``Appalachian Journey,'' Yo-Yo Ma, cello. Edgar Meyer, double bass; Mark O'Connor, violin.
-    Musical Show Album: ``Elton John And Tim Rice's Aida,'' original Broadway cast, lyricist Tim Rice, composer Elton John.
-    Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media: ``Almost Famous,'' various artists.
-    Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture or Television: ``American Beauty,'' composer Thomas Newman.
-    Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television : ``When She Loved Me,'' - Sarah McLachlan from ``Toy Story 2''.
-    Short-Form Music Video: ``Learn To Fly,'' Foo Fighters.
-    Album Notes: ``The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955-1961,'' (Miles Davis and John Coltrane).
-    Historical Album: ``The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings,'' (Louis Armstrong).
-    Instrumental Composition: ``Theme from Angela's Ashes,'' John Williams (John Williams).
-    Instrumental Arrangement: ``Spain for Sextet & Orchestra,'' Chick Corea.
-    Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): ``Both Sides Now,'' Vince Mendoza (Joni Mitchell).
-    Recording Package: ``Music,'' - Madonna.
-    Boxed Recording Package: ``The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955-1961,'' (Miles Davis & John Coltrane).
-    Female R&B Vocal Performance: ``He Wasn't Man Enough,'' Toni Braxton.
-    Male R&B Vocal Performance: ``Untitled (How Does It Feel),'' D'Angelo.
-    R&B Song: ``Say My Name,'' Destiny's Child.
-    R&B Album: ``Voodoo,'' D'Angelo.
-    Traditional R&B Vocal Album: ``Ear-Resistible,'' The Temptations.
-    Male Pop Vocal Performance: ``She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa),'' Sting.
-    Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: ``Cousin Dupree,'' Steely Dan.
-    Pop Collaboration with Vocals: ``Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (My Baby),'' B.B. King and Dr. John.
-    Pop Instrumental Performance: ``Caravan,'' The Brian Setzer Orchestra.
-    Dance Recording: ``Who Let the Dogs Out,'' Baha Men.
-    Pop Instrumental Album: ``Symphony No. 1,'' Joe Jackson.
-    Traditional Pop Vocal Album: ``Both Sides Now,'' Joni Mitchell.
-    Female Rock Vocal Performance: ``There Goes the Neighborhood,'' Sheryl Crow.
-    Male Rock Vocal Performance: ``Again,'' Lenny Kravitz.
-    Hard Rock Performance: ``Guerrilla Radio,'' Rage Against the Machine (news - web sites).
-    Female Country Vocal Performance: ``Breathe,'' Faith Hill.
-    Male Country Vocal Performance: ``Solitary Man,'' Johnny Cash.
-    Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: ``Cherokee Maiden,'' Asleep At The Wheel.
-    Country Collaboration with Vocals: ``Let's Make Love,'' Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
-    Country Instrumental Performance: ``Leaving Cottondale,'' Alison Brown with Bela Fleck.
-    Country Song: ``I Hope You Dance,'' Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers (Lee Ann Womack).
-    Bluegrass Album: ``The Grass Is Blue,'' Dolly Parton.
-    New Age Album: ``Thinking of You,'' Kitaro.
-    Contemporary Jazz Album: ``Outbound,'' Bela Fleck and The Flecktones.
-    Jazz Instrumental Solo: ''(Go) Get It,'' Pat Metheny.
-    Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: ``Contemporary Jazz,'' Branford Marsalis.
-    Large Jazz Ensemble Album: ''52nd Street Themes,'' Joe Lovano.
-    Latin Jazz Album: ``Live at the Village Vanguard,'' Chucho Valdes.
-    Latin Rock/Alternative Album: ``Uno,'' La Ley.
-    Traditional Tropical Latin Album: ``Alma Caribena,'' Gloria Estefan.
-    Salsa Album: ``Masterpiece/Obra Maestra,'' Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri.
-    Merengue Album: ``Olga Viva, Viva Olga,'' Olga Tanon.
-    Mexican/Mexican-American Album: ``Por una Mujer Bonita,'' Pepe Aguilar.
-    Tejano Album: ``Que Es Musica Tejana?'' The Legends.
-    Musical Album for Children: ``Woody's Roundup Featuring Riders in the Sky,'' Riders in the Sky.
-    Spoken Word Album for Children: ``Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,'' (J. K. Rowling) Jim Dale.
-    Spoken Word Album: ``The Measure of a Man,'' (Sidney Poitier) Sidney Poitier.
-    Spoken Comedy Album: ``Braindroppings,'' George Carlin.
-    Long-Form Music Video: ``Gimme Some Truth - The Making of John Lennon's Imagine Album,'' John Lennon.
-    Metal Performance: ``Elite,'' Deftones.
-    Rock Instrumental Performance: ``The Call of Ktulu,'' Metallica with Michael Kamen.
-    Rock Song: ``With Arms Wide Open,'' Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti (Creed).
-    Rock Album: ``There Is Nothing Left to Lose,'' Foo Fighters.
-    Alternative Music Album: ``Kid A,'' Radiohead.
-    Rap Solo Performance: ``The Real Slim Shady,'' Eminem.
-    Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: ``Forgot About Dre,'' Dr. Dre featuring Eminem.
-    Rock Gospel Album: ``Double Take,'' Petra.
-    Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: ``If I Left the Zoo,'' Jars of Clay.
-    Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album: ``Soldier of the Cross,'' Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.
-    Traditional Soul Gospel Album: ``You Can Make It,'' Shirley Caesar.
-    Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: ``Thankful,'' Mary Mary.
-    Gospel Choir or Chorus Album: ``Live - God Is Working,'' Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Carol Cymbala.
-    Traditional Blues Album: ``Riding with the King,'' B.B. King and Eric Clapton.
-    Contemporary Blues Album: ``Shoutin' in Key,'' Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band.
-    Traditional Folk Album: ``Public Domain - Songs From the Wild Land,'' Dave Alvin.
-    Contemporary Folk Album: ``Red Dirt Girl,'' Emmylou Harris.
-    Reggae Album: ``Art and Life,'' Beenie Man.
-    World Music Album: ``Joao Voz e Violao,'' Joao Gilberto.
-    Polka Album: ``Touched by a Polka,'' Jimmy Sturr.
 

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