By Ralph Greco, Jr.
I don’t know how to “unpack,” as the kids say, the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Suffering through maybe an hour of red-carpet walk-ins, I realized once again that I knew all too few modern-day artists. So, after catching some wacky outfits and enduring insipid interviews, I flipped off. Afterwards, I read how both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones each won Grammys last night. And as a fan of both, I figure I should be thrilled, right?
Well…
The Beatles single “Now and Then” won a BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE Grammy. This song came from an unfinished home demo ballad John Lennon recorded and wrote circa 1977. Considered as a third possible Beatles ‘reunion’ single for the band’s stellar 1995-96 retrospective The Beatles Anthology (one might recall that both “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love,” based on other Lennon demos, were released at that time).
“Now and Then” wasn’t used because of production problems. With the advent of better technology, the two surviving Beatles, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, unearthed “Now and Then,” and as much used that old Lennon demo as overdubs of guitar tracks played by George Harrison way back from those original 1995 sessions.
Even though it topped charts and now has won a Grammy, can we really say this is an actual Beatles tune when it has been put together like this? Talk amongst yourselves about how you feel about this. I know how I feel about this slight-of-ear.
The Rolling Stones won BEST ROCK ALBUM for their 2023 release, Hackney Diamonds. While the album is somewhat of a return to form for The Stones (sans Charlie Watts), let’s not forget the group has won a scant number of Grammys in their 60-year plus career.
I guess I should be happy about any recognition from the Grammys for our great classic bands and solo artists. But then again, how much legitimacy do the Grammys have any more (or had they ever)? Isn’t this seeming love coming a little late in the game by showcasing classic artists way past their prime?
Perhaps, better late than never is the only way to sum it up.
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