She Loves the Way She Cries?

No politics today. It’s time for a break from the heavy weight of the world.

The Grammy Awards are tonight – another awards show filled with potentially awkward moments and winner surprises. I’ll flog NARAS (National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences) if Eminiem’s Recovery CD doesn’t receive its proper due with Album of the Year. A brilliant mix of rap and melody, substance and fluidity, Recovery remained true to Em’s musical chronicling of his latest life journey = getting clean from nefarious habits. With a little help from Elton John, Slim Shady was brought back to earth, picking up a few vocal tricks from such an unlikely mentor. You can hear the influence on “Beautiful” – which is, in my opinion, completely beautiful.

Continuing in Eminem-land, the “I Love the Way You Lie” duet (as it were) with Rihanna concerning domestic abuse was an incredible song. From the first listen I knew it was a hit, and jumped on that music wagon rather fast. However, I was – and still am – a tad confused when almost every shot in the video of Rihanna singing her part dripped with sexual energy. In what world was she singing and posturing as a house burned down behind her? Kind of looked as if she liked the perversity of the abuse. Hey, I almost get it – women are sucked-in to their abuser. It was “artistic interpretation” - I guess?

It was almost appropriate for Eminem and Rihanna to pull off a video with violent imagery considering her beat-down by Chris Brown and Eminem’s public beat-up of his former wife’s life. On paper, it was a perfect blend. On video, the director had Rihanna twist the message on its end. Many of us “gave her a pass” on that questionable rendering, until now. But, oops, she did it again – now we have another new tune by Rihanna titled “S & M” – mixed messages much? Who is running her career? Chits Brown’s BFF’s?

And who the hell is doing her hair these days, I really, really want to know.

Check it out. Come to your own conclusion.