Every February, I tell myself I’m not going to have any part of it. But the day rolls around and like any bad habit, it’s hard to kick, man.

I try, I really do. In fact, last week I forgot all about it until the day of the event. Another few hours and I would have successfully defeated it. Instead, I succumbed again, crawling back like a fiend, not able to deny its appeal. Those damn Grammys.

I’ve had a week to consider and reconsider the events that took place before me last Sunday.

Some were good, some were bad, but many are worth discussing. It’s interesting the show is named after the award presented to musicians for excellence in their craft, yet a majority of the 104 trophies are given out before the show even starts.

Hip hop is one of the most popular musical genres in mainstream music right now, yet only one of five awards for it was presented on the air.

I guess it’s for the best, though, because it should be rather embarrassing to televise Nelly winning two of those awards — best male solo rap performance and best rap/sung collaboration with Kelly Rowland. Even with a week to get over it, I’m still plenty angry I didn’t get to see the best metal performance award again this year — it was given out before the show, of course.

One question, though: How the hell did System of a Down land in the hard rock category instead of metal? Maybe if the band had been in its rightful category, Korn wouldn’t have won for whatever crappy song that sounds like every other song from its last three albums.

Let’s talk about some of the other winners and performers, shall we? There are a few in particular I would like to vent my … er, comment upon.

Coldplay won both best alternative album and best performance by a duo or group with vocal and performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. To tell you the truth, fellas, I didn’t care for you when you called yourselves Radiohead.

John Mayer won the best male pop performance and performed his favorite single that sounds exactly like something by Dave Matthews. The Grammy committee proved it was attempting to maintain any shred of dignity it still possessed by shutting out Avril Lavigne on all five nominations, however.

What was most interesting, though, was Lavigne’s “anti-Britney” live performance — the only one worse than Robin Williams’ attempts at comedy.

Believe it or not, I do have some compliments about the ceremonies. I must admit, the Grammys were surprisingly refreshing this year. Real musicians, who play real instruments and write their own songs, accepted awards. Even if it was John Mayer, it was fantastic.

Not only was it great to see talented artists like Norah Jones win more Grammy hardware than Snoop Dogg at the adult movie awards, it was also nice to see performances by artists like The Roots and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Speaking of which, why do all of Springsteen’s cohorts have to sing into the same mic? Steven Van Zandt was ruthless with his saliva.

If I were Bruce, I’d tell him to go sing with the woman that plays acoustic guitar in the band. And did Bruce let everyone on E Street have a guitar spot in his band? It looks like he has enough guitarists for an E, F and G Street band.

Last Sunday was also the date of the all-time biggest load of crap ever to occur at the Grammys — and that’s saying something.

Rumor has it, the fine folks at CBS discouraged artists from saying anything anti-war. And what was more disgraceful was that few musicians had the balls to do anything about it.

What the hell is CBS going to do — not let you present your award? Fred Durst wasn’t havin’ it though. Fred, I have to admit, I’m not in agreement with you about the war. I am, however, in agreement that the war should go away. Good idea, Fred — bad vocabulary execution.

I’m weak, I admit it. Every time someone asks “Did you watch the Grammys?,” I always crave to say “Hell no, I’ve got dignity. I don’t concern myself with all of that insignificant popular music garbage. Me watch the cheesy Grammys? Ha.”

Unfortunately, it’s not the truth. I don’t have more dignity — I do concern myself with the awards. I want to know who won album and record of the year, and yes, even song of the year.

I’m a junkie who might never be able to kick the habit.

Trevor Fisher

is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Knoxville. He is the arts and entertainment senior reporter for the Daily.