The Integration of the GRAMMYs

I was very impressed and touched by the GRAMMYs program this year -- in particular, the way they integrated various genres of music together throughout the entire night. It was as if they were trying to send a message that we are all one in the universe -- all brothers and sisters -- all equal in the eyes of God.

Keith Urban playing with B.B. King, Stevie Wonder with the Jonas Brothers, Jay Z with Coldplay, Sugarland with Adele. The message was loud and clear and yet so subtle.

Also on the subject of integration, I especially like the speech by Neil Portnow, president/CEO of the Recording Academy. He not only announced that Barack Obama was a past two-time Grammy winner for his audio books, which I didn't know, but he incorporated "yes we can" over and over again into his speech, and it was tasteful, not cheesy. He said:

- When it comes to pledging ourselves to the proposition that every young person deserves an opportunity to experience music and the arts in public school, our GRAMMY Foundation says, "Yes we can..."

- When it comes to providing a safety net for music people in need — any time…any place — our MusiCares Foundation says, "Yes we can..."

- When it comes to protecting a musician's intellectual property and the right to earn a living, The Academy says, "Yes, we can!"

I find it very touching how people have taken President Obama's slogan and made it their own.

It was, in my opinion, the best planned GRAMMY awards show I've ever seen.

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