This recent post over at NBC LA managed to spark quite a conversation among the Music Jobs team…

Rihanna confessed that she still misses Chris Brown even after he beat her bloody in a violent Grammy night fight. “There are a lot of … places that we’ve been together, music, different things that come up that are reminders of your ex,” she told Atlanta radio station Q100 according to People.com. “When [his music] comes on the radio, I don’t … turn it off. I like his music.”

The starlet said she feels nostalgic for the relationship that dissolved into violence during a spat in February that left the pop princess bruised and bloody. Brown pleaded guilty to assault and was issued a restraining order and community service. Still, the singer said she misses the good times. “I’ve gotten over it, but there are definitely constant reminders … songs that were our favorite songs, or hit songs,” she told the radio station.

After Rihanna’s big TV appearance on Good Morning America, where she discussed the abusive relationship, she was heralded as a role model for women and young girls who have been or are being abused… Personally, as a woman, I hate to hear about any woman who is being physically abused. However, the above (and very recent) article, seems to me, to be nearly a complete 180 from her Good Morning America appearance. First she’s the heroine who escaped, and a role model for girls. Now she’s reverting to missing her “First Big Love” – as she refers to Brown. But has she seen a therapist to help her cope with the abuse and the mental repercussions? It definitely doesn’t seem like it. I don’t see how her reminiscing about the “good ole times” is something that she should be publicly talking about.

Every relationship has that period of sadness of “what could have been” after it ends, but if she has taken the standpoint to be a role model (which she appears to have actively decided to do), and spokeswoman so to speak, about domestic abuse in a relationship – this is not the way to go. The article is tinged with the feeling that she still has Chris Brown the loving boyfriend separated from Chris Brown the abusive boyfriend. She needs help in realizing that they are one in the same and that moving on is a necessity, otherwise she’s stepping into a pattern of abusive relationships for the rest of her life.

I hope she gets the help she needs – and either puts her hero status on the back burner or stops speaking out with sweet reminders of her relationship. Women in the music business are a growing number and a force to be reckoned with – hopefully Rihanna can take up that mantra and get back on track in her life and music.

T. Lynn

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So, that time of year again, huh? The Grammys are a funny thing. On one hand, they are the GRAMMYS! The most infamous and high profile music award you can get – everyone wants one. Adele (kinda) wants one. I want one. Heck, I want three. But on the other hand, they have somehow managed to miss out on awarding some of the finest talent in recent years the titles they deserve. Chicago Tribune’s Kevin Johnson recently said about last year’s Album of the year award going to Herbie Hancock, “Hancock’s a legend, but ignoring the impact of [Kanye] West and [Amy] Winehouse felt like a mistake”. Ok, ss Winehouse did win five other categories, but his point is, as the LA Times puts it, “ The industry wants — more to the point, desperately needs — …innovators, but it decidedly prefers those who also find ways to acknowledge the old traditions”.

From my point of view, whether you love or their music or personalities, the artists mentioned are talented and made a massive impact on the music industry last year. If it were a nice-person contest judged by me, they certainly wouldn’t win, but it’s not. It’s the most significant award for musical talent. So what happened?

Well, again there are some solid and possibly surprising inclusions in the 2009 Grammy nominees, namely M.I.A and rapper Lil’ Wayne. I (and many) have been a fan of M.I.A. for some time via her work with artists such as Switch and Diplo, but her recent successes with Timbaland have been more noticeable and so may have earned her a real shot at Record of the Year. Wayne, despite his typically rap lyrical content, has lately been seen happily doing some ‘standard award-bating industry promotion’ (see Country Music Awards appearance)

Maybe their inclusion is part of the attempt to draw in new fans following a fall in viewers over recent years – something they tried to revive with a new prime-time concert full of stars at the announcement ceremony, and something that I hope works. People should be excited for the awards once again, like i said, it’s the GRAMMYS!

For a brief outline of some key categories, check out the US Music Jobs forum 2009 Grammy Nominees

…and here’s the official Grammy website.

Lee Jarvis.

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