GRAMMYs: Emotional Highlights
Plus behind the scenes and Red Carpet faves
I am a member of the Recording Academy and am proud of the strides they are making in diversifying their membership and supporting artists through MusiCares and Women In The Mix.
Inside This Issue
Behind The Scenes from The Recording Academy
Congrats to Herizon Music podcast guest Carla Patullo
Thea’s Emotional Highlights
RSVP: “Sync Licensing 101” with Chelsey Coy
Complete list of GRAMMY winners
The Red Carpet (of course!)
Herizon Music / Thea Wood Productions is an Amazon Associate that earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost.
Just In From The Recording Academy!
Congratulations Carla Patullo!
Composer/musician/activist Carla Patullo won her first ever GRAMMY for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album for “So She Howls.” After years of featured songs in major films and television shows, along with dozens of other awards, she took home the gold gramophone. The album featured The Schorchio Quartet and Tonality, who also received their first ever GRAMMYs.
Carla gave Herizon Music exclusive insight into her GRAMMY winning album and film scoring process in the recent Herizon Music: The Podcast. Listen now.
Buy So She Howls and other music from Carla Patullo
Watch Carla’s heartwarming acceptance speech below…
Thea’s Emotional Highlights Reel
Sunday night was “Year of The Woman” at the GRAMMYs, as we led the top four categories and dominated in nominations for the first time since… ever!
As promised in the last newsletter, I spent the entire 4 hours doling out running commentary on the performances and awards in Substack chat. No one joined me, so the debate side was LIGHT, but I sure had a great time punching out my initial reactions to everything. Substack follower/friend Steve Goldberg later sent me a message that proved it wasn’t only fun, but also useful to at least one person:
My ego is SAVED! LOL. Here’s the chat link.
This year’s show was one of my all-time favorites as far as performances go. Here are my top spiritual moments in order of emotional/spiritual impact. Agree? Disagree? Post your comments!
#1 Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs performing “Fast Car.”
Thanks to Songs That Saved your Life and Jami Smith, I learned after the fact that the extraordinary story behind the story on this duet is Combs’ past association with racism in country music. Prior to reading the article, my overwhelming first reaction to Tracy appearing on stage: “This woman is 59 years old and GLOWS!”
On a dark stage her epic dreads with natural silver threads shine in the backlit spotlight like a f’ing crown. As she strums the opening chords, she looks up with a twinkle in her eye and breaks out a smile that brightens the entire stage and the entire audience completely melts down. Then she starts singing, and… well… the water works come on full blast. Grab a tissue and watch the video.
Tracy Chapman & Luke Combs Deliver Gripping Performance Of "Fast Car" | 2024 GRAMMYs | GRAMMY.com
The first black female songwriter to have a #1 country hit and first to take home a Country Music Award. Damn-well deserved. Keeping driving, Tracy!
Big kudos to Luke Combs for showing the masses how great songwriting transcends age, color, gender, or genre. And proving that we can all learn and grow as human beings.
Amazon: Buy Tracy Chapman music and merch
Amazon: Buy Luke Combs music and merch
#2 Miley Cyrus performing “Flowers.” She walked home with two GRAMMYs this week. Miley is a rocker at heart, which is probably why I relate to her more than other pop stars right now. Her first live TV performance of “Flowers” had me strutting like a badass around my living room. And her final mic (and stand) drop? Watch the end - a standing ovation with people looking at each other like “WTF just happened?!?" A glam rockstar performance at its finest.
PS: She was joking about not wearing underwear (they were matching Gucci).
Amazon: Buy Miley Cyrus music and merch
#3 Joni Mitchell
Enshrined upon her music box throne, her majesty was surrounded by her musical court for a gut-wrenching performance of “Both Sides Now.” Witnessing Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Lucius, Jacob Collier, Blake Mills, and SistaStrings pay tribute through shared voices left me speechless and verklempt — much like Meryl Streep and her daughter, both of whom were camera favorites.
Watch Joni Mitchell et al perform “Both Sides Now.”
Buy Joni Mitchel music and merch
#4 Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia and an enormous dance troupe did Tina Turner right with “Proud Mary.” Lots of leg bombing, shaking booties, and ecstatic fringe bouncing about everywhere. Who didn’t get up off the couch and do a little shimmy? Nostalgic and sweaty. Yum.
Amazon: Buy Tina Turner music and merch
Amazon: Buy Fantasia Barrino music and merch
Reserve Your Spot
When: Monday, March 11th 11:30am to 1:30pm CT
Hot Topic: Sync Licensing 101: First Steps To Making Money
Guest Speaker: Chelsey Coy, co-founder of twoOHsix Music
Where: Girl Guitar, 2309 Thornton Studio C, Austin, TX 78704
It’s time for another Herizon Music Industry Meetup! We host a quarterly luncheon for female music industry professionals featuring a hot topic, cool vibes, and tasty food. Join us right before the SXSW music festivities begin.
You must RSVP to attend this free event.
If you would like to present your products or services to attendees and Herizon Music fans, please email me.
Complete List of GRAMMY Winners
The Recording Academy posted the complete list of winners here.
The Red Carpet
As a certified Image Consultant, personal branding excites me. And there’s no better eye candy than on the GRAMMYS' red carpet (the AMA’s are a close second). The TV and movie awards carpets just aren’t as creative or risky. We expect the unexpected and outrageous from our music makers, am I right? This is where Lady Gaga excels, and is noticeably absent this year. Tell me your faves in the comments!
Vogue did a FAB job of listing 222 looks from the red carpet. If you can find a more extensive recap, please let me know. Most popular trends: sheer fabrics, body-contouring cutouts, and head to toe white (from gowns to pantsuits). What am I missing… anything?
My faves: Ice Spice, Boygenius, Larkin Poe, Sheila E., Dawn Richard (though I’d hate to sit behind her at the ceremony), Brandi Carlile (or was that Jack White?), Laverne Cox, and Lauren Daigle. They all captured the rebellious and zany spirit of a music red carpet.
Special shoutout to Lenny Kravitz. You know your audience, my friend.
Thank you for joining our band of dreamers, rule breakers and rockstars! Invite your like-minded friends and family. There’s enough room on the tour bus for everyone :)
-Thea 🎶
Great synopsis & insight!! 👍💕
You nailed it Thea. Every single highlight of that show came from a woman and it was incredible.