(Variety) NARAS president Neil Portnow commented on the controversy that has dominated Grammy talk both onstage and off. "If we want to have a discussion in this country about our values ... I think the debate is healthy but that's a political debate, and has nothing to do with the music." On tonight's telecast being aired on a five-minute delay, Portnow said, "From what I was told, five-minute delay notwithstanding, there was not one second that was edited from this show."
Yoko Ono (news) was still living in Japan in 1964, so she missed the Beatles' "Ed Sullivan" appearances, but she said backstage after introducing the tribute, "In Tokyo there was a tiny article that said these mop-top boys are very popular and girls are fainting." She didn't pay much attention to it, and John Lennon (news) himself confessed to her later that, "He thought it was nothing. He didn't think it was so big." Son Sean, fresh off wrapping his solo album two days ago, said that footage like the Ed Sullivan show was a big part of his recollection of his father. "A lot of my experience of my dad comes through film footage and music."
Dave Matthews, after performing "I Saw Her Standing There" with Sting, Pharrell Williams and Vince Gill (news), commented on recreating the Fab Four despite being "minus three years old" when they played the Ed Sullivan show. "We played it badly at first," the rocker said, but had such a good time that "I could've kissed Sting." When Matthews, who picked up the male rock vocal performance award earlier, was asked an inevitable question regarding Janet Jackson (news)'s Super Bowl expose, he replied, "There have been tits since before there was entertainment. I was surprised that it was shocking that a boob might be seen elsewhere than National Geographic (news - web sites)."
Howard Shore is still not finished with "The Lord of the Rings" project that he started three and a half years ago --- he's currently working on the extended edition DVD of "Return of the King." After winning the award for score for a motion picture, TV or other visual media two years in a row for the trilogy, Shore says the end of the road is bittersweet. "The story of 'The Lord of the Rings' was our story, too," he said. "I had to do this great task and translate this book into music. It will be sad because we finish the DVD in a few months and that will really be the end."
"Chicago's" win for compilation soundtrack album for a motion picture, TV or other visual media was unusual in that the producers not only had to record all original songs, but that the singers were actors with varying levels of experience. Unlike castmates with some vocal experience, Renee Zellweger (news) had never sung in public before undertaking the project. Producer Randy Spendlove commented, "Renee was terrified. She had to start from the beginning." The soundtrack was recorded in three countries and sessions often lasted until five in the morning with the actors, who then filmed all day.
The current political climate was addressed for the first time backstage by Ry Cooder (news), the force behind the "Buena Vista Social Club" project and winner with Manuel Galban for pop instrumental album for "Mambo Sinuendo." He commented on the fact that under tighter U.S. immigration controls, 45 Cuban musicians, including Galban, were denied visas. Cooder noted that the musicians had travelled to the U.S. previously and recent roadblocks "indicate a policy change. Before it was just a matter of red tape and stalling."
Cooder's upcoming work "doesn't include any Cubans --- it's been made pretty clear to me I'm not supposed to go down there anymore." With a jab at the Bush administration Cooder asserted, "Come November there may be a remedy. Right now it seems pretty solid."
Backstage, Beyonce didn't express much interest in the Grammy after-parties, even after picking up five awards. "I've already celebrated --- I went into my dressing room and all of my family was there. We just yelled and screamed."
As for all the hubbub over the Super Bowl, the singer only commented on her own performance. "The Super Bowl was a dream come true for me. I watched Whitney Houston (news) do the national anthem (in 1991) and I was in tears, and I said to my mom, 'Someday I'm gonna do that,' and she said, 'Yeah right.' "
Another party abstainer, triple winner Alison Krauss, said, "I have a four-year-old, so I'll be crawling into bed with him." On bringing her Grammy total to 18, Krauss said, "This is all a freak show." Krauss voiced two songs for "Cold Mountain" that are up for consideration at the Oscars (news - web sites).
Warren Zevon (news)'s longtime collaborator Jorge Calderon said of Zevon's posthumous wins, "He would have hated that word 'bittersweet.' When he found out he had cancer, he said, 'I just want to spend this time doing what makes me the happiest.' He was a full-time songwriter, not part-time."
As for how Zevon would have reacted, "His hard-boiled side would go, 'I don't care about this, these people never got me.' His other side- ---very show biz, very Sammy Davis (news) --- that part of him would be loving it and he would've been dressed in all cashmere ... he'd be digging it."
When Outkast came backstage after winning album of the year, Antwon (Big Boi) Patton laughingly explained his absence in collecting the team's first Grammy of the evening. "Me and Janet (Jackson) was down the street talking ... it made me a little late." On the award, Big Boi said, "It's still kinda shocking. Music prevailed and the fans spoke and we picked that little piece of iron up." About their music he said, "It's funk music. We like to make music that makes your nose go up like your baby took a shit or something."
John Carter Cash, after accepting multiple awards for his late parents Johnny Cash (news) and June Carter Cash (news), said of them, "My mother always said, 'Press on,' and music was a big part of that. That was their strength and their love. The spirit did not die --- their love goes on. Their bodies just gave out."
About the Grammy-winning "Hurt" short form musicvid, Cash said, "It's so revealing ... it shows his whole life, the dark side, but he never really lost his dignity. He only endeared himself closer to hearts of the viewers."
Tony Bennett (news) almost missed his chance to give thanks on winning his 12th Grammy. The warbler was running up to the stage when his name was called. "As I was running somebody said 'you blew it.' " Someone tipped off the announcer, however, and he made it. Bennett is planning to send his Grammy to Rosemary Clooney (news)'s family, saying, "She's been my sister in show business all these years."
Richard Marx (news), on the award for song of the year that he shared with Luther Vandross (news): "This was so special to him. This was so personal and yet became so universal. There have only been a few songs in my life that have affected people from all walks of life."
Vandross felt strongly about 'Dance With My Father," telling Marx, "This is my 'Piano Man,' this is my signature song." On the videotape that Vandross recorded in lieu of an apperance due to his stroke last April, Marx said, "If anything the video shows that he's coming along but he needs people to keep praying for him."
Missy Elliott, backstage after her win for female rap solo perf, said that her musical influences came from her parents. Her dad was into r&b while her mom loved gospel. "It was like having a preacher and a sinner in the house," Elliott said, "but it was great because I had the best of both worlds."
Of her upcoming Triple Threat tour with Beyonce and Alicia Keys (news), she said, "We all know how hard it is to get females to roll out together." Elliott mentioned plans for a reality show about the tour are in the works and "it's gonna be hot. When you're on tour for a long time, everybody starts looking good ... everyone starts sleeping with each other."
Although Weird Al Yankovic commented on the numerous companies he had to thank during his acceptance speech for his win for comedy album for "Poodle Hat," he didn't have much of an opinion on recent media mergers: "I just assume (the work) is going to be handled by someone who knows what they're doing." As for a topic closer to his heart, when asked if music is too risque, Yankovic commented, "It's exactly raunchy enough."
Perhaps the most unassuming Grammy recipient was Tibetan monk Tenam Lama, accepting the award for traditional world music album on behalf on his Indian monastery. The monks, having next to no access to the outside world, are unlikely recording artists. The album was not intentionally recorded, according to Lama --- the monks were approached by a producer who sat in on their daily chants. As for whether the monks will record a follow-up, if there is a "benefit according to the spiritual way, that will happen."
When the motley crew of Parliament came backstage, while most of the apparel was eclectic to say the least, Gary Shider got the most compliments on his ensemble of a diaper paired with a black robe. He explained, "I tore my pants so I had to go put some on." When asked who designed his diaper, Shider said, "This one here is the Quality Inn."
George Clinton said that the group's future is working with the younger generation. "We got a whole bunch of young funk. Funk was the DNA for R&B and rap, so we're gonna be passing the DNA on."
(Variety) NARAS president Neil Portnow commented on the controversy that has dominated Grammy talk both onstage and off. "If we want to have a discussion in this country about our values ... I think the debate is healthy but that's a political debate, and has nothing to do with the music." On tonight's telecast being aired on a five-minute delay, Portnow said, "From what I was told, five-minute delay notwithstanding, there was not one second that was edited from this show." 
