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HEADLINE: Sharing the love;

Beyonce and OutKast win big in a tame Grammy broadcast

BYLINE: By Greg Kot, Tribune music critic.

BODY:

The 46th annual Grammy Awards telecast turned into an extended apology rather than a celebration Sunday, as the besieged music industry struggled to regain its dignity after some embarrassing nationally televised controversies.

The awards themselves became an afterthought, the sideshow to a public-relations counterattack. Beyonce Knowles won big, claiming five Grammys and tying a record set by Alicia Keys, Norah Jones and Lauryn Hill for the most trophies won by a female artist. The ailing R&B singer Luther Vandross captured four Grammys, including song of the year ("Dance With My Father"), which he shared with Chicago native Richard Marx. And OutKast took home the big prize, album of the year, for "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," only the second hip-hop act ever to win the honor.

The multiple winners also included the late Warren Zevon and June Carter Cash; Beyonce's collaborator, Jay-Z; the White Stripes' Jack White; Eminem; and Alison Krauss. Goth-rock band Evanesence won best new artist, besting thug-rapper 50 Cent, who was shut out despite five nominations. And Coldplay's "Clocks" topped OutKast's ubiquitous single, "Hey Ya," for record of the year.

But the real buzz was the lack of buzz, the earnest attempt by the uptight Grammy gurus to suppress the chaotic spirit that puts the sizzle in popular music. It was a telecast that practically begged listeners to take it seriously, a disconcertingly middlebrow showcase for what are, at their best, defiantly lowbrow art forms: the pop, rock and hip-hop that dominate the awards. Only a performance led by Parliament Funkadelic's cast of funk freaks suggested that this was about the glorious mess that is popular culture, rather than some bland, spontaneity-free recital for the censors' approval.

After a wave of manufactured televised "controversies" in the music world, the Grammy poobahs went the extra mile to keep the event as sanitized as possible. There would be no breast-baring, a la Janet Jackson or French-kissing, a la Madonna and Britney Spears, this night, at least not for nationally televised consumption, with a five-minute broadcast delay installed as an extra precaution against any potential offensive displays. More than ever, the show needed a host with a sense of humor, a Chris Rock to lob verbal grenades at how suddenly self-serious and defensive the music biz has become. Instead, we got a rotating list of co-hosts such as Queen Latifah who intoned, "Despite what you heard, music can be a powerful force for good in the world."

Justin Timberlake marched to the podium like a chastened schoolboy to accept his best pop vocal performance Grammy, and then caved in to the powers that be by issuing an apology for his role in Super Bowlgate, a.k.a. the "wardrobe malfunction" incident. "I know it's been a rough week on everybody," he said, "and what occurred was unintentional, completely regrettable and I apologize if you guys were offended."

To complete the picture of wholesomeness, Timberlake brought his mother as his date. Jackson, in contrast, was disinvited after her scheduled award presentation to Luther Vandross was canceled because of the singer's health problems (Vandross instead appeared on video).

Christina Aguilera got in a dig while receiving an award for best pop female vocal. "I don't want to [do] the same thing Janet has done," Aguilera said, as she struggled not to fall out of her dress.

With everyone feeling so chastened, it might have been appropriate for the music industry to do a little apologizing of its own. Let's see, where to start: Apologize for the thousands of recording artists who have never seen a single royalty check? Apologize to the consumers of America for spending $14 million marketing dreck like the latest Jennifer Lopez album? Or perhaps apologize for suing its own fans over peer-to-peer file sharing?

No such luck. Instead, the National Academy of Recording Arts Sciences, the 16,000-member organization comprised of music business professionals that stages the Grammys, began airing ads during the telecast that discourage online music "piracy." The academy set up a Web site (whatsthedownload.com) that features artists discussing the impact they say online piracy has on their business, but the site's presentation is slanted in favor of those artists who have come out against file swapping."

Our industry will emerge from what has been a perfect storm," said Neil Portnow, recording academy president. At least a beer company ad poked fun at the industry's plight with a "piracy is so wrong" tag line for a spot about refrigerator etiquette.

In keeping with the night's ultra-tasteful veneer, the performers took pains to sound as dignified as possible.

Discounting the "celebrity," "controversy" and "gossip," Queen Latifah said, "sometimes it's just about the music," only to introduce Aguilera, who would be just another pretty voice without controversy and celebrity. But Aguilera toned down her neon-stripper image by donning a pin-striped suit and tie, and fronted an orchestra for that extra touch of class. As a singer, Aguilera was as overwrought as ever, however. Like the Grammy ceremony itself, she was trying too hard in a style of music that is best when it feels effortless.

Prince was on his best behavior and looked snappy in a purple suit (as opposed to, say, the bikini briefs and leg warmers he wore on the cover of his "Dirty Mind" album) during his opening medley, though an ill-placed stage fan nearly sent the miniskirt of his duet partner, Beyonce, fluttering past the parental advisory zone.

Even the ever-mischievous Madonna was on her best behavior, blushing a bit as she thanked Sting for playing matchmaker by introducing the diva to her husband, Guy Ritchie.

Timberlake's musical rehabilitation continued by putting him in the company of class acts like the Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.

In a poorly conceived tribute to the Beatles on the 40th anniversary of their landmark appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Dave Matthews and Sting were horribly miscast as rock 'n' rollers struggling to build up a head of steam on "I Saw Her Standing There." Vince Gill -- Vince Gill? -- got the nod to emulate George Harrison's guitar solo. And rapper/producer Pharrell Williams got to play Ringo.

Fortunately, the White Stripes provided a brief reminder of rock at its white-hot best, as the Detroit duo of Meg and Jack White submitted their instruments to a full-on blues-rock meltdown during "Seven Nation Army."

Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament Funkadelic, Robert Randolph and the Family Band and OutKast offered a funk primer, with Randolph stealing the show by proving that the pedal-steel guitar -- that staple of country-and-western weepers -- can get down like nobody's business.

And OutKast's Dre returned to lead a bizarrely entertaining run-through his massive hit "Hey Ya!" dressed like a cross between a leprechaun and a Native American.

It was a quiet night for Chicago nominees, though there were two winners: Buddy Guy took home his fifth award, for the best traditional blues album, "Blues Singer," and house producer Maurice Joshua won for best remixed recording, Beyonce's "Crazy in Love (Maurice's Soul Mix)."

Other "achievements":

- Grammy presenter who most looked as though he just swallowed a bad tuna sandwich: John Mayer.

- Everything-I-have-to-say-is-in-the-music award: After collaborating on a double-CD containing 2 1/2 hours of music, OutKast's Andre Benjamin reduced his acceptance speech for best rap album to two words ("thank you").

- Most surreal introduction: Beck described the White Stripes as "the sound ... of empty parking lots."

- Best sounding word: "Fuuuuuunk!" as intoned by Samuel Jackson.

- Most un-diva like moment: Instead of throwing a hissy fit, Celine Dion maintained her poise amid a technical breakdown that caused her microphone to fail just as she began singing.

- Least likely to appear on Rush Limbaugh's show: Coldplay's Chris Martin, who dedicated the band's record of the year award to John Kerry, "who hopefully will be your president one day."

NOTES: 46th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS.

GRAPHIC: PHOTO (color): Beyonce, who took home five Grammys, performed an electric opening duet with Prince; the rest of the telecast wasn't much of a thrillfest, aside from the funk jam. AP photo by Kevork Djansezian.

PHOTO: Christina Aguilera claimed the fe male pop vocal performance Grammy for

the hit "Beautiful." AP photo by Reed Saxon.

PHOTO: George Clinton (left) and Bootsy Collins of Parliament Funkadelic shake

up the 46th annual Grammy Awards Sunday night. Reuters photo by Gary Hershorn.

?k PHOTO (color): OutKast wins album of the year Grammy.

Big Boi (left) and Andre 3000, both of OutKast, pose with their Grammy Awards; Beyonce won a record-tying five for her debut. (Chicago Final edition, News section, page 1.)

?k PHOTO (color): OutKast wins album of the year Grammy.

Andre 3000 (above), Big Boi take awards for "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," while Beyonce grabs record-tying five for her debut. (Chicago Final edition, News section, page 1.)

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LOAD-DATE: February 9, 2004