This past Sunday, Bonnie Raitt won the Best Song Award at the Grammys for the title cut of her album Just Like That…! The song is a heartfelt ballad inspired by the passing of her lifelong friend and fellow artist John Prine and it is about an organ donation. The tune beat out songs by some fantastic artists including Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Adele, and Harry Sykes! However, instead of honoring her, some publications and social media have been abuzz with denunciations.

Probably the most astounding pronouncement was from the Daily Mail in the UK. This well known newspaper actually had a headline that read “Unknown Blues Artist Wins Grammy…” I guess it is indicative of the times where journalists don’t do any research or have any real knowledge of the subject they are covering: Bonnie has won a total of 13 Grammy Awards and sold millions of albums! A pundit from the San Francisco area was befuddled that a song that was not on the Hot 100 Billboard chart had garnered the award. Another stated the song hadn’t sold well during 2022 and therefore should not have been considered at all. And from the trolling social media community, there were any number of disparaging comments that I won’t repeat.

I commend the Grammy board and voters for having the courage to award a song for it’s beauty, message, and delivery. Bonnie pours her heart into the recording and it has touched the hearts of the millions who have listened to it. AND the overall album is a great roots/blues mix for which Bonnie has always been known. She is arguably the greatest crossover music artist ever to identify with the blues. While sales is an element for consideration in the event of a “tie”, I believe the award should always go to the song/album/artist based on creativity, artistry, production values, AND the soul that goes into it. It appears the Grammy used the same criteria. Kudos to them. As far as the critics, let’s kill them with kindness and hope the more serious ones that are actually involved in the music business will give blues artists at least a listen in the future before worshipping at the Pop music altar.

#bluesmusicnews #blues #bonnieraitt #benveeroadhouseblues

Ben Vee started out spinning songs on terrestrial radio and at nightclubs back in the 1970’s in his home state of Louisiana. After a career in the construction business, he returned to DJing in 2011. He now hosts two shows each week on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com and writes about the blues at http://www.benveeblues.com from his home in Connecticut. He also has a personal 24 hour stream devoted to the Roadhouse Blues… WRHB as well as a Youtube channel.