Polka Grammy axed

The Recording Academy has eliminated the Grammy award for best polka album. Damn.

Grammys drop polka album award (Thanks, Fipi Lele!)

[#1 posted by Crawford Tillinghast, June 6, 2009 1:52 AM]

This is why they need to do a death metal polka theme song for the next Bond movie.

Seriously, after that gawdawful hip-hop thing in Quantum of Solace, anything's gotta be a step upward.

[#2 posted by Big Ed Dunkel, June 6, 2009 1:58 AM]

They're also thinking of dropping the "Best Album to Listen to When You're Really, Really Baked" category. Shame!

[#3 posted by annoyingmouse, June 6, 2009 3:42 AM]

WHAT WILL JIMMY STURR DO NOW??

In all seriousness, this was genuinely the only grammy category I actually followed. Given the laughable nominations in many of the main categories that seem intended to appeal to commercial sensibilities rather than any kind of artistic talent (not that I'm saying they're all talentless just not particularly deserving), I always found it kind of nice to check out a category that I had no idea about (fair enough, there's probably more than one) under the possible naive illusion that this was the best polka had to offer. Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't. Nobody seemed to be able to tell me. Of course, there are probably polka fans out there right now who're sitting thinking good riddance to the category that never acknowledged their favourite alt-polka anthems. And then there's poor Jimmy Sturr. He'll probably not be needing to buy new shelves any time soon...

[#4 posted by arlopickens, June 6, 2009 4:18 AM]

They still make Grammies?

[#5 posted by demidan, June 6, 2009 5:29 AM]

Dag nabbit you youngens! What's next, doing away with zephyr racing?

[#6 posted by Anonymous, June 6, 2009 6:04 AM]

First, here's THE link that demonstrates how stupid the Grammy folks were:

http://www.brave.com/bo

Brave Combo, a polka band from north of Dallas, have won the polka Grammy (more than once, I think). And they have, for almost 30 years, shown how much fun polka music can be. They get air time in Europe and Japan (but seldom on any but the hippest U.S. stations, such as KGSR in Austin).

Listen to the cuts on the Brave Combo site, then go buy some. Polka music can not help but make you smile, no matter how crabby you are.

Then hire them for your wedding reception and family reunion dances. You'll understand.

cheers

[#7 posted by MichaelRN, June 6, 2009 6:32 AM]

POLKA SNOT DEAD!

[#8 posted by Anonymous, June 6, 2009 6:33 AM]

Poor Wisconsin...

[#9 posted by Haigha, June 6, 2009 7:02 AM]

Well, there goes my wish for Jethro Tull to somehow get nominated and take the Polka Grammy.

[#10 posted by adonai, June 6, 2009 7:06 AM]

And the Grammies lose all remaining relevance they once had...

[#11 posted by Takuan, June 6, 2009 7:11 AM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mvhDIr0wyc

[#12 posted by Baldhead, June 6, 2009 8:11 AM]

just a note: Crawford: in what alternate dimension did the theme from Quantum of Solace even sort of resemble hip hop?

[#13 posted by Takuan, June 6, 2009 8:21 AM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMuVFKz7dyM&feature=fvw

[#14 posted by Contrasoma, June 6, 2009 9:08 AM]

#7: Well played.

[#15 posted by Boba Fett Diop, June 6, 2009 9:32 AM]

Damn, that was a category that Canadians actually do well in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN9FPMvBLcU

[#16 posted by ill lich, June 6, 2009 9:41 AM]

As someone who grew up being forced to listen to polka on a regular basis, I say "good riddance."

On the other hand, as Chuck D said "Who gives a f@%k about a godd@mn Grammy!"

[#17 posted by gluther, June 6, 2009 10:40 AM]

they probably axed it due to a lack of competition - Jimmy Sturr has won all but ~6 years it was awarded. he's still awesome tho.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Polka_Album

[#18 posted by Chocolatey Shatner, June 6, 2009 11:30 AM]

When I first read the headline, I thought someone had chopped up this lady. You know, because it said the polka grammy had been "axed".

[#19 posted by adamnvillani, June 6, 2009 5:00 PM]

I'm with #12. Jack White and Alicia Keys' "Another Way to Die" may not have been the most popular Bond theme, but in no way was it hip-hop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM5UJvnbbuY

The previous Bond theme was Chris Cornell's "You Know My Name," also a rock song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWaB4ISFnbg

The only Bond theme that was even close to hip-hop was Madonna's electro theme for "Die Another Day":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp66uTya7M0

[#20 posted by Hawkman, June 6, 2009 5:15 PM]

play accordian, go to jail

[#21 posted by Takuan, June 6, 2009 5:22 PM]

well..it is technically assault

[#22 posted by freshyill, June 6, 2009 5:55 PM]

My high school physics teacher's uncle, Walt Ostanek, won the polka Grammy several times, I believe. Small world.

[#23 posted by Anonymous, June 6, 2009 6:18 PM]

So much for my plan to become a grammy winning Musician.

[#24 posted by Daemon, June 6, 2009 7:31 PM]

Wierd Al is the person most likely to be hurt by this.

[#25 posted by webmonkees, June 7, 2009 12:34 AM]

#24, Weird Al had this to tweet:

"Yesterday they dropped “Polka” as a Grammy category.
Somewhere, Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones are weeping."

[#26 posted by Anonymous, June 7, 2009 2:51 AM]

Another casualty of unbridled capitalism

[#27 posted by bibulb, June 8, 2009 6:17 AM]

#6 : Exactly my thought. This seems purpose-fit designed to crap on Brave Combo.

[#28 posted by Anonymous, June 10, 2009 2:02 PM]

I am just sad that my album can not be nominated.

Jolly James
The Polkaholics®