SNET DSL: Features : Survey : The Grammys

Nearly one respondent in five to this week's SNET Internet survey had no idea what we were talking about, which is rather a lot. We generally try to keep to topics in which almost everyone has at least a passing interest, but the Grammys apparently on everyone's radar. Add in the 22 percent who thought the Elton John/Eminem duet was totally inconsequential and ... well, you get the picture.

Q: What do you think of Eminem and Elton John singing together at the Grammys?

"It was hilarious! Two complete whackos combined to end the Grammys! What could be better?!" Lucy, Storrs

"Your questions are biased. How about, 'Do you agree with Elton working with Eminem?' Elton and Eminem respect each others right to have their own opinion. Gay rights (and for that matter all rights) can only exist in a world where we ALL respect each others rights. Elton is showing tolerance of others and respecting is rights. No matter how asinine Eminem's opinion is, it is his. Not Elton's." Stanley, Bridgeport

"Elton John and Eminem's performance was the best by far of the night. To bring two completely different types of music together so beautifully was masterful. Granted I am an Elton John fan so I am biased by anything he does. Not being a big Eminem fan it was one of my first exposures to him, second to his performance on MTV, I believe, of Slim Shady, I can honestly say he has great talent.I thought everything was perfect including the lighting and visual screen behind performers. I have to say it was an absolutely great performance." Jane, Stafford

"The better question -- Should there be a 44th Grammy Award show? I vote no!" Kevin, Torrington

"Lighten up, people! It was just a staged performance like every other performance on that show. Good GOD! The clothes the women wore were more risque and morally damaging then those two singing together. It got ratings for the show, that's all it was supposed to do." F.M.C., Chester

"Elton is crazy! I am surprised Eminem would even perform with Elton. Eminem was wearing his regular 'cool' clothes, while Elton was wearing some sad suit ... yellow with pink polkadots! Not only how Elton looked ... but he sang that part of Eminem's song which a woman normally sings ... who would do that in front of a bazillion people? It was a sad grand finale. It was a bad combo, kind of like cheesy fries and mustard!" Julia, Storrs

"Not only was the performance tolerable, it also was entertaining, lending credence to a new form of music from today's angry and fed-up young people. Their performance made the pefect climax to an otherwise 'blah' awards show." Eric, Meriden

"I think it was very adult of Elton not to turn down this duet. I do however think that Eminem was doing it for the wrong reasons. His songs are terrible when it comes to homosexuals, and he is a hypocrite for singing with Elton. If you can publish an CD with those hateful words, you do not even deserve to sing with one of the best. My 12 year old stepson loves Eminem, I despise his words. Everyone has a right in this world to be whoever they want to be. If a child in school ever spoke the words that Eminem sings, they would be sent to juvie hall for hate crimes. (ex. New Britan or Berlin this week.) The crime and violence in this world is increased by anyone with the views of Eminem. Elton is a class act! A wonderful perfomer that is not offensive in any way with his performing. Eminem is not allowed in my house because of the language and hate in his music. Elton is a better person than to sing with someone so low." L.J.N., East Haddam

"I don't like rap music but thought the two entertainers performed very nicely together. Elton john is in a class of his own (operative word class) which is why the Grammys paired them together. I take my hat off to whomever thought up this idea. Get a life people. Times are a-changing." Dorothy, Hartford

"Eminem doesn't sing." T.A.J., Southport

"Most entertainers will do anything for money, but they all talk a good game about their causes." G., Norwalk

"I realize artists need to express themselves but I don't it is necessary to use improper words or actions to promote your ideas. Musical expression has been around a long time and will still be here after Eminem." M.B.P., Torrington

"With Eminem's degrading lyrics about homosexuals it surprised me because I was under the impression that Elton just won some sort of recognition from some sort of gay rights activist group. This must've put a big 'ole bee in their bonnet." Jeannie, Tolland

I think that Eminem is the epitomy of what is wrong in the country today. To validate him by having him showcased on the awards show is truly wrong. I have two teenagers, and it is increasingly hard to show them the right way when the media is so wrong in so many ways. I just heard on the news that a person was arrested at a basketball game for shouting racial slurs. Does that mean that if he sang those comments it would be allright? This country has been fighting racial and sexual hatred for years, it looks as if we have not made very much progress." D.S.I., Tolland

"A good friend had the following to say about the Eminem issue, I have to say that I agree -- 'I had to skip my morning coffee today... just watching the network news shows cranked my blood pressure to an ear pounding level. The same duplicitous sleazebags who talk about how cruel Republicans are for not supporting the feel-good hate crimes legislation are all over the airwaves backing wanna-be thug and rapper Eminem. Madonna went so far as to say that 'George W.'s speech is more offensive' than this little punk's rantings about abuse of women and gays. I just don't get it, most of America knows that these celebrities have the morals of pigs in heat, but when there is a controversy they are often the first people consulted for opinion by the media. What does it say about Katie Couric and her colleges when they have some of the same people on supporting this tripe who when consulted about John Rocker, characterized him as hateful, racist and ignorant. I know it will never happen, but I would just once like to see one of the 'media elite' hold these ignorant celebrities accountable for their statements." R.L., Madison

"I think the first choice should be "How could Eminem stoop so low." If he doesn't give a f*** about what people think about him, why would he try to make nice with the Gay & Lesbian community by doing this with E.J.? But thats just my 2 cents." Ben, Waterbury

"Anyone can learn to rap. Elton John is a natural singer and songwriter full of talent. You just can't compare him to a rapper. After all of the years he's given to us he is still going strong." M.F., North Haven

"I can't believe 'gays' complain about the way Eminem 'treats' them - Don't they listen to his lyrics to see how he treats women? No WONDER they want special protection under the law instead of equal!" C.S.D., New Britain

"I don't see why this is such a big deal. The people protesting the protest believed that Eminem promoted homophobic ideals. But if he's performing with a homosexual and if they are collaborating together, doesn't that demonstrate quite the opposite? I think its more of a good thing than anything else!" Stephanie, Madison

"Will you get serious, why keep such a dumb question on the net when you could have asked about the President's address to Congress and the nation! Americans are more interested in real things instead of the world of make believe such as the Grammys." Ray, Putnam

"I think Eminem and Elton were a great team they sounded great but I think Dido does a better job then Elton on that song by the way you people that hate Eminem so much. It's just a song! He dosn't actually do the stuff in his songs! If you dont like him dont get the cd!!" Danielle, East Hartford

"I feel that Elton was simply defending Eminem's right to make his type of music. I don't necessarily think he supports the content." Cindy, Oxford

"Eminem is a brownie, come out of the closet! Me thinks he protests too much." H.M.L., Trumbull

"One is soft rock and the other is rap music, no comparison." C.M.C., Bristol

"Who cares? The more attention we give to this sub-human Eminem or whatever he calls himself the worse off our youth becomes! Yes Elton is sick, but a proven talent! " Mike, Torrington

"What kind of music artist would to sing a duet with someone that is of the likes of Eminem. I have no use for his type of music, if you could call it that. I have lost any intrest in MTV or VH-1 when his type of "music" is played. He may go to jail for gun possession and assault. What kind person is he? Get anger management and a grip on life. A real Loser! Not the kind of role model anyone should look up to! The industry has to police itself, and tell that kind of brainless twit that that type of music was popular in Nazi Germany in1937 when gay and jew bashing became the norm, not today. And the kids seem to go for it! How sad. One can only guess what Elton was trying to do. Gay and lesbian groups trash Eminem's music totally because of its content. I hope that he wasn't in it just for the money. While Freedom of Speech is a Constitutional right, I choose to use my right to turn it off and not listen to it. I hope that we all use common sense when listening to this new wave of music, if you can call it that." G.M.K., Waterbury

"I would imagine that neither of the two would have sang or hugged if there was not a special meaning behind it. Perhaps they are very good friends. Maybe the two did it because they wanted to show that music is one and not divided by generation, music type, or sexual preferences. Just because one sings about hating someone or something does not always mean that is how they truly feel. Money is money. I bet Eminem is a big mush pot. Maybe this is just a front." J.G., Stratford