Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Talk with MTV's John Norris
Aired February 24, 2003 - 11:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The Grammys are billed as a show-all of the music industry. Sunday night they proved it. The broadcast started with music past. Simon & Garfunkel reunited to sing "Sounds of Silence," and 15 musical acts later, Norah Jones represented the future, winning record of the year.
To talk about last night's gala, we're joined by New York from MTV's news correspondent John Norris, who is so thrilled to still be up at this point in the morning, aren't you, John?
JOHN NORRIS, MTV NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I actually got a couple hours of sleep, Daryn.
KAGAN: OK, we do appreciate the extra stretch to talk about what I thought was a really fun show to watch last night.
NORRIS: It was very fun, and overall, I think a really classy show.
KAGAN: And when you talk about class, just one word, Norah -- Norah, Norah, Norah.
NORRIS: Absolutely. I know you're a fan.
KAGAN: I am a fan. And not to disparage somebody else, but she's kind of like the anti-Britney.
NORRIS: Yes, definitely. There's a lot made of the singer/songwriter girls who came out this year, but Norah, I think, is a cut above even them, even that crop. She was just amazing. All the best to her. I do think it was a little bit of a surprise seeing her take album of the year. Everyone thought the smart money was on Bruce to win that category. And I think there were a lot of surprised faces when that one was announced.
KAGAN: Yes, because with "The Rising," it really seemed like it was going to be Bruce's year. And correct me here, he has not won album of the year, of all the things that he's won.
NORRIS: That's right. He's won plenty of Grammys, but not that one.
KAGAN: Another bit of an upset, might be a big upset of a young up and comer, John Mayer beating out Sting, Elton John and James Taylor.
NORRIS: James Taylor, who he performed right next to on stage practically. And but you know, that's great, 24 years old, and he's already got a Grammy on his shelf. He's a real talent, too, young singer/songwriter.
KAGAN: I think he accepted his award with class. He was surprised that he beat out that field, but when he said I promise I'm going to live up to this, it sounded like he appreciated the importance of such an award.
NORRIS: Yes, absolutely. I talked to him later, and he said he felt like he was 12, instead of 24.
KAGAN: An ongoing theme throughout the show was some artists perhaps trying to express their anti-war views, and CBS doing its best to kind of dodge those opportunities.
Let's look at somebody who did get through, and that's Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit.
NORRIS: There you have Sheryl Crow with "No War."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED DURST, "LIMP BIZKIT": This war should go away as soon as possible.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: We kind of cut him off there. He was trying to do a little improv there, and didn't really get a huge response. It was kind of tepid, I thought.
NORRIS: And he was kind of vague, too, saying it should go away as soon as possible. I'm not sure whether that means we should win it quick, or it shouldn't happen at all.
KAGAN: And I actually was very surprised they weren't more blatant anti-war comments. I mean, award season coming right as we may be on the verge of war. I expected more. The Brits awards in London three nights ago, oh my God, there were very overt statements, anti-war statements.
KAGAN: Quickly, before we let you go, Grammys might be over, but not completely for MTV. You guys are going to do a little bit more in a couple of days, right?
NORRIS: "Grammy Hangover" is the name of our wrapup show. I'm feeling a little bit of that right now. Tuesday night, 11:00 p.m., and we've got some fashion dos and don'ts, MTV's take on that, of course, plus the 10 most talked about moments of Grammy night.
KAGAN: Which of course include your appearance on CNN LIVE TODAY. It will be the number one moment.
NORRIS: Absolutely. It's a highlight for me. KAGAN: And for us as well. John Norris from MTV, thank you very much. We look forward to the show.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 24, 2003 - 11:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The Grammys are billed as a show-all of the music industry. Sunday night they proved it. The broadcast started with music past. Simon & Garfunkel reunited to sing "Sounds of Silence," and 15 musical acts later, Norah Jones represented the future, winning record of the year.
To talk about last night's gala, we're joined by New York from MTV's news correspondent John Norris, who is so thrilled to still be up at this point in the morning, aren't you, John?
JOHN NORRIS, MTV NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I actually got a couple hours of sleep, Daryn.
KAGAN: OK, we do appreciate the extra stretch to talk about what I thought was a really fun show to watch last night.
NORRIS: It was very fun, and overall, I think a really classy show.
KAGAN: And when you talk about class, just one word, Norah -- Norah, Norah, Norah.
NORRIS: Absolutely. I know you're a fan.
KAGAN: I am a fan. And not to disparage somebody else, but she's kind of like the anti-Britney.
NORRIS: Yes, definitely. There's a lot made of the singer/songwriter girls who came out this year, but Norah, I think, is a cut above even them, even that crop. She was just amazing. All the best to her. I do think it was a little bit of a surprise seeing her take album of the year. Everyone thought the smart money was on Bruce to win that category. And I think there were a lot of surprised faces when that one was announced.
KAGAN: Yes, because with "The Rising," it really seemed like it was going to be Bruce's year. And correct me here, he has not won album of the year, of all the things that he's won.
NORRIS: That's right. He's won plenty of Grammys, but not that one.
KAGAN: Another bit of an upset, might be a big upset of a young up and comer, John Mayer beating out Sting, Elton John and James Taylor.
NORRIS: James Taylor, who he performed right next to on stage practically. And but you know, that's great, 24 years old, and he's already got a Grammy on his shelf. He's a real talent, too, young singer/songwriter.
KAGAN: I think he accepted his award with class. He was surprised that he beat out that field, but when he said I promise I'm going to live up to this, it sounded like he appreciated the importance of such an award.
NORRIS: Yes, absolutely. I talked to him later, and he said he felt like he was 12, instead of 24.
KAGAN: An ongoing theme throughout the show was some artists perhaps trying to express their anti-war views, and CBS doing its best to kind of dodge those opportunities.
Let's look at somebody who did get through, and that's Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit.
NORRIS: There you have Sheryl Crow with "No War."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED DURST, "LIMP BIZKIT": This war should go away as soon as possible.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: We kind of cut him off there. He was trying to do a little improv there, and didn't really get a huge response. It was kind of tepid, I thought.
NORRIS: And he was kind of vague, too, saying it should go away as soon as possible. I'm not sure whether that means we should win it quick, or it shouldn't happen at all.
KAGAN: And I actually was very surprised they weren't more blatant anti-war comments. I mean, award season coming right as we may be on the verge of war. I expected more. The Brits awards in London three nights ago, oh my God, there were very overt statements, anti-war statements.
KAGAN: Quickly, before we let you go, Grammys might be over, but not completely for MTV. You guys are going to do a little bit more in a couple of days, right?
NORRIS: "Grammy Hangover" is the name of our wrapup show. I'm feeling a little bit of that right now. Tuesday night, 11:00 p.m., and we've got some fashion dos and don'ts, MTV's take on that, of course, plus the 10 most talked about moments of Grammy night.
KAGAN: Which of course include your appearance on CNN LIVE TODAY. It will be the number one moment.
NORRIS: Absolutely. It's a highlight for me. KAGAN: And for us as well. John Norris from MTV, thank you very much. We look forward to the show.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
