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American Morning

Norah's Night: Jones Sweeps Major Grammys

Aired February 24, 2003 - 07:43   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It was officially the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, but last night could have been renamed "Norah's Night," 23-three-year-old newcomer Norah Jones the surprise queen of the Grammys. Her CD, "Come Away With Me," picked up eight total. She went five-for-five, sweeping her categories, and Arthel Neville was there to see it.
And by the way, Arthel Neville told us here on AMERICAN MORNING back in June?

ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: June, July, yes. It was July.

HEMMER: That Norah was the one to watch.

NEVILLE: Did I say it, Bill?

HEMMER: Nice to see you.

NEVILLE: I treat you well, of course.

HEMMER: Well, thank you.

NEVILLE: Nice to see you as well. Good morning.

You know, it was really good to see a lot of friends I hadn't seen in a while, lots of stars showed up. We had Aretha Franklin. Bonnie Raitt, I hadn't seen her in a long time.

And as you said, you know, Bruce Springsteen is the boss, but Norah Jones was in charge last night. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIMON & GARFUNKEL, SINGERS (singing): When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light...

NEVILLE (voice-over): It was a night of reunions. The Grammys were back in Gotham, and Simon was back with Garfunkel.

PAUL SIMON, SINGER: We haven't sung together in 10 years. In fact, we really haven't seen each other in almost 10 years. So, it's like a reunion of family members.

NORAH JONES, SINGER (singing): Something has...

NEVILLE: A career in high gear is how you might describe what the night proved for the biggest winner, newcomer Norah Jones. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this little Grammy goes to Norah Jones.

JONES: Thank you so much. I just want to say in a time when this world is really weird, I feel really blessed and really lucky to have had the year I've had. So thank you.

(singing): I don't know why...

NEVILLE: From best new album to best new artist, the jazz chanteuse swept every category in which she was nominated. Her album, "Come Away With Me," went away with a total of eight awards.

ALAN JACKSON, SINGER (singing): Where were you when the world stopped turning?

NEVILLE: September 11 themes echoed through the ceremony. Alan Jackson picked up the best country song Grammy for his ode, "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning?"

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, SINGER (singing): Come on up for the rising.

NEVILLE: And Bruce Springsteen won best male rock performance, best rock song and best rock album for his anthem, "The Rising."

Top selling rap artist Eminem took home a pair of gramophones, including best rap album. Nelly also landed two Grammys, including one for the best rap song collaboration he performed with Kelly Rowland.

NELLY, SINGER (singing): There's something about baby girl...

NEVILLE: The Dixie Chicks felt right at home in the Big Apple with three wins, among them best country album.

THE DIXIE CHICKS, SINGERS (singing): I'm getting older too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It still feels just as thrilling, and it just reminds you that you're still in the game.

NEVILLE: Early worry of anti-war sentiment expressed at the show proved unwarranted. The most controversial comment came from Limp Bizkit front man, Fred Durst.

FRED DURST, LIMP BIZKIT: I just really hope we are in agreeance that this war should go away as soon as possible.

SIMON & GARFUNKEL (singing): And the signs said the words of the prophets are written...

NEVILLE: Instead of the sounds of protest, the audience got Simon & Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence," and the voice of Norah Jones.

JONES (singing): ...the road alone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEVILLE: Well, Norah Jones, I'm really happy for her.

HEMMER: Yes, eight Grammys. Do you think it was worth it?

NEVILLE: Definitely worth it.

HEMMER: Really?

NEVILLE: You know why? Because first of all, she's very authentic. She's very talented. She's a great musician, a great songwriter. She emphasized music. She kept thanking her band. And that's why she stands out.

HEMMER: Showed a lot of class.

NEVILLE: Absolutely.

HEMMER: You know, the Grammys are always trying to inject new life and enthusiasm into it. Did it do it I guess with Norah Jones and some of the others?

NEVILLE: I'm not sure that that's how they do it, because that, of course, is not planned. I mean, she deserved those awards. I think they do it in the performances. I thought Nelly performed "Hot in Here" in his duet with Kelly Rowland. That was pretty exciting. Of course, everybody was waiting to see and hear Eminem -- that was good.

The Dixie Chicks, I was happy to see and hear them sing their great song, "Landslide." And I asked them before the show, I said -- I asked the girls if they had talked to Stevie Nicks, because you know, she did the original song. And they said, yes, we talk to her all of the time, and they're good friends, and...

HEMMER: Did Stevie like their rendition?

NEVILLE: She loved it.

HEMMER: Yes.

NEVILLE: And speaking of Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac is going to be going on tour soon.

HEMMER: Oh! See, the Dixie Chicks...

NEVILLE: I might get you some tickets to that.

HEMMER: I would appreciate it. And see, what we really want to know though, how were the after-parties?

NEVILLE: You know what? I was working. I have no idea.

HEMMER: Come on! You didn't squeeze in one?

NEVILLE: Oh, no.

HEMMER: Come on, you're disappointing me. NEVILLE: I'm sorry.

HEMMER: Good to see you.

NEVILLE: I don't want to do that for you, my friend.

HEMMER: See you later.

NEVILLE: Bye.

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 - 07:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It was officially the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, but last night could have been renamed "Norah's Night," 23-three-year-old newcomer Norah Jones the surprise queen of the Grammys. Her CD, "Come Away With Me," picked up eight total. She went five-for-five, sweeping her categories, and Arthel Neville was there to see it.
And by the way, Arthel Neville told us here on AMERICAN MORNING back in June?

ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: June, July, yes. It was July.

HEMMER: That Norah was the one to watch.

NEVILLE: Did I say it, Bill?

HEMMER: Nice to see you.

NEVILLE: I treat you well, of course.

HEMMER: Well, thank you.

NEVILLE: Nice to see you as well. Good morning.

You know, it was really good to see a lot of friends I hadn't seen in a while, lots of stars showed up. We had Aretha Franklin. Bonnie Raitt, I hadn't seen her in a long time.

And as you said, you know, Bruce Springsteen is the boss, but Norah Jones was in charge last night. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIMON & GARFUNKEL, SINGERS (singing): When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light...

NEVILLE (voice-over): It was a night of reunions. The Grammys were back in Gotham, and Simon was back with Garfunkel.

PAUL SIMON, SINGER: We haven't sung together in 10 years. In fact, we really haven't seen each other in almost 10 years. So, it's like a reunion of family members.

NORAH JONES, SINGER (singing): Something has...

NEVILLE: A career in high gear is how you might describe what the night proved for the biggest winner, newcomer Norah Jones. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this little Grammy goes to Norah Jones.

JONES: Thank you so much. I just want to say in a time when this world is really weird, I feel really blessed and really lucky to have had the year I've had. So thank you.

(singing): I don't know why...

NEVILLE: From best new album to best new artist, the jazz chanteuse swept every category in which she was nominated. Her album, "Come Away With Me," went away with a total of eight awards.

ALAN JACKSON, SINGER (singing): Where were you when the world stopped turning?

NEVILLE: September 11 themes echoed through the ceremony. Alan Jackson picked up the best country song Grammy for his ode, "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning?"

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, SINGER (singing): Come on up for the rising.

NEVILLE: And Bruce Springsteen won best male rock performance, best rock song and best rock album for his anthem, "The Rising."

Top selling rap artist Eminem took home a pair of gramophones, including best rap album. Nelly also landed two Grammys, including one for the best rap song collaboration he performed with Kelly Rowland.

NELLY, SINGER (singing): There's something about baby girl...

NEVILLE: The Dixie Chicks felt right at home in the Big Apple with three wins, among them best country album.

THE DIXIE CHICKS, SINGERS (singing): I'm getting older too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It still feels just as thrilling, and it just reminds you that you're still in the game.

NEVILLE: Early worry of anti-war sentiment expressed at the show proved unwarranted. The most controversial comment came from Limp Bizkit front man, Fred Durst.

FRED DURST, LIMP BIZKIT: I just really hope we are in agreeance that this war should go away as soon as possible.

SIMON & GARFUNKEL (singing): And the signs said the words of the prophets are written...

NEVILLE: Instead of the sounds of protest, the audience got Simon & Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence," and the voice of Norah Jones.

JONES (singing): ...the road alone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEVILLE: Well, Norah Jones, I'm really happy for her.

HEMMER: Yes, eight Grammys. Do you think it was worth it?

NEVILLE: Definitely worth it.

HEMMER: Really?

NEVILLE: You know why? Because first of all, she's very authentic. She's very talented. She's a great musician, a great songwriter. She emphasized music. She kept thanking her band. And that's why she stands out.

HEMMER: Showed a lot of class.

NEVILLE: Absolutely.

HEMMER: You know, the Grammys are always trying to inject new life and enthusiasm into it. Did it do it I guess with Norah Jones and some of the others?

NEVILLE: I'm not sure that that's how they do it, because that, of course, is not planned. I mean, she deserved those awards. I think they do it in the performances. I thought Nelly performed "Hot in Here" in his duet with Kelly Rowland. That was pretty exciting. Of course, everybody was waiting to see and hear Eminem -- that was good.

The Dixie Chicks, I was happy to see and hear them sing their great song, "Landslide." And I asked them before the show, I said -- I asked the girls if they had talked to Stevie Nicks, because you know, she did the original song. And they said, yes, we talk to her all of the time, and they're good friends, and...

HEMMER: Did Stevie like their rendition?

NEVILLE: She loved it.

HEMMER: Yes.

NEVILLE: And speaking of Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac is going to be going on tour soon.

HEMMER: Oh! See, the Dixie Chicks...

NEVILLE: I might get you some tickets to that.

HEMMER: I would appreciate it. And see, what we really want to know though, how were the after-parties?

NEVILLE: You know what? I was working. I have no idea.

HEMMER: Come on! You didn't squeeze in one?

NEVILLE: Oh, no.

HEMMER: Come on, you're disappointing me. NEVILLE: I'm sorry.

HEMMER: Good to see you.

NEVILLE: I don't want to do that for you, my friend.

HEMMER: See you later.

NEVILLE: Bye.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.