The 2011 Grammy Awards
Rihanna - Red Carpet
Superstars Are Very Shiny
I wish I were good at talking about the gorgeous clothing and the tallest shoes and the fabulous, extravagant excess that make up so much of the Grammy Awards. You’re probably better off going to a fashion website for that. But I must say, I sat backstage Sunday night and saw almost every artist who was about to perform walking up and down the halls and greeting each other. The list is endless – but I’m sure you know because you watched the awards. Nicole Kidman (you just can’t imagine how truly elegant and beautiful she is), Will Smith, who gave me a courteous little bow, with his son Jaden Smith who was wearing the biggest platform sneakers I’ve ever seen (I don’t know how he walked in those), Hayley of Paramore who was right in front of me in the security line, Cee Lo without his big costume looks like a normal guy in a t-shirt, the debonaire John Legend with a stunning woman who must have been six feet tall before the six inch heels, Barbra Streisand and James Brolin striding down the hall like the royalty they are, and I can’t even begin to describe the effect of seeing Nicki Minaj’s hair. I had a prime spot for viewing the stars, but not the show. I actually didn’t get to see the show until much later that night. I’ll have to write a whole other article on the performances – I think it was the best Grammy Awards in recent years.
The Work Begins
But there’s a lot of work behind all that glamor and that’s why I was there as Rihanna’s voice teacher, along with the many many other professionals who made the magic happen backstage. When I arrived at 3:30 Rihanna swooped by, stooped to give me a quick kiss, and ran off to the Red Carpet wearing that amazing wedding cake of a see-through dress. What a way to start my workday! When she came back after the show’s opening number, she went into her dressing room to get ready for her first performance of the night. She is the only artist who sang twice. Her dressing room was packed with people; three people were sewing her into her huge billowing tulle dress and one was getting her shoes ready. All this while I warmed up her voice. There’s no room for a keyboard so we did it a cappella, which is no problem for her since she has such a good ear. It’s no secret how sick she had been for the last week. She had to cancel a benefit performance a few days earlier due to laryngitis and bronchitis but she has the best Ear Nose and Throat Doctor on the planet, Dr. Shawn Nasseri, and she sounds great.
And Then The Show
Once she was in the dress, the hair and makeup people had to do their magic but the dress was so big she couldn’t sit down, and people, she is TALL. So she knelt down for about fifteen minutes while everyone finished their work. When the knock on the door came to tell her it was time, she sailed out to the stage with her assistants and bodyguards and sang the hell out of her duet with Eminem. You may have noticed that in the middle of her song she pulled her ear piece out; that’s because it completely stopped working. But she is a trooper and finished (and sounded amazing) without being able to hear herself. Then back to the dressing room for another costume/makeup change and her final hot performance with Drake. When she came back to the dressing room, the crew pack everything up and they all headed to the airport for a redeye flight to London where she performed at the British music awards show (and won again!). You have to be an athlete to be a superstar, and she is. I was exhausted. So much for my glamorous life. I went home and collapsed in front of the television to watch the show I had just worked on.
Hey Lis,
WOW sounds amazing and like a fabulous experience i was excited and
motivated reading this..Rhianna is incredible just like YOU you truly are an inspiration and a beautiful person inside and out I’m so happy i found you
XX Monica
Hi Lis!
What an amazing experience! Like I said before, if you need an assistant we are available. : )
Best,
Dorothy & Daphne
Let’s go to the Grammy’s with Daphne!
hey lis, we watched the entire performance and LOVED it! it was the best grammy night i have ever seen. very entertaining and flashy, with the occasional award given out. i was disappointed in mick, who looked like he might not have remembered the words to his song, but i gotta give it to him for energy, watching his skinny little frame jumping around the stage like a skittery bug. no matter – i still love him. i thought the tribute to retha with the 5 divas at the start was fabulous. and lady gaga is a stitch – so creative and zany. i can see her appeal to the youngsters – born this way: deal with it!!! we looked for you in the wings, knowing you were back there proud of your rihanna. she was great. nice going, coach! love you, becky
Thanks, sis! It was crazy fun!
Liz.
Loved your account of the Grammy’s and what a smart girl that R is to have found the best voice teacher in LA. Keep up the good work and love hearing from you. See you soon (I’m doing some Corp. work) not enough to pay the bills but I’m singing.
Hi Liz,
Very much enjoyed reading about your experience — thanks for sharing! Mimi
Good job Lis! All in a day’s work…
Hey Lis,
Sorry to have missed you in LA. Was backstage with Bieber and Usher. Saw Rihanna on the carpet as she stopped to talk with Justin. Our day started at 8:30a.m — appreciate being exhausted!!
Ms. Jan in ATL
I can’t wait to meet you. I’ve been sending you loads of people but I think you’re too busy for new clients. And thanks for the ones you’ve sent to me!
Good going Lis,
I was serious when I said all the better gigs connect through you in some way.
Regards,
Your former guitar player from the Lis Lewis Band…
John