If you want proof that genre is a fluid concept in 2016, look no further than Beyoncé’s nominations for the 2017 Grammy Awards. Besides getting nods in all of the top categories, Lemonade was also nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album. (Let’s be honest, it is the top album of the year.) Where it really gets interesting, however, is in the individual performance categories.
Bey received noms for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Hold Up”, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Freedom” with Kendrick Lamar, and — here’s the kicker — Best Rock Performance for “Don’t Hurt Yourself” featuring Jack White. Nothing shows the evolution of sound better than Beyoncé getting nominated in a rock category … but it gets better.
Also up for Best Rock Performance is Disturbed for their cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s classic “The Sound of Silence”. Take a second to drink that in. Beyoncé will compete with Disturbed’s cover of a 1960's folk song for Best Rock Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards. I mean, so will Twenty One Pilot’s “Heathens” and David Bowie should probably win for “Blackstar”, but just to reiterate: Beyoncé, Disturbed, Simon & Garfunkel, 2017.
In case you haven’t heard Queen Bey’s competition, watch the Disturbed’s nominated performance below.
Los Angeles, CA (June 27, 2017) Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) held an event at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles which brought the who’s who of the entertainment industry together in celebration of the power of music to build bridges for peace. The Frontman of Grammy nominated Warner Bros band Disturbed and CCFP member, David Draiman, performed his Grammy nominated cover of “The Sound Of Silence.” Warner Bros. Records sponsored the event with co-hosts Evan Lamberg, President of N. America Universal Publishing and CCFP Advisory Board members Neil Jacobson, President of Geffen Records; Zach Katz, President Repertoire & Marketing, BMG; Rick Krim, Co-President of Sony/ATV Publishing; David Lonner, CEO of Oasis Media Group; and David Renzer, chairman of Spirit Music Group.
Guests included Chairman and Chief Executive of Warner Bros. Records Cameron Strang, President of Shout Factory, Bob Emmer, leading Entertainment Attorney’s David Byrnes, Jeffrey Light, Craig Emanuel, Aton Ben Horin from Warner Bros/ Atlantic Records, and film producer Howard Rosenman, as well as executives from Variety, Warner Bros, and many others.
After his performance, David Draiman urged his colleagues to continue their efforts to make sure music is never silenced: “I encourage each one of you to support the exchanging of ideas, culturally, spiritually, philosophically and politically with everyone on the face of this planet.” He went on, “Let’s teach ourselves how to build those bridges of peace.”
Consul General of Israel Sam Grundwerg shared a special message of the importance of music and the arts in bringing people together.
At the event’s conclusion, guests were given a private viewing and tour of Paul Simon Words & Music, an exhibit organized by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum.
Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) is an organization comprised of prominent members of the entertainment industry who promote the arts as a means to peace, support artistic freedom, and counter the cultural boycott of Israel. We understand the power that our music, our films, our television shows, and all arts have. We encourage artists to participate, rather than to shun, to express rather than to suppress. If anything, turn up the music, expose our art to wider audiences, and encourage people from all cultures to interact, communicate and inspire peace and understanding. Don’t Boycott. Build Bridges. Instill Hope. Create a Better Future.
###
