Grammys Bring Music Into the 21st Century with 3D Tribute

Last night, the Grammy Awards became the first major TV broadcast to show content in 3D. Viewers excited enough to have picked up a pair of 3D glasses (mega U.S. retailer Target was giving them away) could enjoy the segment in all its 3D glory.

Running about 5-minutes, the segment was a tribute to the late Michael Jackson, and was meant to be part of his This Is It concert series. Sadly, due to his death, the mini-movie was never shown (although it was highlighted in the This Is It movie.) Popular music artists Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson, and Jennifer Hudson performed Jackson's Earth Song while his 3D movie played in the background. Coincidentally, the scenes reminded me a lot of Avatar, and the mini film had a similar underlying theme: people are killing the earth and nature, and forgetting about it's beauty and importance. Content aside, Jackson clearly knew that 3D would be the "next big thing," and it would have been yet another breakthrough for the technology to have seen it incorporated into the London concert series.

If you didn't have a pair of glasses, the broadcast was beautiful to listen to with eyes closed, but slightly headache-inducing with eyes open. Nevertheless, it marks an important step in the evolution of 3D: consumers got a first glimpse at what 3D in the home might be like. Did it get them excited? Annoyed? For those who didn't opt to grab a pair of glasses, did they feel left out, awaking today with 3D on the mind and feeling like they didn't get the most out of the Grammys? Or did they simply not understand, watching the segment and knocking the bezel of the TV wondering what was wrong with the picture quality?

On another note, one thing worth noting is the growing list of Canadian talent being highlighted at the event, like YouTube and tween sensation Justin Bieber; hip hop artist and Toronto native Drake; Celine Dion, who was chosen to be part of the 3D tribute; Michael Buble, who won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album; and alternative rock band Nickelback (nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance) to name a few.

Another part of the event worth highlighting for the tech enthusiasts: in his speech to kick off the awards, political comedian Stephen Colbert joked about not being able to find the winner's envelope under his jacket, only to pull out a brand new iPad. Surfing through the device, he read the nominees and revealed the first winner of the night. After eyeing rap artist Jay Z and questioning "What? You didn't receive one of these in your gift bag?" Colbert turned to his teenage daughter in the audience and asked "Now am I cool?"

Oh yah, and for those who didn't catch the broadcast, Beyonce and Taylor Swift won a lot of awards, yada, yada, yada...