Switch to the mobile version of this page.

City Slang

        
Tweet

Email

Print
Share

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

City Slang

Jennifer Lopez will perform a Motown tribute at the Grammys and no one knows why

Posted By Jerilyn Jordan on Wed, Feb 6, 2019 at 10:41 AM

click to enlarge

FEATUREFLASH PHOTO AGENCY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

It was announced Tuesday that Jennifer Lopez would be performing at the 61st Annual Grammy Award's airing Sunday night. J.Lo is an A-list goddess, dance mentor who seems to be literally aging in friggin' reverse and is a two-time Grammy nominee herself. Makes sense that she and her plunging neckline would perform on "music's biggest night," right?

Not quite. While J.Lo is a perfect fit for the Grammys, some are calling bullshit because the Puerto Rican-American singer has been pegged to perform as part of the ceremony's Motown Records tribute.

The tribute, which was teased during a commercial on CBS Tuesday, will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Detroit label that served as the home base and launching point for the careers of legendary black artists by the likes of Smokey Robinson, the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson 5.

Oh, yeah. It's also Black History Month. Oh, yeah. J. Lo isn't black. Naturally, the Twitter users put down their tea to dish out reaction GIFs, shade-throwing, and general confusion.

I have questions. https://t.co/UqkqAZzRV5
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 5, 2019

she's doing what now? pic.twitter.com/HoAOOe3vRq
— LY: HER'S MOST PRECISE SHOOTER | #LYHER200KPURE 💮 (@JunkariJeon) February 5, 2019

We can’t even be us, in our own tribute, during Black History Month. Damn!
— LI Manhattan (@Manhattan510) February 5, 2019

pic.twitter.com/G92qiehQT2
— PragmaticObotsUnite (@PragObots) February 5, 2019

Did they email the wrong Jennifer?

pic.twitter.com/D807rpUydw
— Darius shaw (@Dariusshaw12) February 5, 2019

Why not Missy Elliot? She is underrated for her vocal range. Or if we are doing more traditional: Chloe X Halle? Or Mary J Bridge? Ledesie? Jill Scott? Jennifer Hudson? This feels as strange as Madonna's tribute to Aretha. pic.twitter.com/BKJx3HZQ1L
— Denzel Scott (@DenzelScott) February 5, 2019

The Bey-hive is feeling it, too.

So Beyoncé bout to do a tribute at the Latin Grammys... pic.twitter.com/CAIMa0yyOV
— B-Stro (@stromio1) February 6, 2019

Many have been left speechless.

pic.twitter.com/CDP2tX5InA
— 🦋Eddikah! (@ErikaRee) February 5, 2019

Race aside, countless people were quick to call out one universally true observation:

Hey, I don’t mind JLo, but she does NOT have the range to do a Motown tribute. pic.twitter.com/iTihOYgSxz
— Charlie FOR WHOM THE CampBELL TOLLS (@OOUCH_charlie) February 6, 2019

Other performers include Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Post Malone, Janelle Monáe, Kacey Musgraves, and Shawn Mendes. The 61st annual Grammy Awards will air on Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS with host Alicia Keys.

Get our top picks for the best events in Detroit every Thursday morning. Sign up for our events newsletter.

Tags: Jennifer Lopez, Motown Records, GRAMMY Awards, Image

We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.

Email us at letters@metrotimes.com.

Support Local Journalism.
Join the Detroit Metro Times Press Club

Local journalism is information. Information is power. And we believe everyone deserves access to accurate independent coverage of their community and state. Our readers helped us continue this coverage in 2020, and we are so grateful for the support.

Help us keep this coverage going in 2021. Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing membership pledge, your support goes to local-based reporting from our small but mighty team.

Join the Metro Times Press Club for as little as $5 a month.