34 Grammy Jokes: The 1997 “Falling Into You & Odelay” Edition

In 1997, the 39th Grammy Awards were a battle between polished pop perfection and the rise of the “nerd-cool” alternative scene. It was the year Celine Dion officially became the queen of the world, The Fugees brought hip-hop to the front row, and we all learned that “Macarena” was a dance even the Academy couldn’t ignore (though they tried).

The 1997 Red Carpet Top 10: “High Glamour & Low-Fi”

1. Celine’s World: Why did Falling Into You win Album of the Year? Because in 1997, there was no escaping Celine Dion. You either bought the album or lived in a cave with no radio.
2. The Fugees’ Invasion: Why did The Score win Best Rap Album? Because Lauryn Hill’s voice was the only thing capable of making the Academy forget they usually skip the rap categories.
3. Beck’s “Odelay” Moment: Why did he win Best Alternative Music Performance? To prove that mixing a drum machine, a harmonica, and lyrics that make zero sense is the ultimate recipe for genius.
4. LeAnn Rimes’ Youth: Why did she win Best New Artist at 14? Because the Grammys wanted to make everyone else in the room feel old, unaccomplished, and like they should have practiced their scales more.
5. The Smashing Pumpkins: Why did “1979” win Hard Rock? Because Billy Corgan’s shaved head was the most recognizable silhouette in music, and the Academy finally figured out which “Alternative” band was which.
6. Eric Clapton’s “Change the World”: Why did it win Record and Song of the Year? Because if you put Eric Clapton and Babyface in a room, the result is a song so smooth it could lubricate a jet engine.
7. No Doubt’s Arrival: Why was Gwen Stefani the talk of the carpet? Because she proved that you could wear a bindi, blue hair, and punk pants and still be the most glamorous person in the building.
8. The Beatles’ Anthology: Why did they win Best Music Video for “Free as a Bird”? Because even 27 years after breaking up, the Beatles are still better at being a band than almost anyone else.
9. Sheryl Crow’s Rock Win: Why did she win Best Rock Album? To remind us that “If It Makes You Happy” was the official anthem of 1997 road trips.
10. Toni Braxton’s Gown: Why did she win Best Female Pop Vocal? Honestly, it might have been for “Un-Break My Heart,” but the dress she wore was so legendary it deserved its own Grammy.

The Full 1997 Grammy Jokes Archive

11. Best Female Rock Vocal: Why did Sheryl Crow win? Because “If It Makes You Happy” is the only song that sounds good even when you’re screaming it off-key in the shower.
12. Best Male Rock Vocal: Why did Beck win for “Where It’s At”? Because he had “two turntables and a microphone,” and that was apparently enough to defeat everyone else.
13. Best Rock Song: Why did “Give Me One Reason” win? Because Tracy Chapman is the only person who can make a simple blues riff sound like a masterpiece for 15 weeks straight on the charts.
14. Best R&B Album: Why did Words by Tony Rich lose? Because the Grammys decided that Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite was the only place they wanted to hang out in 1997.
15. Best Rap Solo Performance: Why did Coolio lose to LL Cool J? Because “Hey Lover” was smoother than a velvet suit, and Coolio’s braids were starting to scare the voters.
16. Best Metal Performance: Why did Rage Against the Machine win for “Tire Me”? Because the Academy wanted to show they were “down with the revolution,” as long as it stayed on the stage.
17. Best Pop Collaboration: Why did “Free as a Bird” win? Because the Beatles collaborating with their past selves is the ultimate flex.
18. Best Country Album: Why did The Road to Ensenada win? Because Lyle Lovett is the only man who can win a Grammy and look like he’s judging you for your haircut at the same time.
19. Best Traditional Blues Album: Why did Deep in the Blues win? Because James Cotton proved that if you play the harmonica long enough, the world eventually listens.
20. Best Contemporary Blues Album: Why did Keb’ Mo’ win? Because he made the blues feel like a sunny Sunday afternoon.
21. Best Reggae Album: Why did Bunny Wailer win for Hall of Fame? Because the Grammys have a standing order to give a trophy to anyone with the last name Marley or anyone who played with Bob.
22. Best Comedy Album: Why did Stan Freberg win? Because the Grammys like their comedy like they like their wine: aged and slightly dusty.
23. Best Spoken Word Album: Why did Hillary Clinton win? For It Takes a Village—proving that you don’t need a Grammy for singing if you have a political platform.
24. Best Musical Show Album: Why Rent? Because “525,600 minutes” was exactly how long it felt like we spent talking about this musical in 1997.
25. Best Score Soundtrack: Why Independence Day? Because nothing says “musical excellence” like Will Smith punching an alien in the face.
26. Best Instrumental Composition: Why “Manhattan (Island of Lights and Love)”? Because it’s the kind of music you hear in an elevator in a building you can’t afford.
27. Best Female Country Vocal: Why LeAnn Rimes? Because “Blue” made everyone forget she wasn’t even old enough to drive a truck.
28. Best Male Country Vocal: Why Vince Gill? (Again). We’re starting to suspect Vince Gill actually lives in the trophy room.
29. Best Dance Recording: Why “Believe” by Cher? Oh wait, that’s later. In 1997, it was Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder—the Grammys finally admitting disco was cool again.
30. Best New Age Album: Why Oracle by Michael Hedges? Because it was the only thing playing in every spa in North America.
31. Best Producer of the Year: Why Babyface? Because he produced 50% of the songs on the radio and probably 10% of the songs in your head.
32. Best Recording for Children: Why Toy Story? Because “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is the only song both a 5-year-old and a Grammy voter can agree on.
33. Best Latin Pop Performance: Why Enrique Iglesias? Because the “Iglesias” name is the “Marley” name of Latin Pop.
34. The 1997 Final Grammy Vibe: Why was it a classic? Because it was the night that Celine Dion’s power ballads met Beck’s garage-sale beats, proving that in 1997, the Grammys were big enough for both a crying diva and a guy singing about “soy un perdedor.”