Jive Talkin'

The Kennedy Center Honors were last month, and there's one thing about them that always bugs me.  It's that the awards are pretty clearly for US artists (however that's understood - I'm sure plenty of honorees have been immigrants at least as young people), but there's also pretty clearly an exemption for global rock stars.  One of this year's recipients was Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees.  I don't think he's the strongest candidate regardless - I mean, his peak was 45 years ago in a musical genre that flamed out pretty quickly.  But regardless of the merit of his selection, I don't think anyone thinks of him as an American.  I think most think people think of him and his brothers as Australian, albeit via the Isle of Man or somewhere in the British Isles.  And he's obviously not the only person this applies to.  Previous honorees include Sting (English), members of Led Zeppelin and the Who (also English), and U2 (super-Irish).  I guess you could make an argument that Paul McCartney is kind of American because he's Paul McCartney and married a couple of Americans, and I suppose Elton John lives most of the time in Atlanta or somewhere.  But the whole thing doesn't seem really necessary unless the Kennedy Center Honors wants the attention or ratings that these Boomer rock stars bring, especially when you consider that the Kennedy Center never deigned to honor actual Americans and more important rock and roll legends like Little Richard.  Or Jerry Lee Lewis.  Or Bo Diddley.  All of which just confirm Richard's shtick that he never really received his due or the awards that he should won.