As yet another year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect. What a phenomenally exciting 12 months we’ve had: an endless stream of musical highlights, surprises, letdowns and meltdowns. Sifting through enough juicy gossip to fill a novel, here are a few of music’s more unforgettable moments in 2009.
Highlights
Elton John and Billy Joel’s first tour together in 15 years was as sweet as the piano greats’ tunes of the past four decades. Fantastic, it was second only to a powerful live return from Irish rockers U2 on their 360 Degrees Tour. Massive and gripping, it re-established them on North American soil after their last stint, 1999’s disappointing PopMart Tour.
On the borderline-comeback level, Beyoncé Knowles narrowly escaped losing her place as top female pop artist with the video for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).
Surprises
While it was a shock to see pop singer Lady Gaga appear out of nowhere to become one of the year’s top-selling artists (like, multi-million status), a greater jaw-dropper indelibly altered the landscape of music this year.
Still, love him or hate him, nothing astonished more than hearing Michael Jackson, the self-proclaimed King Of Pop, was pronounced dead at the age of 50 in June.
Letdowns
Metal heads had hopes dashed as reports of a tour featuring the genre’s biggest acts Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax were denied. Even more disturbing though, was this year’s penchant for Auto-Tune, a studio device that corrects improper pitch for singers.
Meltdowns
Knowles was inadvertently part of 2009’s most ridiculous meltdown thanks to hip hopper Kanye West.
He rudely interrupted teen idol Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video at the MTV Music Video Awards by grabbing the microphone to declare Beyoncé was unfairly beaten.
Multi-million selling act Aerosmith were engaged with some rather public in-fighting, leaving singer Steven Tyler to officially announce his departure from the band on the eve of their 40th anniversary.
Here’s hoping 2010 will offer up even greater highs, fewer lows and an endless stream of surprises.
