Defiance Isn’t Talent

For years we have been forced to endure Robert Hilburn’s glowing reviews of such national embarrassments as the Beastie Boys, and scathing attacks on the likes of Streisand et al.

Now he tells us (“American ‘Michael’ Awards,” Feb. 1) that the only inspirational performance at the American Music Awards was the “defiance” of Guns N’ Roses. That is not only laughable but it’s insulting. Guns N’ Roses defied us, all right. They defied the audience to applaud and the home viewers not to hit their mute switches. I, for one, will take the uninspired talent of Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Rick Astley, Debbie Gibson, etc., anytime before I give praise to a band whose sound is reminiscent of a bad high school prom.

Hilburn also thought that the one funny moment of the evening was when Eddie Murphy refused to give Michael Jackson a hand with the microphone. Yeah, it was just hilarious watching Murphy prove that, even after giving Jackson a 15-minute salute, he was still the bigger and more arrogant star. If insincerity equals funny, it truly was a riot.

JOHN B. PARDEE

North Hollywood