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CHARLOTTE – Midway through her two-hour show at Time Warner Cable Arena Thursday night, Madonna dropped character to address the crowd as herself. She delivered a brief civics lecture (punctuated with expletives) about the importance of voting; and she declared that peace “starts with us treating one another as human beings.”

Quite frankly, that would have been easier to take seriously if not for how the show started. Madonna came onstage with a veil, a crown and a gun. And three songs in, “Gang Bang” had an actual body count in which Madonna dispatched a half-dozen assailants, execution-style. Just to make sure you got it, the video screens lit up with blood spatters.

Girls just wanna have gun, I guess. Or maybe she was bucking for a part in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming “Kill Bill” sequel. But it was an ugly, disturbingly casual bit of violence that seemed over the top, even for her. What can you say about a Madonna show where the sexy bits were the least-controversial parts?

This was Madonna’s first-ever show in the Carolinas, and it was less a concert than a Cirque du Soleil-style multi-media performance-art blowout. Tons of what the audience heard was on computer hard drives, but music really did seem like just another detail on her broad canvas.

She brought along a cast of dozens, elaborately choreographed, with enough special effects to stock the next “Star Wars” installment. From top to bottom, the attention to detail was impressive. Even the backup band had costume changes, despite the fact that the musicians were in the shadows at the back of the stage.

Madonna being the cultural flashpoint that she is, hellfire-and-damnation picketers were outside the arena pronouncing fiery curses on all who passed by to enter. Inside, there was a guy dressed like The Pope, and his was actually one of the more restrained outfits (yes, retro ’80s fashion lives). Like a good diva, Madonna kept her public waiting until nearly 11 p.m.; and it didn't end until just before 1 a.m. But despite the arena setting, this ran on dance-club time.

The show opened on a hardcore note, with Madonna getting her gangsta on. Then there was an abrupt shift to playful, as Madonna reappeared as a brightly dressed drum major. That eventually yielded to sensual, in a minor-key sort of way, before concluding with quasi-mystical vibes.

Madonna’s latest album “MDNA” figured prominently, with eight numbers in the 22-song set list. And some of her oldest, biggest hits got put through major changes, especially “Like a Virgin.” In contrast to the perky 1984 original, this version was a subdued piano ballad. Madonna sang it like Marlene Dietrich, Germanic and mournful – wearing a bustier as the crowd showered her with wadded-up dollar bills (solicited for Hurricane Sandy relief, she said).

Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and M.I.A. all did their cameos via the video screens on various “MDNA” songs. But the pop star who seemed most on Madonna’s mind was Lady Gaga, whose 2010 “Fame Monster” tour recalled some of Madonna’s past extravaganzas. This show seemed like Lady M picking up the gauntlet. She threw in a bit of Gaga’s “Born This Way” at the end of her own “Express Yourself”; and she even played (or at least posed with) guitar on a few songs, which may be a response to all the positive attention Gaga gets for her piano-playing.

As always, Madonna played fast and loose with religious imagery in ways sure to enrage evangelicals. The opening segment before Madonna entered had her backup dancers dressed as hooded monks performing rituals that may have been sacred or profane or both. Whatever it meant, it pushed buttons. More and more, that seems like its own end for her.

But being Madonna means never having to say you’re sorry.

There's a scene near the beginning of the first episode of "Tamar & Vince" (10 tonight, moving to 9 pm Sept. 27, WE tv) that gave me a sense of hope.

It's when the couple hosts a dinner that includes celebrity friends like Duane and Tisha Campbell-Martin and Mary J. Blige and her husband Kendu Issacs. Vince and Tamar talk about the beginnings of their relationship and then Vince asks for advice on making their relationship last. (Mary J. gets to preaching!)

Thank goodness because the rest of the episode is spent in the usual manner: Tamar signifying and talking about herself in the third person, Vince not paying her much attention, walking away exasperated, and them bickering. While the rest of the show makes you think, why are these two together? that early scene reminds you that theirs is a young marriage, just 3 years old. Maybe they can figure it out.

For the second straight year, an act with Triangle connections will be center-stage at next February's Grammy Awards. Where it was Arcade Fire this past year, next year it will be Bon Iver -- whose frontman Justin Vernon used to call Raleigh home.

Bon Iver scored nominations in the prestigious record and song of the year categories for "Holocene," a track from the group's eponymous 2011 album. That was part of a four-nomination haul including best alternative album and even best new artist.

The latter category is odd because "Bon Iver" was the group's third release -- and its first two both made the top half of the Billboard 200 album sales charts. One of the other best-new-artist nominees also has North Carolina connections, Fayetteville rapper J. Cole, nominated on the strength of his chart-topping album "Cole World: The Sideline Story."

Industry observer Sean Ross, executive editor of the Ross On Radio newsletter, cites Nicki Minaj as this year's worthiest best-new-artist nominee. But he predicts that Minaj won't win because she and J. Cole "will cancel each other out," which might allow Bon Iver to sneak in there the way Arcade Fire did for album of the year back in February.

"Then it's Bon Iver's people-who-propelled-Arcade-Fire vote versus The Band Perry's combination mainstream-audience vote and the never-insigificant 'I don't really follow new music but I hear they're good' vote," Ross said.

The nominations were announced Wednesday night at a Grammy concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the awards will be presented Feb. 12. As expected, Adele's top-selling "21" album led the field with six nominations. Bruno Mars, Mumford & Sons, Rihanna and Lady Gaga all picked up multiple nominations in the major categories, too.

As for other nominations of North Carolina interest:

Eric Church, an Appalachian State alumnus from Granite Falls, was nominated for best country album, up against a field including Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Jason Aldean.

North Carolina School of the Arts alumnus Jim Lauderdale, a two-time winner in past years, earned a nomination for best bluegrass album -- and also appears on a Tom T. Hall tribute album nominated for best children's album. Among Lauderdale's competition in the bluegrass category will be Brevard's Steep Canyon Rangers, sharing a nomination with comedian/banjo player Steve Martin.

Asheville guitarist Warren Haynes, a veteran of Gov't Mule and Allman Brothers, was nominated for best blues album.

Durham-based Merge Records, which captured last year's best-album Grammy with Arcade Fire, picked up a best-recording-package nomination for the expanded deluxe version of the same album. Zooey Deschanel, who records with M. Ward as the Merge duo She & Him, was also nominated in best song written for visual media, for the "Winnie the Pooh" song "So Long."

Marsalis Music, the label of Durham jazzman Branford Marsalis, scored in the category of best large jazz ensemble album for "Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook."

Levon Helm's live album "Ramble at the Ryman," nominated for best Americana album, includes "Anna Lee," written by Greensboro's Laurelyn Dossett. That song has already been on one Grammy-winning album, Helm's "Dirt Farmer," which won best tradtional folk album in 2008.

ADDENDUM: Another nominee with local connections is recording engineer Miles Walker, who grew up in Raleigh and mostly works out of Atlanta. Walker engineered records that scored a total of eight nominations, including hits by Rhianna, Katy Perry and Wiz Khalifa, sharing the nomination on two of them -- Rhianna's album-of-the-year nod for "Loud," and Perry's record-of-the-year nomination for "Firework."

SECOND ADDENDUM: I received a pretty detailed response about who does and does not qualify as a "new" artist in Grammyland from another industry pundit, former USA Today music editor Ken Barnes. I'm fascinated in wonky stuff like this, so I'm passing along the whole thing:

As a 25-year Grammy voter, I've watched the definition of a new artist "evolve" from super-strict (one prior guest appearance on someone else's album disqualified Whitney Houston from new-artist consideration in the '80s) to the current, almost-anything-goes guidelines.

It's basically a wording problem at this point; if the category were called "best emerging artist" or "breakthrough artist" or something like that, it wouldn't be such a communications problem. Basically what the Grammys try to do is establish whether, with a particular album, an artist has achieved a breakthrough to the general public. If Bon Iver was considered a critical/indie/minority-taste hit prior to this record, then the Grammys would declare them eligible. If the Academy felt a breakthrough had occurred with a previous record, based on sales, airplay, critical acclaim, buzz, mass acceptance, etc., then no.

With only rather generally worded guidelines, it's always dicey, and standards tend to waffle. So there's always one or two "new artists" that stick in journalists' craws, for good reason.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (9am, NBC and CBS) - Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker anchor NBC's coverage of the 85th annual procession in Manhattan, while CBS has anchors Kevin Frazier and Christina McLarty. Look for appearances by Scotty McCreery, Cee Lo Green, Neil Diamond, Mary J. Blige, Daniel Radcliffe, and others.

A Christmas Carol: Behind the Magic (7pm, News 14 Carolina) - News 14 photojournalist Mark Olexik's documentary on the making of Ira David Wood's annual Raleigh tradition, "A Christmas Carol." The half-hour program goes behind the scenes to see initial casting, rehearsals, and final production. This airs again on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Ice Age: Mammoth Christmas (8pm, Fox) - A new holiday special from the "Ice Age" gang. Sid (voice of John Leguizamo) fears he's on Santa's naughty list after ruining decorations belonging to Manny (voice of Ray Romano), so he and his pals go to the North Pole to clear his name, but they wind up accidentally damaging Santa's workshop. Scrat (voiced by Chris Wedge) is pictured at right.

Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (9pm, Fox) - Actually, we all know that Happiness is a Warm TV, but we'll let Linus have his moment. In this new Peanuts installment, the gang try to persuade Linus to give up his trusty blanket.

A Very Gaga Thanksgiving (10pm, ABC) - Lady Gaga performs eight songs, including "Marry the Night," "You and I, "The Edge of Glory," and "White Christmas." Gaga also performs "The Lady is a Tramp" with Tony Bennett.

85th Anniversary of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (10pm, NBC) - Matt Lauer takes a look back at 85 years of Macy's iconic Christmas parade.

Bachelor Pad (8pm, ABC) - This three-hour season finale begins in Las Vegas and ends in Los Angeles. The winners get $250,000, but their dignity may be lost forever. One of the finalists (and a favorite to win) is Graham Bunn, a Raleigh native who played basketball for Appalachian State University and who appeared on "The Bachelorette" in 2008. On the show (and in real life, apparently), Graham is romancing Michelle Money (from "The Bachelor," Brad Womack/Emily Maynard season), who admitted earlier this year to having an affair with former Duke star Carlos Boozer while Boozer was married.

Gaga by Gaultier (8pm, CW) - Lady Gaga is interviewed by fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier in Paris. The singer discusses her meteoric rise to fame, her unique relationship with her fans, and her love for art and fashion.

Miss Universe Pageant (9pm, NBC) - Women from around the world compete in swimsuit, evening gown and interview categories. Hosted by Natalie Morales and Andy Cohen from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Closer (9pm, TNT) - In tonight's summer finale, the team looks for clues in the shooting death of a deputy sheriff, and Brenda's civil case comes to a head when the judge must make a crucial decision. The series returns with five final episodes in November.

Rizzoli & Isles (10pm, TNT) - Maura and Jane investigate when a young man is killed in a jail bathroom just as he was about to be released from prison. Sinister serial killer Charles Hoyt (the bad guy from the show's pilot) claims to have inside knowledge about the slaying.

Extreme Couponing (10pm, TLC) - A Detroit couponer who's trying to save money to move her family out of a dangerous neighborhood. Also, a Connecticut woman uses couponing to help her family and friends. Also, do not steal coupons.

Our "So You Think You Can Dance" correspondent Lenni G (who is a big Duke fan!) tells us about last night's elimination show:

Before we get to the results, thought y'all would like to know that a rising junior at Duke, Julianne Chiraz, was shown in the promo for National Dance Day which is this weekend. Julianne is on the far right in this clip.   
 
Clearly Duke people are multi-talented!
 
On to the results show - The opening group number from Tyce Diorio was fantastic.  I loved the music which was from the movie, "Water for Elephants."  Then there was the performance from The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD) which was simply spectacular.  Congrats to Christopher Scott for some of the most awesome choreography EVER!
 

"So You Think You Can Dance" correspondent Lenni G tells us about last night's episode, which featured Lady Gaga as a guest judge:

OH. MY. GAGA. The Lady was really on her game last night as a guest judge, along with Rob Marshall, who wasn't too shabby either.
 
The night started with the "asha" team, Sasha and All-Star Pasha with a Jonathon Roberts quick step. Rob thought Sasha was "astonishing" though he also thought the quick step did not show all she can do. Mary said she pulled it off and had great stage presence. Nigel, at least at this point, declared her his favorite dancer by a "hair's breadth." Lady G pronounced her as "shiny on the outside as she is on the inside."  True Lady G, very true.

Did Scotty McCreery really mean to snub comedian Jack Black on the night of the "American Idol" finale? What did Scotty really think about those group song-and-dance numbers the finalists had to do? And was Hollywood Week really as dramatic as it looked on TV?

Here are some more tidbits from our recent interview with Scotty. For our story on how he is balancing his new fame and being a teen, go here.

So You Think You Can Dance (8pm, Fox) - Wow, this is the only thing airing on the main broadcast networks tonight that is not a repeat. The eighth season of his dance competition show opens tonight with the first two rounds of auditions. The best news: judge Mary Murphy returns! Nigel Lythgoe and Cat Deeley look happy about that, right?

Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside (9pm, MTV) - A profile of Lady Gaga, featuring an intimate conversation with the colorful pop star. Topics include her childhood, her creative evolution, and her love of New York City.

Rookie Blue (9pm, ABC) - The first episode of the first season of this decent Canadian import airs, with another repeat at 10pm. The second season will start on June 23.

River Monsters: Unhooked (10pm, Animal Planet) - All they have to do is name an episode "Silent Assassin" and it makes me want to stay out of any water except my bathtub. Tonight's silent assassin is Argentina's short-tailed ray.

Why buy the song when you can get the album for free? (Well, almost for free.)

Lady Gaga's entire "Born this Way" album is selling for $0.99 on Amazon.com today.

Demand for the album caused problems for Amazon, the Associated Press reported. Amazon experienced a high volume of traffic that caused delays for those downloading the album.

The new album includes the title track, "Born this Way," as well as top hit "Judas."

Perhaps the demand was due in part to this incentive: People who buy any album from Amazon through the end of the year can get 20 GB of cloud drive storage free for a year.

Read the fine print though; you will have to pay for storage *after* the first year's service.

For the unfamiliar, cloud computing is when a user's files are saved to and stored on a computer network, rather than a user's personal computer (or smartphone, or whatever device is popular today). It allows the data to be accessed by any device connected to the cloud computing service.

Cloud computing doesn't have to be just for storing music on the go. Here's how some high school students are using the technology to advance their studies.

Amazon, Google and soon, Apple, will have competing cloud computing services.

For other tech moves by Amazon, see today's Computers column by Paul Gilster.